Prototype Issue
Joe Escalante: Elder Statesman of Latino Punk
By Jason Venzor
(page 1 of 1)Joe Escalante has been one of the most visible members of the LA Latino punk culture for the last few decades. As the bass player for the Vandals and local Smiths cover-gods The Sweet and Tender Hooligans, he's been kicking it out as a performer on stage and records.
As the morning drive DJ for INDIE 103.1, he has managed to infuse his wry sensibility on air in the country’s second largest market.
An accomplished entertainment attorney who offers free advice on Friday mornings from 9-10, Escalante is in many ways a perfect ambassador for what it can mean to be a Latino rock figure in Los Angeles. He has managed to traverse the ironic trails from the punk rock stage to the entertainment boardroom and managed to get David Lynch to do the weather on the radio every weekday.
Escalante, like many Latino Americans, does not find it necessary to overstate his cultural affiliations. Instead, it is something that can be drawn from as a bonus without acting as a wall to rest against while the party goes on.
He was gracious enough to respond to a few questions I had for him about Latinos and rock culture.
What do you think draws Los Angeles Latinos to rock culture and music? YOUNG PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE DRAWN TO IT AND LATINOS ARE NO DIFFERENT.
How would you characterize the different subcultures of Latino rock fans? I DON’T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE DETAILS. I’M OLD YOU KNOW. I SEE METAL HEADS, GOTHS, TACO BILLYS, SMITHS/DEPECHE MODE/CURE FANS. ROCK EN ESPAÑOL. I ONLY REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE PUNK KIDS AND THE MORRISSEY KIDS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE ONES I SPEND THE MOST TIME WITH. WHO KNOWS WHY SO MANY LATINOS LOVE MORRISSEY? I STOPPED WORRYING ABOUT IT AND I JUST ACCEPT IT.
A LOT OF LATIN KIDS FROM LA’S INLAND EMPIRE GOT INTO PUNK ROCK IN THE MID-90S AND THEY REALLY EMBRACED THE VANDALS. PLAYING WITH BANDS LIKE VOODOO GLOW SKULLS HELPED I GUESS. THE LATIN KIDS WERE AN ASSET TO OUR FAN BASE. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THEM.
What kind of trouble is specific to Latino rock kids? I THINK ROCK CAN KEEP LATINO KIDS OUT OF TROUBLE. WHO NEEDS A GANG WHEN YOU HAVE A BAND?
What about rock en español? Who does this appeal to, and why does it turn off so many others? ROCK MUSIC WAS CREATED AS AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE PHENOMENON. EVER HEAR A SALSA SONG IN ENGLISH? IT BLOWS. THAT’S THE SAME FEELING A LOT OF PEOPLE GET WHEN THEY HEAR ROCK EN ESPAÑOL.
What’s up with the love affair between Latinos and English mope rock, like The Cure, The Smiths and Depeche Mode? I LIKE THE TERM MOPE ROCK. THAT’S PRETTY FUNNY. LATINOS ARE EMOTIONAL AND THEY LIKE ROMANTIC SONGS. IT’S PERFECT FOR THEM. THERE’S STILL A LOT OF MYSTERY TO THIS THOUGH, LIKE IF JOSE MALDONADO FROM THE SWEET AND TENDER HOOLIGANS DOESN’T HAVE A QUICK ANSWER, WHO WOULD?
Do you feel there is a cultural link between a Day of the Dead-style celebration and Goth-rock subculture? PROBABLY NOT. I THINK IT JUST HAPPENED ‘CAUSE SOME LATIN KIDS THINK IT’S COOL.
In terms of punk rock, which Latinos have made an impact on the scene over the years? TITO LARIVA AND CHARLIE QUINTANA OF THE PLUGS-FIRST AND FORMOST. THE BRATT (AN OLD BAND EVERYONE SHOULD LEARN ABOUT), VOODOO GLOW SKULLS, TIJUANA NO, AUDIO KARATE, AND OF COURSE THE VANDALS. HAHAHAHAHA.
How about hip-hop? Both sub-cultures emerged at around the same time; yet seem to be on flip sides of the same coin. How do you see the relationship between the two? I DON’T REALLY KNOW. I LOST TRACK AFTER THE RICO SUAVE AND KID FROST DAYS.
"My best advice to kids is that it's fun to be an outsider, but don't be bitter. The Dodgers and American Idol are popular because there is fun to be had there if you have an open mind."
In the early 80s, the HB’s were notoriously scary punks. Was there some parallel to this one percenter group among Latinos? THE SUICIDALS [Venice-bred OG’s, Suicidal Tendencies] GOT PRETTY SCARY FOR A WHILE, BUT YOU COULDN’T TELL WHO WAS LATINO AND WHO WAS JUST PRETENDING. IF THAT WAS A REAL LATINO MOVEMENT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING, BUT IT WAS CONFUSING INSTEAD. IT WAS ALMOST INTERESTING.
Is punk rock still dangerous? NOT FOR ME AS A 44-YEAR-OLD STANDING IN THE BACK, BUT ALL THOSE SOUTH LA PUNK BANDS THAT ARE PLAYING PARTIES RIGHT NOW ARE PROBABLY STIRRING UP SOME TROUBLE.
You seem to have made a good transition from the subculture to the almost straight world. What advice would you give to Latino rock kids who wrestle with their outsider status? SOME PEOPLE DON’T HAVE THE STOMACH FOR THE MAINSTREAM. THIS RADIO STATION I WORK AT IS THE MOST MAINSTREAM THING I’VE DONE AND I’M NOT SURE IF I FIT IN OR NOT. MY BEST ADVICE TO KIDS IS THAT IT’S FUN TO BE AN OUTSIDER, BUT DON’T BE BITTER. THE DODGERS AND AMERICAN IDOL ARE POPULAR BECAUSE THERE IS FUN TO BE HAD THERE IF YOU HAVE AN OPEN MIND. IT DOESN’T MEAN YOUR A SHEEP. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE SO DON’T DEFINE YOURSELF BY JUST HAVING A LIST OF THINGS THAT YOU THINK ARE LAME. DON’T BE PREDICTABLE. THERE’S NOTHING WORSE THAN THAT. OUTSIDERS CAN FALL INTO THAT TRAP [TOO]. DON’T DO IT.
What do Latinos understand about punk rock that other folks do not? PERHAPS IT’S THE D.I.Y PART. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A MEXICAN WHO WASN’T D.I.Y? THEY CAN FIX ANYTHING WITH A WIRE.
Discussion