I can still remember the first time I saw Los Amigos live at the Forum Stadium in Valencia, Venezuela, 10 years ago. Their energy was electrifying from beginning to end; the band queued its songs, without any breaks, and I remember thinking: ‘Do these guys even breathe?’ There wasn’t a single person standing still, everyone was dancing and jumping. It was right there that I understood what people meant when they referred to Los Amigos as ‘the never ending Gozadera’.
Los Amigos is an anomaly. One the one hand, it’s strange fusion of funk, tropical and disco - imagine Jamiroquoi meets Oscar D’Leon - makes it non-traditional in Venezuelan terms. On the other, the band encapsulates everything that Venezuelans are known for; having a good time. The result is a mix between a tropical party and a serious funk band.
Strangely, it took a non-Venezuelan, David Byrne (Talking Heads), one of Britain’s the most famous pop artists, to see the band’s potential back in the 1996. After listening to its first album A Typical and Autoctonal Venezuelan Dance Band, which had been planted in a New York record store, the eccentric Scotsman signed the group to his label Luakabop. Los Amigos’ next two albums The New Sound of the Venezuelan Gozadera followed by Arepa 3000, produced by Phillip Steir, gained critical and commercial acclaim, the latter winning a Latin Grammy for "Best Rock Album” (arguably for want of knowing what the hell to categorise their work in)
Next came the band’s masterpiece, The Venezuelan Zinga Son, Vol. 1, produced by "Little" Louie Vega of Masters at Work, released in the UK by Long Lost Brothers Records (aka ex-managers of Jamiroquoi), which resulted in another Latin Grammy, this time for "Best Alternative Latin Album."
Ever since then, Los Amigos has recorded on its own label, forging a successful career pretty much managing itself. Almost 30 years on, the band has released eleven albums and performed in 60 countries. In music, only time separates the heavy-weights from the light-weights, and Los Amigos is proving to up there on the scales, continually recording, winning awards and touring.
It’s no surprise then, that the band is again on the road in the US when I catch up with Mamel Roura, one of the three remaining original band members.
“It’s probably our stubbornness that has gotten them this far,” Mamel says, half-jokingly.“The band stayed together with its original 6 members for more than 22 years, I think that’s a big accomplishment and I attribute that to the love we have for music and for what we do and to our stubbornness, because we don’t take a no for an answer. We’ve been through rough times being perseverant and staying true to who they are.”
The bottom line is that Los Amigos is made up of excellent musicians, perhaps better than ever with its new keyboardist Agustin Espina, from Guaco, and never do a bad show. The fact that no one can resist dancing during its performances means the band has managed to connect with people from all over the world, ensuring an exceptionally loyal international following, whether it be in Tokyo of Madrid.
“Every country is different,” says Mamel. “When we travel to Latin America there’s an obvious connection because we speak the same language. For example, México has been a fundamental pillar for our career. Not only because of the fans there but also because of the amazing musical culture. The Mexican audience is a very difficult audience to impress, but once they like you, they’re one of the most entregado fans in the world.”
How would they describe their non-Venezuelan audience? I wonder.
“When it comes to countries that don’t speak Spanish. Most of the times we’ve encountered audiences that like to stay up to date with everything relevant happening on the cultural level and can appreciate and connect with good music. Even when they don’t understand a word we're saying, they’ll still be gozando un pullero (having the time of their lives). This confirms that music and love are the universal language of the world.”
Los Amigos is one of the few Latin American bands that has such as long trajectory of playing in London, which was one of the places the boys first visited when their career was launched internationally back in 1998, and have returned eight times. “We are always excited to play in London because we know there’s going to be a big mixed audience. It’s a special place for us because, back in 2005, it was a British Record Label who first took interest The Venezuela Zinga Song Vol. 1, before it was picked up in the US. Our songs were being played at every club in London and we always have the best time when we go back. For us it’s an amazing feeling to see how well received our music is in London.”
The London concert on June 9 will be one of the final stops of ‘El Paradise ‘ Tour, which has the United States, before embarking on Europe.
The band has released a new single Tócamela, ahead of its album, for the first time. “Apparently that’s how you do it these days,” he says with an irony that the band is known for. “But seriously…Tócamela is the result of many talented people coming together and it was produced by the extremely talented Cachorro López. We’re very happy with how the song turned out, it has that ironic, erotic and playful touch that represents us.”
So how does a band evolve while staying true to their sound for over 24 years? I ask.
After a pause Roura reflects: “I think our evolution has been influenced by a few factors; one is the music that we listen to and are influenced by is constantly changing. But more importantly we’ve all become better musicians with time. And then you add to that our evolving emotions, growing up basically, the more you live the more you have to say…so evolution and creativity is an organic, natural process.”
The reflection triggers nostalgia in me and I wonder how mass exodus of Venezuelans abroad, has been visible in their live shows.
“The situation produces a mixed bag of feelings for us” Roura admits, “We’ve been on the road outside Venezuela for many years now, and it’s been shocking how rapidly the number of migrants has increased. It’s bitter sweet, on one hand, what a great feeling it is to see so many Venezuelans and feeling at home everywhere we go. The atmosphere Venezuelans produce is unique and contagious, so it has a positive impact on the local audience too. On the other hand, it’s unbelievable to see how many people feel they’ve had to flee Venezuela, looking for a better future. Whichever way you look at it, it’s not good.”
Recently Los Amigos have been sharing the stage with the Colombian Rock band Los Aterciopelados. How does that work?
“We’re very close friends and have the best time together. The past few shows, for example, have been incredibly enjoyable. It’s great to see how people can enjoy such different styles joined in one show.”
Will there be any future collaborations? I ask.
“Collaborations happen spontaneously,” Roura explains, “We could simply bump into a musician friend and create something together, just like that. There are no plans for the near future but we’re always open to collaborate and make good music.”
It’s been a long journey since 2018 with shows in more than 14 countries, and with tour in Europe before embarking on Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Argentina and Chile, it’s clear that there are a lot of hours left on the road for the ultimate Venezuelan gozadera.
“We hope stays like that for a long time, we have bills to pay!” says Roura with a laugh.
Los Amigos Invisibles will be performing their only show in London, on Sunday the 9th of June at the O2 Academy Islington. Tickets here
