Cafe Tacuba: The key to keeping it real for 25 years
For bass player Enrique “Quique” Rangel, he never thought he’d kick it long with his band buddies. Twenty-five years later, he and his bandmates of Cafe Tacuba…
Cafe Tacuba is one of the pioneers of Latin rock, and as a band that has been together for 25 years, they sure have a lot to celebrate. Cue the U.S. fall tour! (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for SXSW)
For bass player Enrique “Quique” Rangel, he never thought he’d kick it long with his band buddies. Twenty-five years later, he and his bandmates of Cafe Tacuba are kicking some serious butts.
“When we started, 25 years ago, we thought that it would not last long. We didn’t think it would be our job,” Quique told VOXXI.
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For a young aspiring rock band that formed in 1989 in Mexico City, the possibilities to record an album seemed impossible. “We thought we would only get gigs at clubs or bars,” he said.
But their opportunity came when a wave of alternative Latin rock bands also formed around that time.
“We, along with other rock groups of the nineties, had the opportunity to tour. That’s when we realized that we have to take care of our band and manage it in the best way.”
Quique admitted that throughout the years, the group faced many problems, crisis and even possible separation, but there has always been something that has kept them together.
“It’s recognizing that among the four of us there is respect and it’s also accepting the fact that each of us need time to do our own solo projects,” he told VOXXI. “I think that’s the key of why we’ve lasted such a long time and I feel very proud of that.”
Cafe Tacuba –composed of Rubén Albarrán, Emmanuel del Real, Enrique Rangel and Joselo Rangel– is simply everything they strived to be since the beginning: four people contributing ideas in one project.
As one of the pioneers of Latin rock, the quartet is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a US fall tour. But that’s not the only thing they’re thrilled about, 2014 also marks the 20th anniversary since the release of their most famous album to date, “Re.”
And that’s why their much-awaited gig around the states is called “20 RE – CT 25.”
SAN BERNARDINO, CA – MARCH 03: Musicians Enrique “Quique” Rangel (L) and Ruben Albarran of Cafe Tacuba perform at the 2012 Cypress Hill Smokeout Festival at the NOS Events Center on March 3, 2012 in San Bernardino, California. (Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)
“20 RE – CT 25″ US Tour
“‘Re’ was our second album, but it was also the first time that an album permitted us to show our music to South America and the United States,” Quique said.
Though the album has sold over millions of copies since its debut in 1994, it didn’t receive great acceptance in Mexico upon its release.
But as time passed, many people discovered this gem that includes emblematic hits such as “La Ingrata,” “El Baile y el Salon” and “Las Flores.”
As a result of 20 incredible songs, “Re” nabbed the number one spot in Rolling Stone’s 2012 list of “The 10 Greatest Latin Rock Albums of All Time.” Honored with this title, Quique only had one thing to say: “For a lot of people, Cafe Tacuba became a household name because of ‘Re.’”
So what can we expect on the U.S. leg of Cafe Tacuba’s tour? Fans are in for a real treat, because for the first time, the boys will be performing all 20 hits from “Re” –and of course some other great songs.
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“The expectative of this tour is that everyone can enjoy our music as they do at their homes and their parties,” said Quique.
As for what’s the follow for the Mexican rock band, Quique does not know, as for now they are 100 percent focused on their “20 RE – CT 25″ tour.
- October 16 Miami, FL – Olympia Theater
- October 17 Atlanta, GA – Center Stage
- October 18 Washington, DC – Lincoln Theater
- October 22 Chicago, IL – Portage Theater
- October 23 Wichita, KS – Hartman Arena
- October 24 San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theater
