The Backpackers Hostel Blog

Sat 26 Jul 08

8:30pm at Sala Apolo (Nou de la Rambla, 111) 15€ – 18€ Buy tickets

“Yeah, we’ve got our own thing”, states matter-of-factly Ray Lugo, leader of New York City powerhouse KOKOLO. Based on the spiky and hyper-funky grooves found in their latest album, “Love International”, it would be difficult to argue with the man. Few groups in today’s global Afro scene generate as much attention and excitement as they do debate and criticism as KOKOLO. “It’s the result of going against conditioned expectations”, expands Lugo. “People often expect the familiar, but I’m doing my thing in my time. This music comes from my heart, it’s humble music for the whole world. ” KOKOLO’s ever-growing international appeal (to date, the band has performed in over 20 countries) appears to lend weight to Lugo’s
words.

A former punk rocker who grew disenchanted with the promise held by that genre, Lugo formed KOKOLO in 2001 in the Big Apple’s Chinatown district. He took the name from Spanish Harlem slang used to refer to devout fans of afro music. From the outset, he sought to carve a path of his own. “There may be better afrobeat, funk, latin or polka groups around…but we were going to be the best KOKOLO in the world.” Within weeks of the group’s formation, they recorded their urgent “Fuss and Fight” debut at Gabe Roth’s Daptone Studios. Soon after the album’s release in 2002, the band found themselves playing to receptive audiences both at home and abroad. (Taken from www.kokoloonline.com).