Gothic Theatre
B-Side Players
“A YOUNG WAR MEETS LENNY KRAVITZ WITH A DOSE OF BEN HARPER”
Somewhere in northern Oregon, on a winding stretch of mountainous Interstate, the seven members of B-Side Players nearly lost their lives. Following a spring drizzle that gently darkened the asphalt, the band’s tour van suddenly lost traction, upending their trailer and narrowly missing a cliff at seventy miles-per-hour. “It was one of those things that’s supposed to change your life and send you running to church,” deadpans frontman Karlos Paez. “We missed one show.” This isn’t a surprising statement when you consider that Karlos is a child of the road, having virtually grown up on a tour bus with his father’s band Los Moonlighters, who have been touring throughout Mexico since the 70’s and, to this day, haven’t stopped.
It’s not a quest for fame, unyielding dedication, or even sheer balls that allow this brash band to so easily shrug off the specter of death. It’s the deep-seeded knowledge that their furiously infectious blend of Latin, funk, rock, reggae, and soul brings new life to nearly everyone that hears it. Having witnessed the hypnotic and joyous effects of their grooves on audiences from Baja Mexico to New York City, the B-Side Players comfortably regard their mission as a sacred one.
An ethnically diverse group of artists with various passions for a broad range of musical styles, the B-Side Players have been turning heads since their beginning in southern California in 1993. In addition to winning several local San Diego music awards such as Best Latin Band and Best Latin Album, they have appeared with a laundry list of international acts, including Ben Harper, Papa Roach, Brian Setzer, Poncho Sanchez, and Ozomatli
