Background: Drive down a barely noticed dirt road, in the shadow of Mt. Tamalpais or deep in the hills of gold rush country. Turn right at Granada, left when you hit Havana, and you’ll find there’s a party going on. There’s a bike-powered sound system, a friendly mosh pit, blasts of bright brass, skanking bass, flamenco flourishes, and a big slice of madness that’s simultaneously the musical cure for alienation and loss.

At the center is San Francisco’s LoCura, a band that crafts upbeat anthems and chronicles the round-trip travels of Latin and American sounds. Movement between continents informs the lush variety of LoCura’s tunes on Semilla Caminante (release: April 17, 2012), inspired by ida y vuelta, the notion in flamenco of musical forms that have traveled to the New World and returned transformed. “We mix everything from funk to son cubano into our own songs, to show how diverse our communities have become and to show the common roots these different styles have,” smiles LoCura singer Katalina Miletich. “Semilla Caminante, the idea of ‘traveling seed,’ is a reminder of this movement, this interchange, and of the creative resistance that continues to transform our lives and is tangible in our musical expressions.”

LoCura’s jubilant sound of resistance and restored connections will be traveling up the West Coast this spring, as the group embarks on its first major tour of the region. Cities include San Diego, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Sacramento.

April 18th- Santa Barbara @ Red's Bar April 19th- San Diego @ the Kava Lounge w/ Quetzal Guerrero April 20th- LA @ the Mint w/ Very Be Careful April 21st- Fresno @ Audie's Olympic April 22nd- Santa Cruz @ Moes Alley w/ Los Pinguos April 27th- Oakland @ The New Parish w/ Bang Data April 28th- Sebastopol @ Aubergine w/ Bang Data

The Candy Opinion: Biggest challenge having listened to the album, was what track to feature, so I chose Squatter's Song because it highlights a good number of facets from a band that has so much going on at any given time. Like this and you will love the rest! Web: Official HERE. Listen: Squatter's Song. (player only).