Dude Cervantes
The Ride or Die of Dude Cervantes and The Panchos
Blind Owl
Guitarist Dude Cervantes unveils his new live album, The Ride or Die of Dude Cervantes and The Panchos, a collection of six tracks recorded live in April of 2023 at The Hotel Café, Hollywood, California.
Joining Cervantes on the album is his band, The Panchos, made up of Dylan Donovan (guitar), Justin De La Vega (drums), and Ryan Grenda (bass). The Panchos have been with Cervantes for four years, and the band is tight and gifted.
Cervantes, a musician, singer-songwriter, producer, label owner, and solo recording artist, has been featured in elite media outlets. As the founder of the Blind Owl label, he fosters artists such as The Circle Jerks’ Zander Schloss and author Noah. C. Lekas.
The album opens with “Lesson Learned,” a roots rock song harking back to the ‘70s, featuring dirty guitars and a driving rhythm.
According to Cervantes, “This song is about a challenging trip to Bryce Canyon National Park in the fall of 2019. One night, while searching for an Airbnb on a dirt road, we hit a massive rock, and our car broke down. I was with my wife and our dog, Elvis. At the worst moment, Elvis accidentally hit the window button as the battery died, and it was freezing outside with no cell service.”
After a long, cold night, they were rescued at dawn.
High points on the album include the psych-rock-flavored “Dreamers,” featuring grungy vocals straight out of Seattle in the ‘90s, like a combination of Nirvana and Jefferson Airplane – potently raw and heavy.
A personal favorite because of its dual lead guitars, Cervantes’ cover of Santana’s “Samba Pa Ti” reveals a delicious, syncopated rhythm, a softly braying organ, and luminous, syrupy guitar licks that drip passion. Remember, this is live. There’s no digital manipulation taking place.
“Billion Dollar Art” closes the album. For some reason, this track conjures up suggestions of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Its dreamy vocals, hints of psychedelia, and tangs of roots rock forge a charismatic song.
On The Ride or Die of Dude Cervantes and The Panchos, Dude Cervantes et al. craft an electrifying array of retro savors with modern vibrancy.
