After performing in Austin for the last 20 years, local Latin band El Tule returns to the big stage with a South by Southwest performance on March 12 at Hotel Vegas. Their performance will highlight other Latin artists, particularly those who play cumbia, a type of rhythmic and folk music originating from Colombia.
The Daily Texan met with John Dell, the original band’s guitarist and vocalist, to discuss their experiences playing music in Austin, how their members’ heritages influence their music and what they hope to gain from SXSW this year.
The Daily Texan: This isn’t the first time you all have played at SXSW. What was the last time?
John Dell: The last time was probably in the early 2000s. It’s changed a lot over the years, and as we’ve been here in Austin longer and (have) become more established … it’s evolved into working with venues and things like that. But at this SXSW, we’re only doing two shows, both in Hotel Vegas.
DT: How did you all get into cumbia night? Did you reach out to them? Did they reach out to you? What was that process like?
JD: It’s a small, close-knit community in Austin of cumbia bands. We play a regular third Saturday residency at Hotel Vegas, and this month makes it the 14th anniversary (of playing there) so we’ve been doing it a while. We network with the bands and all of us play in separate side projects and bands and things like that. We were involved in the production of the event.
DT: You all have so many different types of music all incorporated together. How does that work? Do you each bring in your own culture?
JD: It’s a really natural progression. A lot of bands (will) do cumbia, and even though we’re known and typically labelled as a cumbia band, we do salsa merengue, Afro-Latin, Guaguancó — it’s all over the place. We look for stuff that’s challenging, danceable and is going to hold that attention. … Everyone’s influences are also going to shine through. If you listen closely, you can hear some jazz, or you can hear some American guitar work, and the horns.
DT: Y’all have been a band for around the last 20 years, and a majority of the time has been in Austin. How has Austin influenced sound and the way it creates music?
JD: Austin has made it possible. …When (me and my wife) moved here, we were just visiting. We really had no intention of moving to Austin. … But we came through and we went out and saw a salsa band. I was blown away by that. I had never seen anything like it. We went to Antones and saw Del Castillo, and I was like: “What is this? It’s flamingo, it’s rock, it’s Latin.” … I set out on a mission (to make) feel good music for dancing and partying. It’s family friendly, it’s accessible and as the years go on it’s more and more stories about Austin. I firmly believe that El Tule would not be able to exist anywhere else. It’s Austin. We owe it all to Austin and the city. … So Austin, thank you. It wouldn’t (have) happened without you.
