Riverside band uncovers popularity in marginality

Thursday, April 11, 1996

Spanish version of English album provides outlet for bilingual
youths By John Sabatini

Daily Bruin Contributor

Bilingualism may be a tremendously controversial topic in
today’s political world, but the Riverside-based band Voodoo Glow
Skulls is receiving nothing but positive feedback for its English
and Spanish language punk-ska crossover.

After releasing the all-English album "Firme" to widespread
critical acclaim in September, Voodoo Glow Skulls released an
all-Spanish version of the same album in February. Tonight at the
Palace, the band will perform songs from both versions.

Although Voodoo Glow Skulls has recorded songs in Spanish
before, the new version of "Firme" is the band’s first full-length
album performed exclusively in Spanish. Given the band’s
background, this emphasis on Spanish has tremendous personal
significance for its members.

"Every guy in the band except our trumpet player is from
Hispanic or Latin descent," says vocalist Frank Casillas. "We
figured that (the Spanish version) would be a good way for us to go
back to our roots."

Casillas also says the album offered a chance for the band
members to freshen up on their Spanish-speaking skills. Despite
learning Spanish as their first language, several band members saw
it slipping away after years of American schooling and daily
reliance on English.

While the Spanish version of "Firme" has momentous importance to
the members of Voodoo Glow Skulls for several reasons, the project
itself actually has a rather inauspicious history.

"It was kinda weird. We were having a meeting one day with the
head people from the record label, and I just mentioned it," says
Casillas. "I didn’t think they actually took me seriously about
it."

But to the band’s surprise, Epitaph Records began making
preparations for the new release immediately. And the efforts have
paid off. So far, the response to the Spanish-language record has
been extraordinary enthusiasm among fans of all ethnicities.

"A lot of the kids yell out for the Spanish songs," says
Casillas. "I think a lot of the Spanish kids really respect us for
it, and a lot of the non-Spanish-speaking kids just kinda think
it’s cool that we’re doing it."

Casillas is most satisfied by the response the band is getting
from its bilingual audience. Having struggled with bilingualism and
biculturalism, Casillas is all too familiar with living in a
condition of marginality.

"We come from a generation of bilingual kids in the United
States who really don’t necessarily have an outlet," he says.
"There’s not really a scene for bilingual kids. There’s not really
much to offer bilingual kids. There’s not really a place for
bilingual kids to belong."

As a bilingual, Casillas frequently found it difficult to gain
acceptance in any social circle. In addition to receiving racial
slurs as a youth from non-Latino children, Casillas often faced
prejudice within the Latino community for being too American.

"It seems like a lot of Hispanic people don’t give you 100
percent of their respect if you’re part American," he says.
"They’ve got different slang words and terms for people like myself
who are part Mexican and part American."

For Casillas, Voodoo Glow Skulls can play a huge role in
alleviating these problems for the next generation of bilingual
youths. The band can be a supportive voice on their behalf and can
provide a tangible social outlet all at the same time.

"There’s like a gray area there when it comes to kids who speak
both English and Spanish. I think we’re kind of like the spokesmen
or the representatives for those kids," says Casillas.

Joining Casillas in this mission are younger brothers Eddie and
Jorge. With three brothers in the line-up, Voodoo Glow Skulls has
been a true family affair.

"As kids we were pretty close, but we were always fighting, like
your typical brothers," admits Casillas. "Now that we’re adults, we
do business together and we get to see the world together. I
couldn’t ask for any other type of career or lifestyle."

Also ecstatic about the whole arrangement is Mrs. Casillas.
After years of listening to her kids blast punk songs from her
backyard, she’s thrilled to finally see it all pay off, says her
son.

"She’s starting to see some feedback, so she’s really happy for
us," he says. "She’s glad that we’ve been able to turn this band
that started playing in a bedroom at her house seven years ago into
a band that’s actually doing a few things."

Among the band’s accomplishments was the 1991 opening of Cheap
Guy Music, the band’s own independent music store in Riverside.
After tirelessly touring the country and networking with other punk
bands around the nation, the Casillas brothers decided to use their
success to help other struggling bands.

The store is now a clearing house for punk rock bands as well as
local underground bands of all kinds. As a result, the store has
become one of the hottest spots in the Southern California music
scene.

"Our band is pretty much responsible for establishing the music
scene out here again," Casillas says. "(The store) is pretty much
the epicenter for the Inland Empire music scene. A lot of the chain
stores are starting to carry punk rock now, but I think we just go
below the surface a little bit more."

Actually, 1991 was quite a busy year for Voodoo Glow Skulls. In
addition to opening the record store, the original foursome added a
three-member horn section to the band. The horns, now a central
element of the band’s identity, gave rise to the band’s unique
punk-ska combination.

"I think ska and hardcore punk rock music both have similar
types of energy," Casillas explains. "When you take up-tempo, fast,
energetic music and then you break it down into a slowish,
reggae-type feel, people can relate to that for some reason."

But a flood of other bands have recognized the appeal of ska and
have incorporated it into their own music. However, Casillas feels
that a large number of these bands are simply hopping on the next
popularity bandwagon.

"There are a lot of bands doing what we do right now," he says.
"But I think most of the bands that are playing right now are just
jumping on the ska train. They think that ska music is going to be
the next big thing. Therefore, everybody wants to play in a ska
band right now."

Although ska will always remain an integral part of Voodoo Glow
Skulls’ sound, Casillas also values the band’s unusual array of
other musical influences.

"We love ska, and we’re going to continue to incorporate ska
into our music, but we also love rap, salsa, polka music and
everything else," he says. "I think that makes us a bit more
diverse than everyone else."

Concert: Voodoo Glow Skulls at the Palace in Hollywood tonight.
Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets: $12. For more info, call (213)
462-3000.

Voodoo Glow Skulls storm the music scene with punk-ska,
English-Spanish crossover.