Band finds music and social activism inseparable

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

While Ozomatli's lineup shifts occasionally, the core members are, from left to right, Jiro Yamaguchi, Raul Pacheco, Justin Porée, Ulises Bella, Asdru Sierra, Wil-Dog Abers and Andy Mendoza. Amy B. Ozomatli 7 p.m. Tuesday Pipeline Cafe $20 (877) 750-4400

The band has performed here twice. The first, a hastily put together affair in 2000 at Aloha Tower Marketplace's now-departed Pier Bar, drew an unexpected 1,000-plus crowd; the most recent, at the now-also-defunct World Café just over a year ago, was a near sellout.

"We definitely get a good crowd," said bassist and founding Ozomatli member Wil-Dog Abers, weighing both shows.

Still, someday — if not on the Los Angeles-based band's two-day stopover on O'ahu next week for a Pipeline Café gig on the way home from Australia — Abers is hoping he'll get to see more of Hawai'i than just Diamond Head, Matsumoto's Shave Ice and the confines of another sweaty O'ahu club.

"I want to see some of the other islands," said Abers, sighing. "I've heard they're doper. I usually rent a car and drive the whole island (of O'ahu) in about a half-hour. In one day I did, like, every highway you guys have." Abers chuckled at the memory. Coming from sprawling L.A., "I had a little bit of island fever goin' on."

Taking its name from the Aztec god of dance, Ozomatli first joined musical forces in 1995 for a single gig at an L.A. community center, in support of striking inner-city laborers. But after the band's brash, energetic and unique musical jambalaya of hip-hop, salsa, mariachi, reggae, funk, jazz and countless other genres struck such a chord with L.A. audiences at subsequent benefits, the band basically stumbled into sticking together for the long haul.

Though Ozomatli is now considered one of L.A.'s most solid live acts, its political and social activism remain important (and sometimes controversial) components of the band's music and on- and off-stage actions.

I spoke with Abers last week via telephone from Malibu — where Ozomatli was doing demo work for its third CD — about the band's future, its new record label and, of course, politics.

The band recently signed with Norman Lear's indie label, Concord, after just one CD with Interscope — 2001's "Embrace The Chaos." Is there a story behind the move?

Yeah. We were a small band in a big pond. And I don't think that was the best place for us, you know? For our future, we'd much rather be a big band in a small pond. I think that's a (large) reason why we chose Concord instead of going (with a major label) again. There's good and bad things in both. But I think that in terms of Interscope, we didn't get the attention that we needed. We didn't fit their format. They have a certain way that they work records. They kind of have their rock, their dance, and then their hip-hop and R&B. You have to fit into one of those things. And we just don't. So it was probably good for both of us to get out.

The strange thing about the deal, though, is that Interscope must have signed Ozomatli knowing exactly what they were getting.

We were on a small label (Almo Sounds) then. And basically what happened was that (label owners) Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert got out of the business and they sold us and Garbage (to Interscope). We were kind of like a part of this package deal. ... They probably wanted us. (But) they probably wanted Garbage a little bit more because they were platinum.

Did you leave Interscope or did they drop you?

Oh, we got dropped. But we were asking to get dropped, and we were just hoping that we would.

So winning your first Grammy for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album last year for "Embrace The Chaos" carried no weight with Interscope?

A big label like that, they're more concerned with ... OK, you've got U2 and No Doubt winning Grammys on one level, and then you've got us winning a Grammy on a whole other level, which doesn't really sell any records, you know? What it's more about is selling product. It's not about recognition. I don't think the Grammys necessarily made us sell a lot more records.

Ozomatli had been fairly outspoken earlier this year about its opposition to the United States going to war in Iraq. Now that stopping the war from happening is beyond anyone's control, what is the band encouraging?

We're encouraging (people) to really take a look. You know, it's a really hard conversation to have, let me tell you. We've gotten a lot of criticism from our own fans about our take on the war. We've had guys at our show that (were) being shipped out (to Iraq) the next day. It's been pretty (expletive) heavy, you know?

For us ... we always have to say what we believe. And we believe that this war is unjust. From the get go ... we say that (at shows). We definitely say we don't support it. We encourage people that feel the same ... to open up their mouths and talk about it with people. We encourage people to go onto our Web site, (where) there's links to various alternative media. And we also encourage people to take a look at, really, (whether) they're doing the right thing.

(That's) because we recognize that a lot of the kids that are being sent (to Iraq) really don't have any other options in their life. ... It's not like they have all these options growing up where (it's) like, 'Oh, I could be a lawyer or I could go into the Army.' No. It's like, 'They're telling me that they'll pay for my schooling, and that's good enough.' We recognize that, too.

But at the same time, now that they're being asked to fight, we're definitely asking them to question that, and really look at what the right thing to do is for themselves and what they would want to be done to them. That if they have any opposition to it and need help and they don't have any resources, that (they) come talk to us and we'll find a lawyer. We'll help, in any way possible, if you don't want to go fight this war. We've always put that out there, where (we say), 'We will give you our support if you need help with any of this stuff.'

Has anyone accepted the offer?

They've come up to us. A lot of guys have mixed emotions about (going to Iraq), and they don't think they're doing the right thing. But they need to go along with it because they're afraid of what their peers might do to them. They've been afraid to speak up. And all we can do is encourage them to do that.

Ozomatli has always supported numerous political and social causes. Some well-known, like the International Campaign for Tibet, and United Farm Workers. Some largely unknown, like the Taco Bell Truth Tour, and School of the Americas Watch. What does the band look for in causes it chooses to support?

Anything involving any kind of change in what's going on right now. (Laughs.) We don't pick organizations. There's a lot going on all over the world. And not just in the political realm. ...

As a band, we've definitely supported getting a fair trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal. As a band, we've supported the Zapatistas. As a band, we support the whole antiwar movement. As a band, we also supported the women that are being raped and killed in Juarez, Mexico. ... We recognize all that. There's not, like, one particular ... I mean, there's a lot of people in the band. And definitely, some of us support some things more than others, you know?

Ozomatli was formed with a mission of being shapers of political and social change, wasn't it?

The only reason why we formed was to play at political and community benefits. I was in Macy Gray's band at the time — before she was big — and I was in another band called Mesh of Mind. And I was really interested in getting Macy or the other band to play, and they just weren't interested.

And so I was really frustrated with that, because that was me. They were more interested in getting a (record) deal. I can't say that Macy isn't down for the cause at all, but (her) interest, at the time, (was) in getting a deal. ... This was something that I needed to do for myself, (and) I wanted a band that would do that.

So I invited everyone to just come and jam at this one benefit. When that happened, it just started to get bigger. ... We became a real band, and then it just kind of snowballed into commitment and a life change and touring ... and real life.

Could you imagine an Ozomatli that ceases to be as politically and socially outspoken?

You know, I don't know. I can't really predict tomorrow. I just know that when I hear about things today ... when we hear about things ... we like using people like you to get them out. It's kind of just who we are today. Tomorrow? Maybe not. Maybe more. (Laughs.) I don't know.

Speaking of the future, Ozomatli is in the process of putting together its third album and follow-up to "Embrace The Chaos."

We're demo-ing songs. It definitely won't be out until ... the end of the year or the beginning of next year.

What's influencing the band's sound and lyrical content this time around?

We're definitely headed (to the Middle) East, (relating) to the situation that's going on. ... We were headed that way on ("Embrace"), even though a lot of it wasn't on the record because ... we weren't as comfortable with the music. It's a constant learning (process) for us. We're constantly learning about music from all over the world.

Should fans expect Ozomatli's usual worldly and eclectic mix of music genres on the new CD?

Yeah, and more, hopefully. That's what we strive for every time. It doesn't always work, but we're definitely gonna strive for it. We do our best.

How many guys are in the band now?

There's 10.

You've alluded to this earlier, but with that many people, personalities and musical tastes knocking up against each other, is complete musical consensus in Ozomatli essentially a pipe dream?

It's almost like the masses of the band move the rest. If you get a bunch of people hyped on it, the other people aren't gonna go, 'Well, I'm not that into it.' It's also about where we are in our own relationships with each other. That can completely affect how you feel about the music. It's like a marriage, you know? It's no different. If we're communicating with each other, then the outcome is probably going to be positive whether the music is good or not.

At the end of the day, though, what would you say keeps Ozomatli together?

I think, in general, people really like what they do, and really want to make this work. They see it as something that's valuable for their life and for their family and individually. Uli, Raul, Asdru, Justin, Jiro ... they're valuable to me as people in my life. And I really think that I can learn a lot from them. So that's what keeps me going. And it's something new every day. There's something jumping off every day.

Know your Ozo

• Albums: "Ozomatli" (Almo Sounds, 1998), "Embrace The Chaos" (Interscope, 2001), "Ozomatli Live" (2002, available via www.ozomatli.com)
• Members include bassist/vocalist Wil-Dog Abers, percussionists Jiro Yamaguchi and Justin Poree, tenor saxophonist/guitarist/clarinetist/vocalist Ulises Bella, lead vocalist and trumpeter Asdru Sierra, guitarist Raul Pacheco, drummer Andy Mendoza, rap vocalist Kanetic Source.
• Ozomatli has boasted up to 14 members. Former Ozo turntablist Cut Chemist and hip-hop lyricist Chali2na are now members of Jurassic 5.
• A longtime Ozomatli fan, Carlos Santana, has invited Ozomatli with him on several tours. Santana asked the band to guest on "One Of These Days," a track from last year's "Shaman" CD.
• While playing (along with Rage Against The Machine) for protesters outside the 2000 Democratic National Convention in L.A., Ozomatli's set was cut after two songs when police declared the several thousand-strong crowd an unlawful assembly. Power was cut, the crowd was ordered to disperse and tear gas was eventually used.
• The band has appeared or performed on the television series "American Family" and "Sex and the City." You can catch Ozomatli's most recent tube foray on NBC's "Crossing Jordan" at 9 p.m. Monday, which promises to showcase the band's acting and musical chops.