Comprised of Eduardo Arenas (bass, vocals), Carlos Arévalo (guitar), Bardo Martinez (vocals, organ, guitar) and Gabriel Villa (drums, percussion), the Los Angeles, CA-based quartet Chicano Batman have developed a reputation for specializing in a sound that draws from Brazilian tropicalia, psychedelia and classic soul — and for a growing national profile, as they’ve opened for Jack White, Alabama Shakes, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, Gogol Bordello and others. Adding to that, the band has played at several of the country’s biggest music festivals, including Coachella and Bonnaroo among others.
Interestingly, the band’s latest album Freedom Is Free finds the band leaning heavily towards a classic soul and classic R&B-leaning sound. And in order to achieve that goal, the band enlisted the assistance of Leon Michels, who is best known for specializing in that classic soul sound with his work with El Michels Affair, The Arcs, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, The Black Keys and The Menahan Street Band. Additionally, Michels has had his work sampled in songs by Jay-Z and Ghostface Killah.
“Friendship (Is A Small Boat In A Storm)” is the latest single off Freedom Is Free and as you’ll hear the song draws from slow-burning, classic soul and R&B while nodding at the sound of The Who Sings My Generation and A Quick One-era The Who and The Kinks — but if they added an organist and a handful of backing vocalist. And as a result, the song consists of a soulful, old-school, shuffling two step and a deceptively simple nature, as the song lyrically and thematically speaks of the complex and complicated nature of friendship. Throughout the song, the narrator openly recognizes that while human relationships are absolutely pleasurable and necessary if they forge a deep understanding and companionship; but they can also be frequently fraught with misunderstanding, bitterness, heartache and betrayal.
Recently, the members of Chicano Batman made their national television debut with an appearance on Conan, where they played a loose and fiery version of “Friendship (Is A Small Boat In A Storm) off their latest full-length effort.
Speaking of live performances, Chicano Batman will be embarking on a fairly lengthy tour throughout the bulk of the summer that includes two dates in Mexico and a SummerStage set on July 15, 2017. Check out the rest of the dates below.
Tour Dates
May 28 – George, WA – Sasquatch Festival
June 20 – Guadalajara, MX – Foro Independencia
June 21 – Mexico City, MX – Lunario del Auditorio Nacional
June 29 – Lawrence, KS – Free State Film Festival
June 30 – Davenport, IA – Daytrotter
July 01 – Chicago, IL – Live on Lincoln
July 07 – Saint Paul, MN – Turf Club
July 08 – Des Moines, IA – 80/35 Festival
July 09 – Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Summerfest
July 11 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
July 13 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
July 14 – Louisville, KY – Forecastle Festival
July 15 – New York, NY – Central Park Summerstage
July 16 – Greenfield, MA – Green River Festival
July 23 – Los Angeles, CA – FYF Festival
July 29 – Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival
July 29 – Camden, NJ – Xponential Festival
Sept 1-3 – Seattle, WA – Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival
Sept 15-17 – Telluride, CO – Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
