London-based instrumental outfit Los Bitchos — Australian-born, Serra Petale (guitar); Uruguayan-born Agustina Ruiz (keytar); Swedish-born, Josefine Jonsson (bass) and London-born and-based Nic Crawshaw (drums) — can trace their origins to meeting at various late-night parties and through mutual friends. Inspired by their individual members’ different upbringings and backgrounds, Los Bitchos have developed a unique, genre-blurring and retro-futuristic sound blends elements of Peruvian chicha, Argentine cumbia, Turkish psych, surf rock, and the music each individual member grew up with:
- The Uruguayan-born Ruiz had a Latin-American music collection that the members of the band fell in love with.
- The Swedish-born Jonsson “brings a touch of out of control pop,” her bandmates often joke.
- Aussie-born Serra Petale is deeply inspired by her mother’s 70s Anatolian rock records.
- And the London-born Crawshaw played in a number of local punk bands before joining Los Bitchos.
“Coming from all these different places,” Los Bitchos’ Serra Petale says, “it means we’re not stuck in one genre and we can rip up the rulebook a bit when it comes to our influences.”
Los Bitchos’ Alex Kapranos-produced full-length debut, last year’s Let The Festivities Begin! was recorded at Gallery Studios, and saw the band further cementing heir reputation for crafting maximalist, trippy, Technicolor instrumental party starting jobs — with a cinematic quality.
The London-based JOVM mainstays capped off a momentous year with with two singles “Los Chrismos,” their first Christmas-themed composition and “Tip Tapp, which were co-produced by the band’s Serra Petale and Javier Weyler and recorded at 5db was released digitally and physically on a flexi-disc, bundled with a red vinyl re-press of their debut. “Los Chrismos” is a celebratory party-starting romp built around a psych rock-inspired, dexterous, looping guitar line, atmospheric synths cheers and shouts paired with cumbia rhythms. The end result is a much-needed joy and hope bomb that’s just pure unadulterated joy.
Los Bitchos’ forthcoming two-track EP PAH! is slated for a digital and 7″ release in mid-March through their label home City Stand — and the EP coincides with their upcoming UK and European tour opening for JOVM mainstays King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard. PAH! features a mischievously rowdy and boozy cover of The Champs‘ “Tequila,” a song that has become a fan favorite during the band’s live shows. The EP also features a reworking of the Gizz’s “Trapdoor.”
Filmed by Los Bitchos and Lea Emmery, the accompanying video for “Tequila” follows the members of the JOVM mainstay act stopping at a liquor store to buy a bottle of tequila, which they bring with them through a night of partying with friends new an old. And much like the cover, it’s a mischievous, rowdy night through London.
Los Bitchos will be embarking on a lengthy international tour with dates across the European Union and the UK through March. The JOVM mainstays will then embark on a month-long US tour that includes a May 2, 2023 stop at Brooklyn Made.
LOS BITCHOS LIVE DATES:
Mar. 2 – Paris, France – Zenith *
Mar. 3 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Gashouder SOLD OUT *
Mar. 4 – Tilburg, Netherlands – 013 SOLD OUT *
Mar. 6 – Malmo. Sweden – Plan B SOLD OUT *
Mar. 7 – Stockholm, Sweden – Munchenbryggeriet SOLD OUT *
Mar. 8 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene *
Mar. 9 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Den Gra Hal *
Mar. 11 – Warsaw, Poland – Progresja SoLDOUT *
Mar. 12 – Prague, Czech Republic – Velky sál Lucerna *
Mar. 13 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer *
Mar. 15 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz *
Mar. 16 – Züric, Switzerland-X-Tra *
Mar. 17 – Lausanne, Switzerland – Les Docks SOLD OUT *
Mar. 18 – Wiesbaden, Germany-Schlachthof *
Mar. 20 – Brussels, Belgium – Cirque Royal SOLD OUT *
Mar. 22 – London, United Kingdom – Alexandra Palace *
Mar. 23 – London, United Kingdom – The Troxy *
Apr. 14 – San Diego, USA – Soda Bar
Apr. 16 – Indio, USA – Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival 2023
Apr. 18 – San Francisco, USA – The Chapel
Apr. 19. – Santa Barbara, USA – Soho Restaurant & Music Club
Apr. 20 – Los Angeles, USA – El Rey Theatre
Apr. 21 – Las Vegas, USA – The Usual Place
Apr. 23 – Indio, USA – Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival 2023
Apr. 25 – Phoenix, USA – Valley Bar
Apr. 27 – Dallas, USA – Art Co.
Apr. 30 – Austin, USA – Austin Psych Fest
May. 2 – Brooklyn, USA – Brooklyn Made
May. 27 – Brixton, UK – Wide Awake Festival 2023
Jun. 5 – Woolacombe, UK – Spring Classic 2023
Jul. 19-23 – Bontida, Romania – Electric Castle Festival
Aug. 3 – Oxfordshire, UK – Wilderness Festival 2023
Sep. 2 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Psych Fest 2023
* = with King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard