Photos of Cayucas at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, NY on February 28th, 2014
Photos of Heartless Bastards at 2013 Treasure Island Festival in San Francisco, CA
Photos of Heartless Bastards at 2013 New Noise Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA
Photos of Cayucas at Terminal 5 in New York, NY on October 9th, 2013
Photos of Cayucas at SXSW 2013 in Austin, TX
Photos of Cayucas at Fillmore in San Francisco, CA on February 11th, 2013
Tropicalia has been hot these last handful of years, ever since Vampire Weekend (QRO live review) got big, but the admittedly enjoyable sound has struggled to get out of its creative limitations. Cayucas definitely go tropical on Dancing At the Blue Lagoon (just look at that title…), and at times do distinctly more.
“Hella” is a great piece about a Northern Californian who took a wrong turn (“or so he says…”) that is more than just catchy – though the repeated title chorus is that as well. The Lagoon’s title track is perfectly relaxed and appealing. Meanwhile, the other pieces on the record are still nice, but just can’t be as memorable.
If you’re going to go tropicalia – and there’s nothing wrong with that – Cayucas do a pretty good job of it.