Chicago-Based Alt-Latinx Band to Perform for Free in Honor of Landmark Event
Dos Santos, left to right: Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo, Peter “Maestro” Vale, Alex E. Chávez, Jaime Garza Rodriguez, and Nathan Karagianis
Image Credit: José Calvo
Ballroom Marfa is set to mark its 20th year anniversary with a sensational musical performance by Dos Santos, the renowned alt-Latinx band hailing from Chicago. In a celebration of two decades of art and culture, the Ballroom Marfa Courtyard will host the band on Friday, October 6, 2023. This event coincides with the grand opening of “Perhaps the Truth,” promising an unforgettable night of music and celebration.
Doors to the Ballroom Marfa Courtyard will open at 8:30 pm, providing an opportunity for music enthusiasts of all ages to enjoy the performance for free. Dos Santos, composed of bandleader Alex Chávez, drummer Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo, percussionist Peter “Maestro” Vale, bassist Jaime Garza, and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Nathan Karagianis, is known for its unique blend of traditional Latin and South American rhythms with contemporary influences spanning jazz, Mexican folkloric genres, punk rock, salsa, and psychedelia.
The band’s music is a captivating fusion of diverse musical elements, challenging stereotypes and pushing the boundaries of Latinx music. Simultaneously, Dos Santos uses its art to explore themes of social justice, migration, and contemporary human struggles, delivering a powerful message through their music.
Dos Santos’s latest album, “City of Mirrors,” has received critical acclaim for its rich tapestry of Latin American rhythms and borderland poetry. It reflects a love for tradition, spirituality, and the Latinx diaspora, all expertly woven into the band’s distinctive sound. With 13 tracks that span tradition and contemporary expression, the album perfectly encapsulates Dos Santos’ mission to defy musical conventions while addressing pressing societal issues.
Speaking about the album, Alex Chávez stated, “City of Mirrors is an assemblage… glimpses of tradition… reflections on our collective present… luminous echoes between love and solitude, hope and absurdity, euphoria and mourning. This album grapples with and transgresses these binaries because we have/and continue to cross borders. Yet, for us, the border is no metaphor—too much real staring back at us. We embody the border. We (our families) have crossed it. We (our stories) are coated with its residues. And so… we cross the border of self through our art – out of necessity.”
To create “City of Mirrors,” Dos Santos expanded their lineup to incorporate a sixth member and recorded the album in Los Angeles under the guidance of artist and producer Elliot Bergman. The result is a boundary-defying masterpiece that showcases the band’s growth and commitment to their art.
Dos Santos’ lyrics resonate with current cultural shifts, offering a connection between daily lived experiences and their Latinx roots. As the Chicago Reader notes, “City of Mirrors reflects our heritage and our lineage, and reminds us that we’re an ancient people—we’re still here, and this is what we’re going through.”
Rolling Stone praises the band’s latest work, stating that “City of Mirrors” feels like it’s “perpetually building and expanding,” marking an imaginative step forward for Dos Santos. Pitchfork adds that the album is a “kaleidoscopic mosaic of novel sound pairings propelled by Latin rhythms,” evoking a captivating atmosphere.
In celebration of Ballroom Marfa’s 20th year anniversary and the release of “Perhaps the Truth,” Dos Santos’ performance promises to be an unforgettable evening of music, culture, and artistic expression. This event is an opportunity for Marfa and beyond to come together and celebrate two decades of creativity and inspiration in the heart of Texas.
