In Monterrey, Mexico, there is one of the most diverse and eclectic pop, rock and indie music movements not only in that country, but probably in Latin America. Jumbo, a band that this year celebrates 25 years of existence, has not only survived this great wave of trends, but has remained true to its style.
“We are not going to be a reggaeton or corrido tumbados band,” said Clemente Castillo, vocalist and guitarist of the Monterrey-based combo. “But we are not going to be an old-fashioned band stuck in the nineties either.”
The quintet is not only aware of what is happening in the world of music, but has also educated itself in the way in which it is consumed, which is far from the way it was marketed when this rock band began its career.
For Clemente, what has remained intact in them “is the essence of what a rock and roll band is, which is Jumbo’s main identity.”
Currently, and as part of the celebrations for their 25 years of existence, the combo is touring with División Minúscula —another Mexican rock band— on the División Minúscula and Jumbo US Tour 2024. This is an almost unprecedented event because it is the first time that both groups have reunited to perform together in theaters in the United States. The tour will arrive this weekend at two theaters in Southern California.
This tour puts an end to the long forced break that Jumbo had to undergo. In 2020, these guys had a new album, “Manual de viaje”, and big plans to tour until the health emergency cut their wings.
Now, after this forced break, Jumbo is back just as the group celebrates 25 years of existence. And although there is no new music, what its members do have is a great desire to celebrate with their fans.
“We are visiting places we haven’t visited in a long time,” said Clemente. “With this tour we are celebrating alongside División Minúscula, that even though we are from different generations and different audiences, we believe that this tour has worked well.”
As for the music, “Manual de viaje” was a very ambitious album that was recorded with a 14-musician ensemble in a recording studio with an audience present. It was a kind of disconnected album like the ones that MTV usually records, but which are Jumbo’s trademark. To resume that project, whose promotion could not be realized, the quintet has plans to re-record a couple of singles to offer something refreshing to the public.
“As if starting from scratch [con el disco]to see what happens,” he says.
In detail
That: Minuscule Division and Jumbo US Tour 2024
When: Saturday 8 pm
Where: at the Belasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St., Los Angeles; and Sunday 7 p.m. at The Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana
Tickets: from $20; information at ticketmaster.com