[Biography] [Press] [Band Members] [Stage Plot] [Hi-Res Photos]

 

 

Biography

[photo by Sophie Spinelle]

 

Birthed in Colombia and bred in the San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland-based Antioquia makes music that inspires raucous dancing and deep listening.  With influences ranging from Mahavishnu Orchestra to AfroColombian songstress Toto La Mompasina and traditional music from West Africa, Antioquia’s primary mission is to unite humans in the healing act of dance. Their earnest let-it-all-hang-out stage presence encourages the same from the audience, creating a feedback loop that builds momentum as standers-by are sucked into the dance floor. 
     
A secondary mission is to do all this while contributing to positive social movements. In September 2008, the band launched their Post Peak Oil Rock Project, which aims to “wean their music off fossil fuels,” from using waste veggie oil and bicycle touring technologies to tracking and reducing their use of plastic. From touring to merchandise, Antioquia is making every effort to be a part of the solution.
    
Antioquia’s debut album Gringolandia, released in 2008, was called “a wild ride to the center of the earth and the depths of the soul.” (Brian Echon, West Coast Performer Magazine).  Their second full length album, My Piano Ate the Front Page of the San Francisco Chronicle was released in early 2010 to critical acclaim including Jambase Albums of the Week, March 5-11 and one of DirtyImpound.com's Albums of the Year.  Dennis Cook writes "SF’s Antioquia possess a distinct socio-political bent but shimmy about like kids on Pixie sticks and Kool-Aid as they prod and peel away at entrenched infrastructures. Echoes of Fela, Pere Ubu and Talking Heads ping around in their sound, but none so much to overshadow the original voice rising in this young band."
    
Peppered with fits of improvisation, bouts of silliness and fiery percussion pieces performed amidst the crowd, an Antioquia set is high energy, captivating, and anything but predictable.  You can count on each show to bring the audience closer to the stage and closer together.
 
Here are a couple of videos for your viewing pleasure.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Y8Cwfpls4
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTRWJ78MKZM

 

[Looking for Antioquia's Stage Plot, Input List or High-resolution Photos and Show Posters? CLICK HERE]

 

 

The Players [Top]

	RACHEL ANTONY-LEVINE - Vocals, keys, percussion Rachel Antony-Levine has been writing songs since she was thirteen and performing since she was too little to remember.  She jumps between keys, percussion, flute, and whatever else she can find on stage.  Heavily influenced by Janis Joplin, Fiona Apple, Jeff Buckley, and Tool, Rachel spices up haunting harmonies with hard rock stylings.
	ADLEY PENNER - Guitar, vocals, gaita (Colombian flute), percussion Adley Penner, also from Canada, plays guitar inspired by the Primus and Megadeth region of the Rock spectrum, but is also heavily inspired by soukous and reggae. He employs tools such as the electric drill and hair dryer and techniques like finger tapping and makes all sorts of strange and wonderful sounds on his guitar.
	PAUL MARTIN - Bass, vocals, percussion Bassist Paul Martin was forged in the depths of Alabama by a drummer and pianist, and joined Antioquia shortly after moving to San Francisco in 2006. He’s well-versed in the vocabularies of soul, funk and blues. His influences and inspiration include Les Claypool, Victor Wooten, David Byrne, and Jaco.
	CRAIG MILLER - Drums, djembe, vocals Drummer Craig Miller’s unique style is influenced by his studies of African djembe, balafon, and imbira and he incorporates these influences into his playing. He grew up listening primarily to rock, and devoted many of his brain cells to Phish.
	TOMAS SALCEDO - Guitar, percussion Tomas Salcedo began playing guitar at the tender age of 10.  He spent half of his youth in Santiago, Chile before moving to the Bay Area to pursue music at the age of 18.  His guitar playing is heavily influenced by the all the great metal bands, including Led Zeppelin.  He is also currently studying congas and Ghanain panlogo drumming.