ANIMAL TROPICAL are four friends from childhood who – despite their varying interests -- always wanted to be in a band. Pabona, the guitarist, is an amateur anthropologist and mystic; Norge, the drummer, is a filmmaker and dabbler in fashion photography; Jose Jose, the piano player, writes poetry and paints pictures of rottweilers; Jarrett, bass player, is a full on gourmand and food scholar. But Saturday nights (or any time you care to party), they forget all of that: handi-camera and dagga sprout, pencil and spatula are toweled stowed, amps switched on, and soon enough Cuban heels spiral off of feet, and cymbals crash, and all of Miami is set in muggy motion (and the fun isn’t limited to Miami, of course: this contagion has, over the years, spread up the peninsula to every corner of the south and midatlantic and Midwest; Johnstown! Wichita! Brooklyn! Peroria! Sioux Falls!) Indeed, after their peculiar fashion sense (a sultan’s wardrobe of cuban heels, perfumed hankies,leisure suits and open collared oxfords, all dismissed as “natural elegance”), AT are best known for their under-the-big-top flavored live performances, spectacles of an intensity that belies the craftiness of their music. Listen to the records. Their lyrical and musical density recalls Steely Dan; their classical precision and punk attack pure Elvis Costello and the Attractions; their feverish soulfulness pinched from The Band, Motown, and gospel old-timey and new timey; their freakiness from Tropicalia; their wistful, big smile pop worthy of ABBA. They are young. Crazy. Ambitious. “We fully expect to be a next big thing” slurs Jose Jose, interrupting his colleagues, loud with drink all. “We’re emotional bluebloods that way”“I’d rather die then not make it” roars Norge “I’d rather be nailed to a cross.”Jarrett apologizes for the melodrama,while Pabona confides that Norge has “said that more than once”, quickly adding “we all totally agree”. Catch them if you can.
- Pedro Pajaro
“Animal Tropical (say it Miami style: ahh-nee-mahl trow-pee-cahl) are one of the best and most underrated bands in the whole damn city.”
-Lauren Reskin, Sweat Records
“…their sort of Talking Heads-esque absorption of world beat and indie rock, way before Vampire Weekend did it, and with a much more swampy feel.”
-Arielle Castillo, Miami New Times
“The Miami ensemble took the Latin-based art funk that David Byrne made famous in the '80s and turned it on its head. Nonsensical lyrics about cockatiels and black magic, plus squiggly synths and angular rapid-fire rhythms, made Animal/Tropical odd and delightful.”
-A.D. Amorosi, Philadelphia Inquirer
“The abstract psych vibe of the music was punctuated by the most fabulous hand gestures by any performer I've seen, quite possibly ever.”
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"Go Native" By Animal Tropical Live at SweatStock 2010 on Vimeo
"Manola" & "Black Magic City" By Animal Tropical Live at SweatStock 2010 from Jorge Rubiera on Vimeo.
"Indio Mudo" music video by Animal Tropical from Jorge Rubiera on Vimeo.
