Bakotopia

Matt Munoz: Lead Vox / Sax
Pablo Alaniz : Lead Guitar
Joe Vazquez: Trombone
Robert Martinez: Percussion
Caleb Moore: Bass
Cesareo Garasa: Drums
Paul Perez: Saxophone

 Mento Buru is an eclectic 7-piece band that combines Jamaican SKA, rock, funk, salsa, hip-hop, jazz, and punky reggae creating a maddening musical experience.

What started out as just a bunch of friends jamming for backyard parties, has evolved into a cross-cultural phenomenon all over California! Born during the year when grunge and depression were the fashion, Mento Buru didn't care. It wasn't about trends and trying to be cool flying the wack, smelly flannel shirt with Doc Marten boots and shorts, it was about having fun playing the music we love, not the latest fad. Whether you're into Punk, Country, Rockabilly, Cumbia, Salsa, Reggae, Ska, Oi!, Emo, Goth, Metal or whatever weird names they come up with next, you'll find yourself welcome at the Mento Buru show. As always, musicians are always welcome to join in. Music for the people, by the people. Try it, you'll like it!

PERFORMANCE HISTORY:
Mento has been gigging non-stop since '91 and shows no sign of stopping. This band lives to play live and always gives the audience everything it has boiling in it's stew of rhythm!! Mento Buru has opened and performed with Ozomatli, WAR, The Specials, Long Beach Dub All Stars, The Aquabats, Los Abandoned, Poncho Sanchez, Fishbone, Pete Escovedo, Keiko Matsui, The Yellow Jackets, Malo, Desmond Dekker, Tyrese, WC & The Madd Circle, Tamia, Black Uhuru, Pato Banton, The Skatalites, Papa Roach, and a slew of other Reggae, Punk Rock, Salsa, Jazz, Soul & Ska legends... Performance venues include Johnny Depp's Viper Room (Hollywood), B.B. King's Blues Club (Universal City), LATV Live! (Los Angeles), Temple Bar (Santa Monica), The Lounge (West Hollywood), SOhO (Santa Barbara), The Roxy (Hollywood), The Whiskey (Hollywood), Buck Owens Crystal Palace (Bakersfield), CSUB Jazz Festival (Bakersfield), SLO Brewery (San Luis Obispo), La Luz De Jesus Gallery (Hollywood),Wilson Theatre (Fresno), Las Palmas Theatre (Hollywood), Fox Theater (Bakersfield), The Centennial Garden (Bakersfield), Buffalo Club (Los Angeles), Luna Park (Hollywood), and Linda's Dollhut in Anaheim, Ca.

So, in the immortal words of P-Funk master George Clinton, "You gon' dance sucka!"