Chicano Batman: A Rock Band For The People

Author’s note: If you would like to experience the setlist, here is the playlist! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5A0pHPqByyYYvGIdaoFGfH?si=0a9b058f61344a28

 

Chicano Batman hosted a Día De Los Muertos celebration at the Fox Theater in Pomona, CA, on Nov. 1 and 2 as part of their world tour. The Latine band helped their fans celebrate our loved ones that have crossed over. During night two, the band reminded their fans to vote in this year’s election and expressed solidarity with Palestine, emphasizing how everyone should “vote for their conscience.” 

 

Chicano Batman debuted in 2008 with Eduardo Arena, Carlos Arévalo, Bardo Martinez and Gabriel Villa. Sixteen years later, with three final members, Eduardo, Carlos and Bardo, wrapped up their final tour. The group is known to write, compose and produce their own hits, releasing a total of five studio albums with various other EPs and singles. Many of their hits are songs that emphasize social justice movements. The soulful rock band are unafraid to express their solidarity and it’s evident with their name, logo and merchandise. The name celebrates and highlights the blend of cultural and political movements: the Chicano Movement and Batman. 

 

I attended their show on Nov. 2, 2024 and it included two opening acts, Xiuhtezcatl and Inner Wave, and an hour-and-forty-five-minute set. The setlist was 20 songs long, exploring their five studio albums and EPs. It included some of their iconic songs dating back to 2010, such as “Black Lipstick,” “Itotiani” and “She Lives On My Block.”

 

Their sold-out show was in a theater jam packed with eager fans excited for what was to come. At 9:10 p.m., the crowd exploded as El Rey by Vincente Fernandez began to play. It was unexpected yet completely on-brand for the group, and everyone was thrilled as the rock stars arrived onto the main stage. I was so blatantly unaware of the emotional turbulence I would experience throughout their set.

 

As much as I tried, I could not hold back the tears that “La Jura” demanded from me; hearing it live was an unworldly and humbling experience. It was the first song I heard by the group in 2021 and shortly after, I fell down a musical rabbit hole. Some of my favorite songs became “Freedom is Free,” “Fantasía,” and “She Lives On My Block.” Luckily for me, they were all part of the set, and I had a great time experiencing the music live while Bardo’s vocals blew me away. 

 

It might have been because it was their last couple of shows before their indefinite hiatus that caused every song to hit that much deeper. The members delivered an incredible show, and everyone in the audience witnessed the mutual respect and chemistry between the bandmates. From their lively songs to their most heartfelt, soulful vocals, the audience felt all the love being sent our way as we reminisced on the journey that brought us together. We received love and encouragement from the band. The people who struggled with the election were comforted by Eduardo Arena and the story about his father.

 

His father, who served in the Vietnam War, remained politically aware after his service time. His father continued his education, majoring in psychology, and taught for 25 years. Eduardo recalls that his father ensured to teach his children to be politically educated. When Eduardo’s father was asked about who he would vote for in the 2024 presidential election, he said both parties were not representing the people’s demands and that he would be voting for his conscience instead. Eduardo reminded his fans that their vote matters and that they should “vote for [their] conscience.” He reminded us that even though we are chained to the two-party system, we could still vote for our conscience and vote against genocide. This ideology is not a surprise to fans who have been following them for years. 

 

It is important that artists denounce genocide no matter how mainstream they may go, we must call out our favorite artists as there are human lives on the line. Lyricism is such an engaging art form and the perfect place for speaking out about politics as it has been used for centuries as an outlet for protest art. From their lyrics, their message was loud, giving me the courage to be more politically vocal about my support for Palestine and discontent with both parties that have disregarded the working class and their complicity in genocides in the global south.

 

Rating: 9.5/10