Tonight, White Crate is throwing an epic anniversary show to celebrate five years of spreading Bay Area Music Love, featuring the amazing local talent of La Doña, PEÑA, BOLERO!, and DJ Louie Elser.
BOLERO! is a San Francisco-based rock band that performs what can best be described as “freak flag music.” Inspired by the bands of the 60s and 70s, the group produces a dynamic and rich range of compositions that ride the sharing borders of blues, soul, Latin rock, folk, jazz, southern rock and psychedelic music.
Read on for our special new interview with Gregoria Figueroa of BOLERO! to hear about the band’s background and deep ties to the Bay’s psychedelic roots!
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small coastal town called Seal Beach, CA and moved to San Francisco when I was 18 years old back in 2012 for college at The San Francisco Art Institute.
How did you start making music?
Growing up near Long Beach, CA there was a thriving almost throwback Greenwich Village-style music, arts, and poetry scene. On 4th street, there were two major cultural cafes Viento Y Agua, and Portfolio, where there were weekly open mics. After watching so many of my peers perform, I got inspired to push myself and learn to play. I saved up all the money I could from working my uncle’s Hawaiian shaved ice truck, bought a little parlor guitar, and after two months began writing folk songs. Eventually, after moving to San Francisco and finishing school, I switched over to electric music.
How did you start this project?
BOLERO! was formed after our lead guitarist Joe Dileo and I met at the Red Victorian Commune/Hostel on Haight. Both our old bands broke up at the time and we loved each other styles and energy, so I invited him over to the old blue Victorian i was living at and we jammed for hours on my rooftop deck overlooking the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge. It was pure electricity after the first note, and we eventually got the first incarnation of the group together by the middle of 2019.
How does the Bay Area influence the music you make?
Our music is incredibly inspired by Bay Area bands from the 60s and 70s, specifically the Latin rock, psychedelic and hybrid genres bands such as Santana, Malo, Dakila, Sapo, The Grateful Dead, Tower of Power, and Quicksilver Messenger Service.
Our group itself is a melting pot of folks from different musical backgrounds, and places that reflect in our Latin rock, blues, soul, and psychedelic-infused sound. In a way, we want to bring the classic “San Francisco” sound of then to our current day and to new generations.
Which up-and-coming Bay Area artists are you most excited about?
We really love so many of our peers out here. There are so many amazing groups in all genres that I truly believe will go so far and have such distinct tasteful sounds. A few of my favorites are: Orchestra Gold, Ritmos Tropicosmos, Mild Universe, Pink Breath of Heaven, The Circulators, NOW, Magic Fig, Sweet Lew, Noelle & The Deserters, and Candy Whips.
Beyond the Bay, what music (songs, albums, or artists) have you been listening to the most recently?
I’ve honestly listening to a lot of Joe Bataan, Ray Barretto, Harvey Averne, Ralfi Pagán, and other Fania Records artists from New York. I’ve been obsessed with the blending of hard funk, soul and Latin sounds that vary from sweet sensitive to heavy hard-hitting performances. As a band, we are also huge fans of The Allman Brothers Band, and with our guitarist Joe being from Georgia and incorporating the slide guitar in our tunes and our extended jam sections you can certainly hear their influence on us.
Do you have any new releases coming up?
Yes, we currently are finished with our brand new sophomore album: Greetings Mother Earth which will be dropped early next year. We will be releasing the first three singles during fall and winter along with some of our first ever music videos. It’s been a long time coming getting it all together and we are beyond excited to share it with everyone.
What do you love about the Bay Area music scene?
I love that the Bay has such a close knit music scene where folks can easily get to know most of the folks either playing or working in the industry out here but it’s also an international touring destination as well so we and many other local acts have been able to open for some of our favorite bands from around the world. Lastly, I especially love how it doesn’t feel like a dog-eat-dog competition here in the Bay. Everyone is uplifting and supportive of each other and beams our so much positivity.
Do you have any hopes or predictions for the local music scene?
It feels as if the Bay is in a Renaissance. There is so much amazing music, art, live events and more happening. In a few years I predict there to be a major wave of local groups that will be blasting off and taking the world by storm.
