Tropa Magica + Mauskovic Dance Band @ High Dive

Tuesday, March 28th • 8 pm

East L.A. musicians David and Rene Pacheco began their musical journey in 2012 as Thee Commons, putting their own imperfect spin on the Peruvian psychedelic cumbia music they heard on The Roots Of Chicha compilations. The result was a quirky strain of surf rock that ventured far beyond the Ventures’ twangy, curvilinear template. In 2018, the Pachecos morphed into Tropa Magica, expanding their sound to encompass cinematic orchestrations and influences from Django Reinhardt, Edith Piaf, and Meridian Brothers. It’s good-time music with hints of sinister intent and circus-y tomfoolery. 

Masterminded by Amsterdam multi-instrumentalist Nic Mauskovic, Mauskovic Dance Band traffic in festive, polyrhythmic workouts that hypnotize as much as they make you sweat. These Dutch musicians excel in live contexts, as their backing of Zambian rock legends W.I.T.C.H. on their triumphant 2022 comeback tour and with Turkish psychedelic revivalists Altın Gün has proved. Check out Mauskovic Dance Band’s percussion-happy, self-titled 2019 album for an exemplary taste of their uptempo, snaky mélange of cumbia and cosmic disco.