Los Pikadientes de Caborca

Los Pikadientes de Caborca is a young band from Caborca, Sonora, Mexico that is tearing up the charts with the infectious old-style Cumbia Del Río (The River Cumbia), a surprise hit that has sent their debut album, Vámonos Pa'l Río (Let's Go To The River), to the top of the Billboard charts. Los Pikadientes was started by Pancho, El Chino, Látigo, Chalomo and El Flaco in 2006 after they left their previous band, La Banda Auténtica Tierra Nueva.

We hooked up with band leader Pancho and asked him to explain Los Pikadientes' brand of party music.

Are you at home in Caborca?

Right now we are in Hermosillo. We are currently promoting our new album before we head to Mexico City to start promoting it big time.

How did you get into music?

Well, my father was a musician. I come from a background where all of my family on my father's side are musicians. That is where my love of music started. I am now 25 years old and I started playing when I was 15.

Did you see music as a hobby when you first started out?

No, we were always serious about music as a profession and because of my Dad's work I always saw it as a real job, not as a hobby. I had regular studies, but I was studying music at the same time.

How did you meet the rest of the band?

We met in Caborca while we were playing in a Sinaloense-style band. One of the guys was in a Norteño band and the other was in a Sierreño band. We got together one day, jammed and even though we were coming from different types of music, we clicked musically.

What is Caborca like?

It's a small city with a lot of pretty women. I guess Caborca is like any small town but it has a good vibe, especially at night. On the weekends, we go to an area called Pueblo Viejo. Next to the church in Pueblo Viejo there is a river, but it looks more like a pond that's almost dried out. There's live music, a couple of clubs, bars and not much else to do but drink with friends. Most families go to Pueblo Viejo to eat carnitas and enjoy the rides, while the heavy drinkers prefer to go to the river.

Is there any advantage to living in a place where the temperature reaches the upper 100's?

Oh the heat. There is a lot of heat. The only advantage is that there's a beach close by. We always take off to the beach when it gets hot. There are also water parks close by and we take advantage of those to have fun and make some noise. We live in a desert but there's water everywhere.

What is Cumbia Del Rio all about?

This song is all about what happens in towns all over Sonora. It's about how people have fun. After work people go to the river to have fun. It's a common experience. In the early evening, you can see how many people come together at those rivers to have fun, have carne asada, drink or bathe their kids in the river.

That song has made quite an impact on U.S. Latin radio. Why do you think it's become a surprise hit?

I think people identify a lot with the song because we made it really simple and rootsy, for the people. We did not set out to make a fancy track, even though we have great musicians in the band. I also play the clarinet and I may not be the best musician, but I do the best I can. We didn't set out to do a polished song - we wanted it to be as "raza" as possible. And I think that is why people identify with it. It's a simple, fun song. People enjoy its groove and it is what it is. We are a party band, good times. We're a family-oriented party band. We would never sing narco-corridos and get into trouble. We want people to throw parties, not bullets.

What's up with the way you guys dress. How did you came up with this concept?

Well, it's just crazy stuff. We are a party band and we thought it would be fun to dress that way. Let's dress this way, let's identify Mexico with this look, but in a very crass sort of way. We are representing Mexico but in a fun way - an Indian, a cowboy. I dress similar to a Chicano. It's in a very fun kind of way, because that is the type of band we are - very fun, lots of good times, just messing around and stuff.

You guys remind us of the Village People. Do you know who they are?

Yes. And I swear that we did not intend it to be that way, but we ended up being similar to them. But a mexican regional version. [Laughs]