Quetzal: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

The Southern California band Quetzal recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with a blowout concert that seemed to attract as many musicians as regular people. The band has maintained such a strong presence in the SoCal Chicano music scene that its members could be considered padrinos and padrinas of that free-flowing musical community.Quetzal is respected and admired as much for its commitment to social justice, activism and education - lead singer Martha Gonzalez has a Ph.D - as for its folk-infused music, which gets a marvelous showcase in this Tiny Desk Concert. While the instrumentation is stripped down, the sound is full; the music penetrates the intellect even as it makes your hips sway.The group runs a tight ship musically: Gonzalez's voice could be heard well past the confines of the Tiny Desk, all the way to our web-designing neighbors; guitarist Quetzal Flores unplugged and worked the Mexican jarana for both rhythm and melody, often at the same time; violinist Rocio Marron wove blues licks into Mexican folk runs; bassist Juan Perez provided a nimble and melodic bottom end.Add it all up and you get a glimpse into a musical vision that inspires as much as it entertains. If you didn't know Quetzal before this video, now's the time to catch up. If you're a fan like me, you've already got a head start on looking forward to the next 20 years. --FELIX CONTRERAS
Set List:
"Palomo Vagabundo"
"Tragafuegor"
"Todo Lo Que Tengo"
Credits:
Producers: Felix Contreras, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Colin Marshall; Production Assistant: Sarah Tilotta; photo by Sarah Tilotta/NPR

[@davidquinones843]

I discovered this precious gem of a band while listening to “Democracy Now” with Amy Goodman. They played out a segment with “La Vuelta”. I was instantly transfixed by this song and had to figure out who they were. ❤

[@jellyglass3]

Singing and percussion at the same time?! Amazing!!

[@thepeopleschimp1]

The pigeon story WAS AMAZING.

[@delao28]

A paso vagabundo, reminds me of my little sweet Yorkie, 15 who I just transitioned..🕊️💙 lovingly and patiently I walked him a paso vagabundo.

[@oursmallmajority]

Top 5 favorite band right here. Amazing. Loved watching them live before the pandemic

[@gregoryhumphries7655]

I discovered this video when I read the LA Times article about Martha and Quetzal a month ago. I'm surprised it has taken me all these years to Discover this Band. The performances are captivating. Thank You. so much!

[@eviljuan666]

Crazy.. I read an La times article about them today and had to look them up.heard the bands name before but wasn't familiar with their music..digging it. ."East L.A. band Quetzal makes music that makes people take to the streets - for 30 years"

[@ponchi7928]

always makes me cry

[@rawnchie]

Same. They convey beautifully clear emotion. It's obvious to me as I don't speak the language lol

[@ramonaraujo6653]

I was fortunate to see them in a very intimate setting, A class i was taking at CSULA in which they came to play for us. VERY VERY great performance! style, lyrics, everything about them gave off a certain aura. Esa si era musica de la buena!

[@maddymud]

Grammy winners baby!

[@EllenGirardeauKempler]

Fantastic! (Song + Stories + Rhythm)

[@hulkis1230]

I saw them live at the Eagle Rock Cultural Arts Center and it was freaking amazing! The talent that comes from those folks :D and Entres Mujeres, I was so impressed.

[@theofieles2589]

I just adore this band. So fantastic.

[@thepeopleschimp1]

I can't decide what I think of the the videographer. For example, around the 2 and half minute mark, the singer starts to get into it, and I'm transfixed. Then the camera moves away. WHY ARE YOU SHIFTING MY GAZE AWAY? After anger was done, I realized I would have been so zoned in on one thing I wouldn't have seen anything else. The camera shifts to the yellow shift hat guy and he's getting into too! I would have never noticed if my gaze had been shifted from something I really liked to something I didn't see. So thank you, and I hate you too, and I love your work, Videographer Person.

[@manzanillita]

the vocalist is amazig, all that passion damn!!

[@maradechiara4096]

Maravilla!!!!

[@mjrltna]

heartfelt passion you can see and hear...

[@tinochavez5752]

This song makes me want to get up and dance.... love it!!

[@leakawatchempino]

martha and cesar still on top of their game...very nice..

[@arnoldogarcia-musica-humana]

Straight and zig-zagging from the roots.

[@jeffbrown3400]

Bravo! From a new fan in Macao.

[@pdpro]

Waiting for other such similar genre music from Quetzal...

[@pedroantoniodelgadomedina.]

¡Otra bella muestra del arte que despliegan nuestros connacionales en el extranjero. No se lo pierdan!!!...

[@slg6717]

Good stuff..

[@chloe9533]

Awesome! :D

[@cristianvalenzuela9409]

Los amé muy buenos, que grato es comenzar el dia con esta musica

[@amrv90]

¡Grandes! Por decir lo menos.

[@Thedrisin155]

Love this band. ❤

[@teriscallon]

I love her pants...and the music

[@TheBacaniao]

Que hermoso es dar esto a la humanidad... gracias Quetzal

[@trapazoidalwindow]

Awesome music. I love it.

[@LynnColorado]

Not knowing the language was not that important with her theatrical singing. Really nice.

[@K_178]

I met the singer she came to my class in the morning she showed me and my class a song now i really like to hear her music and im not lying that she came to my class and thanks so much for coming to my class

[@journeywithin8]

Beautiful!

[@alexdesslin]

nice fiddle player ! good vibrations !!!

[@TwentyThreeRiddles]

Loved this...

[@handeozmen]

so beautiful

[@ximenacorrea9649]

Bravo. Bravo!!!!

[@martalobos7822]

Qué mujer más simpática.

[@Camcrazy530]

hell yes, this was fantastic

[@fishbeltmadison]

OO ya lovely voice....

[@gabyleyton3715]

Maravillosa música!!!

[@dalanium98]

ah so captivating!

[@nahlongos2]

Amazing

[@Mariekesone]

Grandiose!!!

[@carlospajuelo4797]

Magnifique

[@momowowo16]

¡Me encanta!

[@AnielloCastillo]

Excelente interpretación, muy genuinas. 🤗 ¿Cómo se llama el instrumento de cuerda acústico? ¿Es un requinto Jarocho? 🤔 👍🏽

[@DiabloMonk]

Es una jarana jarocha.

[@bezzarguy]

Muy excelente.

[@franciscogonzalez392]

Excelente me relaja mucho la vocalista de Quetzal es muy linda no se como se llama pero es linda y hermosa

[@GuillermoCarrasco]

"Padrinos y Madrinas"...

[@andreinahernandez8379]

Qué hermoso

[@Andele37]

Nice, but can't hear the bass...

[@albertoortizbrito3557]

I really enjoyed watching this concert. Hi Felix when are gonna invited the Sonex, they are nice band who has taken Son Jarocho to another level! Muchas gracias por tu loable labor como impulsor de la música chicana y latina!

[@thepeopleschimp1]

I loved this whole thing. NPR Music, do you guys have any South Asian-American artists I can check out next?

[@dancinmiriam8165]

+Ather Ahmed May not be quite what you're looking for but Red Baraat is great fun!

[@jome8939]

I love charades haha.. I love it cant understand it but its nice

[@salvadorescobedo4942]

Se esponja pero no lo ve!

[@nickn7047]

Does estonia mean the pigeon sponged himself?

[@innsider6624]

so schöne musik.....und er im gelben hemd so ein schmatzer.....eher lehrertyp

[@n1al1ya13]

Not really impressed 🧐🧐