Los Desi Kung Fu Monkeys

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Today’s #MusicMonday comes from Tijuana, Mexico via a tip from my friend Sasha. I’m surprised I’ve never heard of them, especially given that the band opened for Voo Doo Glow Skulls over the years. Los Kung Fu Monkeys is a ska band w/ two Pakistani brothers (Hassan and Tarek) that was formed in 1997, has six albums under their belt and has toured with Vans Warped Tour. AND, they sing bilingually in Spanish and English. Take a listen, what do you think?

http://youtu.be/Sj-T0WYQ_tM

To me, the sound is classically Southern Californian ska punk, with a little bit of tequila thrown in. I’m a sucker for punk covers (Me First and the Gimme Gimmes anyone?) and am really digging this Boys Don’t Cry cover. According to their facebook, they are working on their latest demo and have an international tour planned for early 2012. Follow Los Kung Fu Monkeys here on Facebook and on Twitter.

Also, I do realize there are South Asian diaspora migration stories of every kind, and I’m really curious as to how the Pakistani brothers ended up in Tijuana, Mexico. Is there a big South Asian population in Mexico? Anyone know?

2 thoughts on “Los Desi Kung Fu Monkeys”

  1. Hi Taz. I don’t know if you remember me, but we worked together a million years ago at Envirocitizen in DC.

    Anyway, I’m not sure if you caught that this is a cover of a song by a band from Spain, Heroes del Silencio. They are my fav Spanish rock band (sorry, Caifanes). The singer in this video has the accent of somebody who learned Spanish stateside. As for the South Asian diaspora in Mexico, I have no idea, but I do know there is a Chinese community in Mexicali, Mexico, and Japanese-Mexicans that have been in Mexico for generations.

    ~Shoshana

  2. Thank you for introducing me to a hometown band! I love the Heroes del Silencio cover (the song is classic 80’s Spanish rock). I don’t know of any particular large South Asian populations in Mexico to be honest, let alone Tijuana (where I’ve spent 99% of my life), but I do remember finding a Halal Pakistani restaurant in the outskirts of Tijuana about a year ago, so maybe it’s a budding development?

    Saludos!