“There was a time, when I thought that if a band was local, they must not be able to get signed to a major label and therefore they must suck. What I’ve since realized is that it’s the major labels that suck, and there is a ton of top notch, talented, local rock and roll bands throughout Colorado who are as good as anything on the radio or MTV. One of these bands goes by the name of COLEMESIS. If you don’t know who they are, you will, soon enough. But to speed things along, COLEMESIS are a Costa Rican three-piece that combines Latin melodies and rhythms with a heavy rocking approach. They tag their music as “Latin Power Groove”. Most people site Sepultura as a comparison, but Puya might actually be a better one. The end result is a highly entertaining, winning combination that has won these Costa Rican natives a loyal following from a local as well as international audience. The songs that make up their hit CD, “JALAPENOS IN BURGER REPUBLIC “, are appreciated by not only the more sedate, mainstream rock/dance crowd, but also by the “can you mosh to it?” metal community. If it seems unusual that any band could entice a metal crowd to shake their collective asses, realize that COLEMESIS can because they never lose the power behind their rhythm. In other words, a headbanger can come away from one of the band’s highly entertaining shows not feeling like a Ricky Martin fan. COLEMESIS’ love of both dance music and heavy metal comes across as honest and unpretentious. As individuals, they are equally so.
Back in January 2000, I saw COLEMESIS perform at Herman’s Hideaway. It was the first time I saw them live. I was in awe of how well they not only connected with the audience, but how well they left that dancing, sweating audience yelling for more. This was but one of an endless string of successful local gigs that took them all the way to Los Angeles’ famous, “Whiskey a Go Go” and back again. It was then that I realized what a threat they were to the success of my band, MARIS THE GREAT AND THE FAGGOTS OF DEATH. So I decided to kill them. But as luck would have it, fate was on my side. It was shortly after that blowout performance at Herman’s Hideaway that their drummer left to join another band and they fired their lead singer. Problem solved! I was one happy zombie. Adios, Jalapenos!
What I didn’t realize though, was that COLEMESIS are survivors. Before I knew it, they were back in business with imported Costa Rican drummer and percussionist, Rodrigo Chaverri. A lean, mean, little stick of dynamite on the drums, Rodrigo is a natural showman. He has quickly filled any void left by their former drummer and then some. Focusing on being a three-piece now, with an open door policy regarding guest vocalists and percussionists, COLEMESIS are playing with an angrier, tighter groove that has a much more authentic Costa Rican flavor. Recently I went to Herman’s Hideaway to catch their return to the world of rock and roll. They were so tight, so seamless in their musical delivery, so intent on making sure the highly appreciative crowd were having a good time, that there was no doubt left in my mind that these guys are out for blood. But then again, so am I. Bassist and founding member, Francisco Conejo naively sat down with me and told me everything one could ever want to know about COLEMESIS’ hard won past and promising future. After which, I killed him, eating his spicy brains in the process. I gnawed off Rodrigo’s leg, making his future as a drummer seriously doubtful. COLEMESIS’ other founding member, guitarist, Fabian Bonilla, managed to escape unscathed. Here is the posthumous interview with Francisco.”
~Maris The Great
THE DEMISE OF COLEMESIS
COLEMESIS FINAL INTERVIEW
So, Francisco, does your penis look like a jalapeno?
FRANCISCO: A jalapeno would be too small of a comparison. However, it is hot and spicy!
Well then, how big is your jalapeno, I mean, penis?
FRANCISCO: I don’t know. (Laughs) You’d have to ask around.
I will! Before we talk about who COLEMESIS is now, could you give a brief history lesson?
FRANCISCO: We formed in 1991 in Heredia. That’s a small town north of San Jose, in Costa Rica. We were basically a garage band. We recorded two demos: “Vivisection” and ” Post Biosis”. From there, we went on and recorded the “Still Oppression Rules” album and the “Live Oppression” album. And by that time, we were really popular in Costa Rica. We had a number one on the charts, a number 2 on the charts, videos, national magazines, national papers, MTV coverage, sales records, national tours,…Then came the “Black Album” and now, “Jalapenos in Burger Republic”.
Was the music Latin Power Groove?
F: Yes and no. While we had really heavy songs, in the style of Sepultura, Pantera and Napalm Death, we also had more danceable stuff influenced by Latin rhythms. Over time, we focused on the “lighter” side. Overall, it’s been a natural evolution or progression.
With all the success you were experiencing in Costa Rica, why leave?
F: It got to the point that we were really successful, had media support and everything. Our press kit has like, 100 pages. It’s all those cut outs and shit. But even though we were successful, it got to the point where we were just stalled, because there is only so much you can do in a country. So we decided to come to the states and basically just make it or break it. We really want to be professional musicians and try to go big time.
Why did you choose to come to Denver?
F: We got a management / recording contract offer from a company here in Denver. So we came up to negotiate it, but it didn’t turn out what we wanted. I mean, we’d rather be independent than sell the future of the band. So we passed on it, decided to stay, kept on working independently and finally, here we are!
And it was after you moved here that you evolved into COLEMESIS, version two, with Dusty and Dave?
F: That’s correct. Our sound also evolved into making the Latin rhythms and melodies more predominate. We love metal, but we wanted to incorporate some of the musical styles that we’ve been influenced by. There’s really no reason for the band to stay on one level musically. I mean, staying one-dimensional has never been a goal of the band. It isn’t what we’re about.
I’ve always wanted to know, what does “COLEMESIS” mean?
F: A violent expulsion of bile. There is a popular saying back home that says, “Se me rego la bilis” (My bile spilled). It means that you’re pissed off. COLEMESIS is the scientific term for that expression.
That fits the “Grind Death” sound of the first incarnation but not the music you make now. Why did you keep it?
F: Since we had so much success in Costa Rica, we felt that, even though the name doesn’t really represent what we’re doing now, we had so much popularity and so much press with it, that we figured we might as well stick with it and try to keep that momentum going. There’s like a million bands in the United States or anywhere in the world that are trying to become recognized and stand out from the others. Here we are, we’re COLEMESIS and there was already a media pack that’s like 2 inches thick of cut outs and newspaper articles that make up the history of the band. The connotation that goes with that history helps us stand out.
What was the biggest show you ever played in Costa Rica?
F: 6,000. We once headlined a show with over 6,000 people.
Aside from Costa Rica, where else has the band played outside of Colorado?
F: Our most important gig was at the Whiskey a Go-Go in L.A. That was December 11th of last year. It went great. The former drummer from Soulfly jammed with us. He played percussion, and it was a circus on stage. It was really great. We were received really well over there. Now that we’ve been there, we have the urge to move or to explore more. Now we’re all pumped up.
Are you now bored with the scene here?
F: Oh no, not at all. The scene here is really good. It’s growing and were really optimistic of what’s going to happen here. But once you’ve tried that fruit, you have to go all the way.
But if you move to L.A., won’t you be starting all over again?
F: Yes, but that’s the price you have to pay for relocating. But the same thing happened to us in Costa Rica. We were like one of the leading acts in the country. We came to Denver and we were nobody. Now we’re playing Saturday night at Herman’s and other major venues. I think things look good and we’re slowly making it in the states.
This brings us to the present. It was just as COLEMESIS were contemplating moving to L.A. that Dave and then Dusty left. How did you and Fabian react?
F: Well, it wasn’t a change that happened all at once. It went through two stages. Well, basically David called us out of the blue and said he was joining Blister 66, and that was that. As far as Dusty goes, he’s getting married and over time, his interest had been more focused on getting married and starting a family. Obviously, he has his priorities and we have ours. So, we just let him go.
Did it ever occur that maybe it was the end of COLEMESIS?
F: No, But when we first got the news that Dave was leaving, it was a really hard blow. We had so many things planned out. The first thing you do (when someone leaves) is say, “How are we going to cover?” Of course, when things start falling through the cracks that’s when it gets tough. But over time we’ve been able to recuperate. We just slowed down totally so that we could mend all of those patches and all the damage that was done and eventually, I mean, well…here we are! We are ready to get out there again.
Did you think of moving back to Costa Rica?
F: Not really. I mean, me personally, I’m not really interested. It’s always an option. When Dave dropped the bomb Fabian was in Costa Rica. The easiest thing for him (Fabian) would have been to be like, “OK, we’ll call it quits. I’ll stay here, I’m already here and this is the end of it all”. But we decided to just stick to it and just move on. It’s all about keeping on and not giving up, regardless of the hardships.
Fabian returned with your new drummer Rod. How did that happen?
F: Rodrigo goes way back. He used to be our percussionist (In Costa Rica) Not only that, he filled in for our singer a couple of times. That’s another reason we hooked up with him. Not only is he an excellent drummer, but he’s an excellent performer. He’s a good vocalist and that’s something we’re exploiting. He can sing really well and play drums simultaneously. He also knows how to play bass and guitar.
Well, damn Francisco! Why didn’t you bring him with you in the first place?
F: At that time he was like, a guest musician of the band. He wasn’t really part of the lineup. And on top of that, we couldn’t really expect him to leave everything behind without being a member. It would have been very unfair to him. He also was studying law at the time, so we just decided to come up and see what would happen.
How did he react to the change of musical styles COLEMESIS had gone through?
F: Since we came to the States two years ago, Rodrigo has always been in contact with us. Before he’s our drummer, he’s our friend. He’s followed our musical development, he’s known of the changes and everything. Regardless of how the style has transformed, he’s always supported us. He understands that music is an art and a business. Things change, markets change, styles change and he’s been very open to that. Right now, Latin Power Groove is our niche. That’s what we’re playing. Granted we like other styles, but that’s what we are focusing on.
How has the chemistry changed in COLEMESIS since Rodrigo has joined?
F: I think our sound is now, much more energetic. That has to do with the fact that, first of all, Rodrigo is a Latin drummer. He knows the Latin beats. He’s from our country; we have exactly the same musical background. Communication-wise, it’s improved dramatically. As far as the vibe (of the band) Rodrigo is a showman. Rehearsals are now fun. They are intense. It’s like therapy. It’s nice. We’re so happy to have him.
Are you bummed out on working with Americans now?
F: That’s a good question. Right now with all the damage that was done with David leaving, we realized that it’s not good to have a mercenary in a key position. Strategically, we do not want to jeopardize the progress or even the existence of the band, just because we put the wrong person in the wrong position. We don’t have anything against American musicians. It has nothing to do with where a person is from geographically. It has to do with commitment. Right now, Rodrigo, Fabian and myself have a very strong commitment to each other. We are the core of the band, and we’ll not let any mercenaries endanger that.
Are you planning to keep COLEMESIS a trio?
F: We’ll work with guest musicians. Ironically enough, we already have a new percussionist. His name is Josh and he’s a gringo!
Is he cute?
F: I think you’d like him. He’s tall, blonde….
Have you seen his penis?
F: I’m afraid not. Maybe that moment will come. And if it does, I’ll let you know! (laughs)
Great!
F: We’re really happy with him, he’s working out great! What maybe sets him apart is that even though he’s American, he’s been in Nicaragua. That’s Costa Rica’s neighboring country to the north. He’s worked there, he knows the people. He’s also worked extensively throughout Mexico. He’s traveled through Central America. He’s a very different type of American. He knows what really goes on in the third world. He knows where we are coming from. He understands us and we understand him.
Do you think people from other countries have a deeper respect for the freedom we have in America?
F: Oh totally. We have to respect the society in which we live in. I’m totally in favor of freedom of expression and all sorts of freedoms. By the same token, we are given freedom by society that works in a certain way and we have to respect society, and we have to honor it. There’s no sense in being a rebel for rebel’s sake. People like to talk about censorship, but we are very fortunate in this country. People, however, still take it for granted. .
What was censorship like in Costa Rica?
F: Oh it was tough! Costa Rica, being Roman Catholic, is very religious. Metal bands were just totally discriminated against. They thought it was Devil’s music. Just to give you an example how fortunate Americans are and how free they are, We were at a concert and the Special forces, the Police, came with machine guns and put like, 300 kids against the wall. They had them (machine guns) loaded and aimed at us. It got to the point where if anyone just said, “peep”, one trigger would go off, and you’d have 20, 50, 100 dead just like that, in a matter of seconds. And what enabled COLEMESIS to fight that was to write lyrics that were very socially conscience but generated people to think. That was the main objective. We were not (singing about) “kill your mother, worship Satan”. They were very socially orientated lyrics. Magazines and television supported us because of that. So the whole difference was that even though it was super fast and super heavy, it was the lyrics. And that’s why we got support. Americans should be real thankful for their freedoms.
Getting back to the band now, since Dusty is gone, how are you handling the vocals?
F: Fabian has always sung. He basically just took over what Dusty used to sing. We changed the lyrics a little bit. I’m doing background vocals. And Rodrigo is doing background vocals as well as lead vocals.
As far as guest vocalists, are you looking for someone that can mimic what Dusty did?
F: No. We are not looking for anyone to mimic Dusty. He had his own style and that’s pretty much over with. Any guest musician that we’d bring, we would want him to be himself. That’s the magic of having guest musicians. We do not want clones or anything.
Would you consider a female as a vocalist?
F: Absolutely! To me, there’s not a big difference between a male and a female singer. I mean, of course they sound different, but I think the talent is much more important than who it’s coming from.
Are you doing songs off of “JALAPENOS”?
F: We took some of the songs off that album and improved them. We’ve also been composing new material with Rodrigo. We’re doing both.
Let’s talk about the music business. Does it bother you that COLEMESIS is ultimately just a product?
F: No because you go into the business knowing that. If you can’t live with that you should go play on the 16th street mall. We’re here not to be artists; we’re here to be entertainers. As entertainers, it’s business, and that’s the bottom line. We want to be successful and we love what we do, but there are certain rules. We know that, we know what we’re getting into and that’s that.
Yeah, but doesn’t it bother you that the public’s ultimate acceptance of you has more to do with their peers or ultimately some record executive?
F: You really can’t change people. You have to adapt to what the market conditions are. The only answer to that is to work harder and figure them out. I mean, people are the way they are.
You once told me that you eventually want to get up to selling millions of albums. How commercial are you willing to get to achieve that?
F: I have no problem doing whatever I have to do to sell five million albums. I love music. I love what I do and hey, I want to be professional I think it goes beyond…I love metal. That’s what I listen to all day long in my house. But we want to be entertainers, and we want to be as commercial as possible. What good would it have done to move here, leaving everything in Costa Rica? We want to be as big as possible.
Aren’t you talking about selling out?
F: I don’t think it’s selling out, I think it’s being realistic. The first things bands do is they sabotage themselves through their mentality. They don’t let themselves grow. They don’t let themselves become the best possible thing.
What is selling out to you?
F: Selling out is when you do something you don’t like, maybe for the money, or fame, or what ever. We like what we do. Some people might say we are selling out and that’s fine with us. We respect their opinion. You’ve got to be realistic. We like what we do, we feel comfortable, so why not do it anyway? We are not too concerned about what some really heavy guy, that listens to Deicide, is going to think. We respect his opinion and everything but hey, it’s us in our shoes, it’s us on that stage busting our asses every night. It’s easy for someone to just be talking shit, who doesn’t have any idea how the music business works. In the end, even the heaviest black metal bands are nothing more than a marketing scheme of some record executive.
Do you think the Latin thing might get old hat?
F: Well, the term Latin is very broad. You don’t necessarily have to do the same thing over and over again. It allows us all sorts of possibilities, different grooves. There are hundreds of different Latin musical patterns that we haven’t even explored yet. There’s tons of material to still keep on sounding interesting and if the fad passes, it passes, but we’ll still be doing what we like.
Well, I wish you dudes the best luck in the world.
F: Thank you.
Finally, when all is said and done, How would you like a person to come away from listening to a COLEMESIS CD?
F: I would want that person to feel good. And dance! I would want that person to have an indescribable desire to dance.
Every time I listen to “Jalapenos in Burger Republic”, I have an indescribable desire to grab the guy nearest to me and have sex. Are there subliminal messages planted on the CD designed to induce the listener to have homosexual zombie sex?
F: No.
Why does it effect me that way then?
F: Probably because you’re a homosexual zombie. (Laughs)