La Secta Allstar

Puerto Rico
http://www.myspace.com/lasectaallstarofficial

3/26 San Juan - ocho de Balnco
3/28 Rio Mar - Gran Melia
4/3 San Juan - Oceans
5/3 San Juan - Utier
5/5 San Juan - Logans

more dates here...

From their early beginnings in Miami Beach’s South Beach, until this day, La Secta AllStar has walked a solid path with plenty of hits under its Latin rock belt. “It was very difficult for us at first, but it’s been worth every effort,” says Gustavo Laureano, lead singer of this band (otherwise composed of bassist Mark Kilpatrick, drummer John Lengel and guitarist and newest member, Mikey Genao) as they bring forth “Fuego,” their fifth and latest album to date.

During the nineties, after a few years of falling short of the limelight, the band members began writing Spanish rock songs and performing them at local clubs, in Miami and Puerto Rico. Their persistence and presence in the music scene yielded them an opportunity to record their first album, entitled “Aniquila.” Its Puerto Rico release was crowned by the radio hits: “Se Acabó,” and “Bombón de Azúcar”, later recorded by Ricky Martin.

During the next year and a half, La Secta performed their new single, “Dame Lo Que Quieras,” a song that would end up winning them an ASCAP award. In 2001, the band officially added the “AllStar” to their name and released a second album with the same title. Four days after its release “AllStar,” the album, reached the #1 spot in sales, breaking barriers beyond genre and name recognition.

Based on radio popularity and sales success, La Secta AllStar entered the Latin Top 50 chart, remaining there for ten weeks. In January of 2002, they performed for the first time at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in front of a sold-out crowd. “This is every Puerto Rican artist’s dream and thanks to our fans, we have now accomplished it,” says Gustavo.

In 2003, the band released their third album, entitled “Túnel”, which debuted at the top sales position in Puerto Rico with the radio hits “Sólo Quiero Darte Amor,” “Pecar Por Ti,” and “Hey Corazón.” This release booked them another two dates, performing in front of thousands, at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum.

“Consejo” was the name of their follow-up album, released in 2005 with such success that the La Secta AllStar sound traveled from all the way from Puerto Rico to the United States, to Central and South America making its way with the radio hit “La Locura Automática” (#1 for 20 consecutive weeks in Colombia, #1 in Bolivia, Perú, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Uruguay, Panamá, Costa Rica, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela). In November of that same year, they performed, once again in front of thousands, at the new coliseum in Puerto Rico, where they opened their tour of the continent’s most important cities.

The year that followed, 2006, brought huge success for La Secta AllStar. They won Best Spanish Rock Album at the Billboard Music Awards; received a nomination in the US for the GRAMMY for Best Alternative/Rock Album; two nominations for the “Premios Lo Nuestro” awards in the categories of “Best Rock Artist” and “Best Rock Album”; one nomination for Best Rock Album for a Premio Juventud award; besides having their album certified Latin Gold by the RIAA in the United States after only two months of being released.

For this occasion, they come ready with a new album, an excellent production going by the title, “Fuego”. “The passion that we want to convey with this record is self-explanatory in its title,” says drummer John, assuring that “the intention of each song is to be positive at a moment when so many changes are taking place in the world,” he adds.

On his end, guitarist Mikey affirms, “with this album, we are looking for the opportunity of rebirth, and of giving our renewed talents, with a whole lot of good energy,” he emphasizes.

“We have grown up a lot,” says Gustavo, who is of the opinion that the band’s goal is not to make one album better than the previous one, but instead to allow themselves to be led by inspiration and giving the best of each other. “We always go with our hearts and use our feelings as our guide,” he adds.

The first single introduced in Puerto Rico, this past August, was “No Puedes Parar.” It shortly reached the top spots in the radio charts and opened the way for a second track entitled, “Déjalos Que Hablen”.

“No Puedes Parar” is a song that encourages the listener to be positive before life’s challenges, to look forward and look at obstacles like lessons. “It talks about keeping your head up high and putting the bad vibes aside,” explains John.

The band mates came together through their shared fates. Their lives first crossing one morning in January of 1990, when Mark and Gustavo met at Orlando’s International Airport. After graduating, they moved to Miami to start their careers as sound engineers. At this point, they met John Lengel and decided to rent a small warehouse where they could rehearse.

“Our songs and the way we write allows us to sing about the things everyone wants to say, and people are able to identify with our songs,” explains Mark. Going beyond music trends, the band stays well within their signature style, respecting their influences, but careful of always keeping their touch.

“We feel the innocence of each song,” says Gustavo in reference to the process of choosing tracks. “When we choose a song, and we play it, we feel it,” affirms Mikey adding “if it gives us goose bumps, it’s a hit.”

During the making of this album, the band opened its own recording studio to avoid added pressures and flow with what they felt was proper for each song. “It’s our own little place in Puerto Rico … our cave. We feel more at home there and we are able to follow our hearts,” says John.

This upcoming March 7, 2009 will host another legendary event upon the return of La Secta AllStar to the “Coliseo de Puerto Rico.” “These are the types of moments that one anxiously waits for,” says Gustavo.

Convinced that music is universal, La Secta AllStar marches on, upholding joy as they take their music all over the world. “Our religion is this one rule: passion and love above all else,” they conclude.