Omaha’s Anchondo begin ‘Drinko De Mayo’ tour with The Effects

Courtesy of Anchondo

Omaha rockers Anchondo will be performing at 8 p.m. at Josie’s tonight with Tulsa, Okla.’s The Effects.

The Latin rock band Anchondo have been creating unique reggae and Spanish influenced rock and roll since 2001. Lead singer Hector Anchondo and his cousin George “Big G” Keele first formed the band in their hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.

“George and I have always had a close knit relationship,” Anchondo said. “We’ve been friends since we were in diapers.”

In January, Anchondo was in the studio working on their follow up to 2004’s ‘The Audience Is Waiting.’

“We’re just about to get the record mastered, and everything’s just about all mixed,” Anchondo said. “We’re feeling really great about it. We were in the studio for about a month, doing twelve hour days every day.”

The band recorded their new album with Matt Russo of 53rd Street Recording, who also did Kansas City’s Pomeroy’s most recent record ‘A New Reflection.’ Anchondo is hoping to have their new album out in September.

“It’s the same Anchondo, but its more matured,” Anchondo said. “You can tell we’ve all grown as musicians and I’ve grown as a songwriter. I think on a song writing level its my best yet. Every album you want to be your best yet and that’s the way I feel about it.”

The band just started a month long tour with Tulsa, Okla.’s The Effects. The two bands have both played Emporia a number of times and have been good friends for years.

“We’ve known The Effects for three or four years now,” Anchondo said. “We heard of them before, but the first time we really met and hung out with them was in Austin, Texas at South By Southwest 2005. They’re one of our best friends as far as other bands we play shows with.”

Since the beginning of the year Anchondo has a number of high profile shows, including a featured performance on the 2008 Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards.

“It was one of the most professional things we’ve ever done,” Anchondo said. “Everything was top notch, the room we played in, The Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha, it was kind of overwhelming with cameras everywhere and the room being as nice as it was.”

The band also played Austin, Texas’s famous South By Southwest music festival. The band has played it many times since 2003.

“It was the best yet, as far as having fun and our showcase, it was the best showcase we’ve ever done,” Anchondo said. “It was packed and everybody was having a good time.”

The band has a number of songs on iTunes, and are on both Facebook and MySpace social networking sites.

Through all these years, Anchondo has maintained their independence and have two full length records and two EP’s without the support of a major label.

“Its tough touring especially while being independent because most of the money you make goes right back into the band to keep it all going,” Anchondo said. “We’re all friends so that helps. But there’s always those normal little things, its kind of like being married. Being around each other all the time and just make it work.”

Anchondo will be performing with The Effects at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Josie’s, 19 East 6th street.