The first live album release from Dude Cervantes (Howlin Rain, MRS. HENRY, Chest Fever) and his solo group The Panchos; featuring Dylan Donovan of the San Diego, CA based psych-rock band Sacri Monti (Tee Pee Records), Justin de la Vega of the metal-punk trio Warish (RidingEasy Records) and rock steady bassist Ryan Grenda. Dude Cervantes has long been a multifaceted presence in Southern California's music scene, and with this first live solo album, The Ride or Die of Dude Cervantes & The Panchos, he and his classic 4-piece muscle band capture an explosive set of on-stage energy and bombast. Recorded live in April of 2023 at The Hotel Cafe, The Ride or Die continues to carve out Cervantes' identity as a solo artist, guitarist, and bandleader. The Panchos are a powerhouse ensemble that's been with Cervantes through under-the-radar gigs since 2022, and together they form a bond that bleeds through every track. At it's core, the album holds the sound of a band that is hungry-hearted, surefooted, and fully in their element. On tracks like "Lesson Learned" and "Blood In The Water", Cervantes channels the soulful likes of the Alabama Shakes, paired with the gravelly shrieks of 90s' grunge vocalists on "Dreamers".Showcasing new songs, in addition to material from his studio album Dreamers, the live record certainly is a healthy helping of guitar rock. In a masterful cover of Carlos Santana's instrumental, "Samba Pa Ti", Cervantes' and Dylan Donovan's twin leads are like a soaring mescaline journey, while the rhythm section anchors with the complexities of Latin syncopation. Similar to bands like Los Lobos, Cervantes and The Panchos intertwine elements of roots-rock with introspective songwriting, the later of which is particularly exemplified in "Billion Dollar Art" ; a previously unreleased song that closes out the EP in a bang of electric elegance.
