Saturday, March 17   11:00 p.m.
Emo's Annex   (600 Red River St)

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Dubbed "one of the all-time great Texas dance bands" by Pop Culture Press, the 11-man Latin music Juggernaut known as Grupo Fantasma is considered by many to be the most exciting group to emerge from the formidable Austin, Texas music scene in the last couple of years.

Grupo Fantasma is the closest thing you’ll hear to the classic Fania All-Stars live recordings from the mid-1970s, which still represent the definition of elegant, yet, incendiary funk. Their dominating live show features powerhouse horn and rhythm sections, blistering lead guitars and captivating vocals all wrapped in an air-tight James Brown groove.

Their recent association with Prince hasn’t hurt them either. Performing at his club in Las Vegas, his Golden Globes after-party (with Mary J. Blige, Mark Anthony and Will I Am of the Black Eyed Peas) and at the CBS Super Bowl party in Miami Beach has only enhanced the band’s wicked cool factor.


AWARDS

• 2006 Austin Premios de Musica Latina (Univision Awards) Best Band
• 2006 Austin Music Awards: Best Latin Band
• 2006 Austin Music Awards: Best Horns
• 2005 Austin Premios de Musica Latina (Univision Awards) Best Latin Rock
• 2005 Austin Music Awards: Best Latin Band
• 2005 Austin Music Awards: Best Horns
• 2004 Austin Music Awards: Best Latin Band
• 2003 Austin Music Awards: Best Latin Band
• 2002 Austin Music Awards: Best Latin Band

QUOTES

• "This freight train of a Latin band could easily hold its own in a sweaty bandbox in the Bronx...they'll knock you down with the grooves." -The Village Voice
• "One of the all-time great Texas dance bands.........Their catchy sounds straddle so many musical genres that putting them in a particular niche seems pointless." -Pop Culture Press
• "One of the sickest live bands ever." -The Philadelphia Weekly
• "The best band in Austin. The only other band I've seen get that kind of audience reaction was the Ramones." - Jim Caligiuri The Austin Chronicle