What DC's Listening To This September: Bongo District

Argentina has Cumbia Villera, Panama has Cumbia Santeña — and now, D.C. has “ritmos nómadas,” or nomad rhythms, at least that’s what Bongo District calls it. A listener could be forgiven for calling it ska, reggae, punk, or cumbia, depending on the show, the band’s mood, or what day of the week it is. And as D.C.’s self-anointed “hardest working band,” there are a lot of chances to decide for yourself. In August, they averaged four shows a week.

“It's the rhythms that travel with you wherever you go. We are born nomads. We are always moving. And that always comes with change,” is how founding member Pedro ‘Dros’ Alfaro defines “ritmos nómadas.” After all, he and keyboardist Francisco Flores met decades ago in El Salvador. While life took them all over the Americas, the mystical, musical powers steaming off of the Anacostia river brought them back together in the DMV. Several years and four (official) band members later, Bongo District is spearheading D.C.'s bouncing cumbia scene.

It seems like there’s been more cumbia bands in the DMV — Bongo District, Cumbia Heights, Chicha Morada, to name a few. Is something bubbling here?

FRANCISCO: It's crazy. Within the last three years things have started to bloom. When we were starting it was just us and Cumbia Heights. And I do feel like we have been a catalyst that pushed that to happen. I love that right here we have people from all over the world. As a Salvadoran, it’s a place where I think about pupusas and I can just get them right away.

Let’s talk about the songs on your EP. "Bongo Bong” is cumbia, “Reggaemusik” is reggae, the last song, “Gear Up,” starts as a punk song then goes into a cumbia rhythm. Did you plan it this way?

DROS: When we started, I thought about all the rhythms and music I grew up with. My background comes from my parents blasting music every Saturday at 8:00 a.m. — “Everyone wake the fuck up!” you know?

That’s salsa, that's cumbia. So I brought all the rhythms and we started to mash 'em up. Sometimes, I feel like dancing cumbia, right? But right after, I want to listen to a reggae track.

Our songs are written in a way that we can alter them as we play them live. A big influence I pulled from is Bob Marley. When you listen to his live records, that song could last 20 minutes, or it could last six, you don't know.

We have an amazing Latin American culture in the DMV, but that community is now coming under attack with the federal takeover. How do you guys feel like you fit into that conversation as artists, but especially Latino artists?

DROS: I empathize with my people. I not only say this about the Latino culture, I say it about anyone who is not accepted.

We had to cancel shows because of it. But I'm the kind of person that likes to twist things. If life throws lemons, make lemonade, right? I see it as an opportunity to take music to some of our people that don't feel safe anymore coming to D.C. anymore.

FRANCISCO: We come from countries with very complicated moments in history with dictators and civil wars. Sadly, we're not unfamiliar to these expired ideas like ethnicities that belong and don’t belong.

It becomes a very complex situation for people that work in the entertainment industry because we are not politicians, right? On the other hand, one of the things we can do on our end as musicians is try to bring some joy and good times to the community.

What’s the best local venue to hear cumbia?

DROS and FRANCISCO: Marx Cafe

Favorite local artist right now?

FRANCISCO: Taisha Estrada is a favorite lately. I had the opportunity to see her a few times and it blew my mind. She’s a local artist doing very interesting things.

DROS: I wanna shout out our friends in the scene like Chicha Morada and Soroche.

Catch them live:

Art All Night with Chuck Brown Band | Sept. 13 | 7 p.m. | Free | Anthem Row

Mount Pleasant Cumbia Fest | Sept. 20 | 4 p.m. | Free | Lamont Plaza

Follow:

@bongodistrict

Song to Check Out:

“Bongo Bong”

🎟️ Upcoming Local Shows To See

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🎧 Your August Local Music Playlist

Check out this Spotify playlist we made, featuring Bongo District’s picks and inspirations, plus music by the other local artists above.