5 Minutes w/ Eduardo Arenas of Chicano Batman

First published in the Santa Barbara Sentinel

I fell in love with Chicano Batman when they opened for the Alabama Shakes this year. And Hallelujah, our music crush came back to play at the Santa Barbara Bowl for the Dia De Los Muertos Celebration presented by KCRW. The show – on Friday, October 30 – included a crowd covered in face paint, costumes, and ready to get their jam on. Edwardo Arenas took five with the Sentinel to give us insight on our favorite LA Latin funk band:

Q: What is your favorite song to play live?

A: “Balloon”. No one sees it coming. We’re so locked in to. We add funk to it and we kind of go into space.

Even in large venues, you guys are able to keep it super intimate with not only your sound but the way you move. Who or what goes through your head when you perform?

Personally, we’ve sacrificed so much to be in this band and to play music (like Master’s degrees and 9-5 careers), so when your performing for 45 minutes, you treasure every second knowing it could be your last time you ever play.

Wow.

It’s kind of like going to church. It’s my closest thing I having any kind of religion. It’s our sermon. You’re there to touch people and they give back to you. We get to connect with so many people on so many different levels.

Amen! Great answer. Final question, how old are you and are you single?

(Laughing) No, I’m 33 and married.

Gotcha.