“The Boats Sing: Creating Music with Reused Instruments and Spreading Joy in Hidalgo”

A few days ago the group The Boats Singintegrated by Pedro Sandoval, Erik Hernández and Alfonso Caballero “el Nani”offered a presentation at the Centro Cultural el Ferrocarril that brought together dozens of hidalguenses of all ages who enjoyed performances such as “My dad is a rock and roll”, “There goes the blow”, “Tongue twister”… pure music really made with instruments of lies.

The group, born there in the capital of Mexico, is a project aimed particularly at children, “always in a healthy chatter scheme and promoting communication taking advantage of the intelligence and receptivity of their public”, although they have had the good fortune and star of having the support and preferences of boys and girls of all ages, with whom they dance they jump and laugh. So have fun!

This presentation in the capital of Hidalgo is the product of his triumph in the call for the Music circuit: Raíz Mexico Central region organized by the federal Ministry of Culture which, among other things, involves offering concerts in the states of Mexico, Querétaro, Mexico City and, of course, Hidalgo.

These graduates of the College of Pepenadores de México and large business shareholders of Cachibaches Inc., are specialists in create real music with pretend instruments made from objects that were one step away from being thrown awaythings that were no longer useful: “we are so ecological that we are not satisfied with the three Rs, reduce, recycle and reuse, but four and to these we add snoring”, thus they began their presentation in the beautiful airosa.

Shortly before this concert, they offered a conversation at the aforementioned Cultural Center as part of the priority project Chapultepec: Nature and Culture of Music: Raíz México cwhose central objective is always to promote a taste for music among children, increase their receptive capacity and awaken their interest in learning to play an instrument.

Pedro Sandoval acknowledges that it was a great experience because “the public of Pachuca is well turned on” and willing to share fun moments framed in his music. To do this, they use genres such as jarocho, blues, polka, rap and, of course, rock.

Los The instruments they use are made from reused materials: a pizza box, bottle caps, griddles, jars, and acetates, among others.with whom they later give life and sound to the “sintrabajo”, “el cuckold”, “el peinofono”, “la galletarra”, “la latería” and even some “maracas frijoleras” and some “sonajas corcholateras”.

The music of friends Los Botes Cantan can be found on various streaming platforms as well as on their social networks, for the enjoyment of children and adults.

like the bums

Taking advantage of his visit to Hidalgo, it was impossible not to talk to Pedro Sandoval about his new musical production: “Como los vagabundos”, carried out independently with the support of the collective “Peor Para el Sol”, from the city of Úbeda, Spain.

The singer-songwriter remembers that was the first place winner in the Sabina por Aquí Author Song Contest in September 2021 and, in addition to an economic stimulus, the prize included a recording session in Joaquín Sabina’s personal studio in Madrid, Spain, in August 2022.

This album brings together eight songs by Sandoval and is available from May 14, 2023 on platforms such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, among others, performed on guitar and voice in its most austere and therefore most honest version.

It is, he says, naked songs, songs that did not require more technology because they were recorded in direct takes where the faithful interpretation of them was captured, recording the guitar and the voice at the same time and avoiding the common studio methods where each instrument is usually recorded in parts and several takes of each track are taken.

Pedro Sandoval has 29 years of experience and has performed on multiple stages and festivals in Mexico, Latin America and Spain. In addition to the solo format that he has never abandoned, he has been the founder of the groups Gatos de Azotea and Los Mareados, and from 2003 to date he directs the children’s music group Los Botes Cantan. In addition to Sabina por Aquí, he has been the winner of the Mexiquense Song Contest, the Alejandro Céssar Rendón literature prize, an honorable mention for best original music at the Carlos Olvera Theater Festival, among other recognitions.

The intention, he says, is to recover the strength and emotion of the songs that according to him are usually lost in the coldness of the studio (although quality and neatness are unquestionably gained), Pedro Sandoval decided on this occasion for this way of working, evidencing the strong influence of the cave movement of the 80s, which he has never denied, where acoustic music is claimed and accompanied only by “stick guitars”.

The recording, as has already been said, was made in the Joaquín Sabina Studio by Juan González in Madrid, Spain; Mixing and mastering were in charge of Oscar Mata at the La Casa del Árbol studio in Toluca, Mexico.

“Como los vagabundos” has four covers, all “official” and related to the album, made with the photographs of Linda Flores and the design of Rafael Figueroa.