CMJ News Story: The Hong Kong Blood Opera this week's SPOTLIGHT

Story by: Joe Puglisi
Although many turn to Mexico for sandy vacations, margaritas and gun running, it's not necessarily the first place the average music aficionado looks for new indie rock. That may change with the electro-rock of a few kids from Hermosillo, Sonora. The Hong Kong Blood Opera grew up on American and British indie rock from the 90's, and decided to go against the traditional "banda" and "norteño" music that dominated their small close-to-the-border town's cultural scene. Now they just might be the hottest thing to come out of Mexico since the jalapeno. The boys' brand of toe-tapping, dirty fuzz, beat-dropping good times.

In 2007, after working a few national tours, the band released The Critical Paparazzi EP (Noiselab Records).They've also played several high profile Mexican festivals, including MX Beat and Motorokr Fest, sharing the stage with bands such as the Killers and Incubus. They were invited to play SXSW last year, which led to a Vice Live party in NYC and help with the launch of Vice Mexico with the Black Lips. They've since played in London, the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Germany, and the southern Swedish city of Malmö as part of the Debasser Festival. (The band was invited but could not attend this year's CMJ Marathon due to external causes.)

The Hong Kong Blood Opera is working on a new LP, due out sometime soon. Rumors of it being some combination of meat, cheese and tortilla are unconfirmed.

http://www.sonicbids.com/TheHongKongBloodOpera

info: www.cmj.com