Episode Summary
Hector Flores of Las Cafeteras joins Steve to talk about Hasta La Muerte, the group’s Day of the Dead production arriving at SFJAZZ. He traces the band’s East L.A. activist roots, how son jarocho meets hip-hop and spoken word, and why participation—dancing, singing, dressing up—turns a concert into a communal ritual. Hector shares how Cocosparked a new wave of writing, why La Catrina becomes “La Santa de los Muertos,” and how a reimagined La Llorona story reframes grief as love.
Hector Flores — vocalist, writer/poet, co-founder of Las Cafeteras (East L.A.). Community organizer turned bandleader; bridges traditional son jarocho with hip-hop cadence, dance, and poetry.
Activist beginnings in East L.A. and how a collective became a band
The sonic palette: jarana, requinto, leona, Afro-Colombian percussion, Indigenous drums, and tasteful electronics
Writing from lived experience: poems that become songs and stage narratives
Hasta La Muerte onstage: five dancers, four musicians, vivid visuals, and storytelling through music and movement
Reimagining icons: La Catrina as La Santa de los Muertos; a compassionate retelling of La Llorona
Why audience participation matters: “come in costume,” sing, and dance—treat the hall like a plaza
Limited-run vinyl at the merch table (cast and crew-signed)
What’s next for the production beyond the West Coast
Hasta La Muerte — Las Cafeteras
Date: Friday, October 31
Venue: Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin St., San Francisco
Showtime: 7:30 PM PT • Tickets via SFJAZZ. sfjazz.org
Las Cafeteras (official): https://lascafeteras.com
Hasta La Muerte (about): https://lascafeteras.com/hasta-la-muerte
Las Cafeteras on Instagram: https://instagram.com/lascafeteras
Tickets (SFJAZZ): https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/las-cafeteras-hasta-la-muerte/ sfjazz.org
Backstage Bay Area: https://www.backstagebayarea.com
“Hasta la Muerte” (official performance clip) — embed or link from Las Cafeteras’ channel
“Esta Noche” — sample the group’s energy and instrumentation
Host & Producer: Steve Roby — Backstage Bay Area
Guest: Hector Flores (Las Cafeteras)
Editing/Mix: Backstage Bay Area
Music used with permission of the artist.
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