Wed, 03/07/2007 - 12:07pm

Picture of Si*Se Carol C., lead vocals
I couldn’t put my finger on it –but on February 24th I felt I was in two different worlds. Was it something to do with my daily horoscope or, perhaps, the cranberry vodka?

No, it was actually the unlikely assortment of the talent that took the stage at The Black Cat last weekend: Aramis y su Orquesta Ashe (opening), Si*Sé (headlining), and DJ Cottonbelly (spinning in the downtime). One moment I was in Salsa paradise and the next in an alternative Indie universe. While from the outsider’s perspective this fusion looks appealing, the odd mix of energies and fans of these very different genres proved, if possible, too diverse. Something didn’t mesh.

This came as a big surprise to me, as a faithful fan of the Cat. Though this was my first show at the venue, previous nights spent soaking in the off-kilter vibe promised a near-legendary concert experience. Maybe I expected too much. Maybe it was an off night. Either way, the contrast of groups A and B had me questioning the pairing of this unlikely duo. That the Spanish lyrics proved the Ashe and Si*Sé’s only truly common thread, I sensed foulplay. Had The Black Cat programmed these groups together on the basis of the language of their lyrics and not musical compatibility? I may never know, but I will remain baffled until the reasoning behind this show’s programming comes clean.

Perhaps my confusion was rooted in my preconceptions of the show. After all, the opening band drew me to the show and not Si*Sé (in fact, I’d never even heard of Si*Sé). Aramis y Su Orquesta Ashe had shown me a good time once before: I’d attended a show and all-out Salsa dancing fiesta at Duke’s City Café (where they perform, at least, the first Friday of every month). My first Orquesta Ashe experience had been one of my most unique and entertaining nights in DC. I participated in the free dance lessons before the show and then shook my groove thang Cuban-style (or what I hoped was something close) throughout the night. It was an energetic night of fun and awesome music. I knew Orquesta Ashe didn’t entirely reflect the Cat’s alternative spirit, although it didn’t refute it either. My curiosity was peaked how they’d fare in this different environment. Regardless, I prepared myself for a night of hip-shakin’ fiesta loca.

From the moment Orquesta Ashe took the stage, I was pumped. I had my dancing shoes on and plunged feet first into downtown Havana, Aramis as my guide. My mind was lost in the beat, my feet moving to the rhythm and my mouth suddenly singing soulful lyrics I never realized I knew: “Hay/No hay que llorar/Que la vida es un carnaval/Y las penas se van cantando…” Of course I knew these words –even non-Spanish linguists know the familiar beat. Yet, they’d never before left my lips as such an effortless memory, as if I’d sung them everyday. I floated in this spicy Caribbean dream for the rest of the hour, until it was time for Si*Sé to take the stage.

Orquesta Ashe’s upbeat spirit carried me in a floating haze well through Si*Sé’s first song, when I suddenly realized that I was no longer at the downtown Havana fiesta but rather somewhere strangely different. In the blink of an eye, I found myself among hundreds of Indie-rockers in an underground New York nightclub. The lyrics fading between English and Spanish, I awoke swaying to an enchantingly mellow beat backed by powerful vocals, a viola, electric bass, keys, and percussion. Where had the high-energy dance party that I had been at just moments before? Had Aramis and his orchestra abandoned me while distracted by my Salsa-inspired high? I liked my new surroundings but the change of pace left me a bit culture shocked.

Then the truth dawned on me –a truth that I had known yet never quite accepted: Aramis y Su Orquesta Ashe, the band I’d specifically come to see, was only the opening band. The snap back to reality that the focal point of the show was actually another group felt slightly jarring. In an instant, my Salsa-inspired energy deflated to equal that of the rest of the concertgoers: a mellow, Indie rock crowd in the mood for some Soul, not Salsa.

Mystified by the transformation that had occurred, I awaited a build-up of energy to bring me back to the high I had just come down from. A build-up that, as it turned out, would never quite happen. And then it struck me: the two bands I was seeing were a pair so incredibly mismatched that it seemed I was almost two places at once. Although I loved both Aramis y Su Orquesta Ashe and Si*Sé individually, the combination of these two groups had me feeling, well, cosmically confused.

Before I explain, I must assert this is no fault of the bands’ performances themselves but rather, in my humble opinion, of The Black Cat’s talent programmers. When set apart, both bands’ unique flares and talents illustrated their true ability to rock –and rock they did! Yet, when you juxtapose fiery Salsa beats with soulfully serene Indie rock, the transition is bound to be a bit chemically imbalanced?

You see, Orquesta Ashe, a local DC Salsa band, is an energetic and interactive experience. Aramis, the charming lead vocalist and performer extraordinaire, and his Orquesta simply inspired on Saturday. The crowd was bailando and cantando in a zesty DC-Havana fusion that had me sweating. I was jazzed! Yet, this energy build-up was lost in the transition to Si*Sé’s more mellow, eclectic beats. Despite the deep respect this underground New Yorker group earned from me that night, the change of pace between one act to the next was an unexpected peak and dive that didn’t quite fit my mood nor that of the crowd for that matter. I was simply unprepared for such a drastic difference in the two bands performing. It was an unlikely marriage of two groups that just didn’t have much in common apart from the Spanish-language thread.

This is not to say that Si*Sé did not rock my world. In fact, if this band represents, in any way, the New York underground music scene, I may have to start packing my bags. I must attest that once I caught my bearings from the unlikely transition, I found myself absolutely entranced. This group has something very special. Each artist’s individual style reflects the truly eclectic nature of Si*Sé’s music –from violist Jeannie Oliver’s long, funky dreads to bassist Morg-Rock’s sleek suit and edgy glasses. And who could forget the barefooted vocalist Carol C.’s silvery, sequined disco top and free-flowing curls adorned with a large, white daisy? The diversity in style exhibited by each member uniquely illustrates another facet of this band’s utter coolness. Beyond fashion, the beats, the vibe, the energy that Si*Sé creates transcends into the deeper levels of the human experience. The music is soulful, charged, and original in the bilingual lyrics and enchanting vocals. After the show, I marched over to the record shop, miraculously found both of their albums and have been playing them non-stop since.

I must congratulate Aramis y su Orquesta Ashe for their stellar Black Cat performance. I must say I prefer the large, stage environment to the smaller Duke’s City vibe. It allowed them to really shine and work the crowd in a way I hadn’t previously experienced. ¡Felicidades!

As for Si*Sé, you can bet you’ll see me at the next local show. You’ve got me hooked. Just next time I hope to see them with with a group like The Faint, for example, which captures similar energy that doesn’t get lost in transition.

About the author
Nikki-Rae Alkema is a freelance writer who has lived in Southern California and Spain before moving to Washington, D.C. This world-traveler with a dangerous wanderlust loves to scout the flavor of new places. When not out for a night on the town, Nikki-Rae also enjoys photography, surfing, and playing indoor soccer.

Photos also by Nikki-Rae Alkema

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• Music