Los Rebeldes set to play forWARD Neighborhood Park Concert
Minnesota-based family band Los Rebeldes will share with Rochester their Tex-Mex and conjunto music — an upbeat fusion of classic Mexican music, European polkas, and country rhythms.
Los Rebeldes, based out of Albert Lea, will perform at Wednesday night’s forWARD Neighborhood Park Concert at Allendale Park, 1895 Allendale Park Lane Northwest, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. with opener Root River Jam.
Los Rebeldes is a multigenerational band, first formed in 1984, sparked by the Cardona family’s love of music. The band began with Raul Cardona Sr. and his sons Raul Jr., Rene, Luis as well as his brother-in-law Jesus Velez. Current members include drummer Rene Cardona, bassist Luis Cardona, guitarist Curtis Gilbert and Luke Cardona.
The band performs a mix of their own music as well as twists on melodies from Johnny Cash and Vincente Fernandez by incorporating accordion and trumpet. They perform traditional music like corridos — narrative verses, rancheras — songs stemming from the Mexican Revolution, and cumbias — Latin music featuring percussion instruments.
Reporter Haley Handelman spoke with Luke Cardona, who performs the accordion, trumpet and vocals for Los Rebeldes, to learn more about the band’s history and love for music.
MCB: Could you tell me about your background, as well as the history of the band?
Cardona: This band has always been a family band since it started back in the late 70s, early 80s. My grandfather and my great uncle instilled a love of music in my father and my uncles, and they passed that along to me. At a very early age, I was pretending to sing in the band and playing instruments to be like my dad and my grandpa. I learned how to play the trumpet when I was about 12 or 13 years old and I'm 32 years old now so I've been doing that with them for 20 years or so. Music has just been a big part of our family. We love music; we love our culture of northern Mexico and south Texas.
MCB: What has been different about playing in a family band versus a group of friends?
Cardona: As musicians, we've done it all — played with friends, strangers, and family. The biggest difference is you can be a little more honest with people and say, ‘Hey, we're not doing this very well right now.’ We can push on each other more to be better. I’ve learned a lot from my father simply because there have been times where he’s said we need to be better and that's tougher to say to your friend or a fellow musician you might be working with. It's easier to say to each other because it comes from a place of love. We love what we do we have a really good time doing it, and we want to make sure that we do it well.
It’s also so much more fun — you always have this common interest that no matter what, the band and the music will always be centered in the family. It's just such a great time because it never leaves, you can never just go to a band performance or go to practice and then leave it. It's ingrained in our family and we just have some of the best times and memories.
MCB: How would you describe your style of music?
Cardona: We perform Conjunto music which comes from German music at the turn of the century. It’s similar to polka music with the accordion — what we do is take that and make it faster and more upbeat, add a guitar, some keyboard and trumpet. We also do Tex-Mex music which incorporates more country into the music, so we could be compared to a more classic style. We play classic Mexican music like corridos, rancheras, and cumbias.
MCB: Los Rebeldes has evolved throughout the generations. what does the current lineup look like?
Cardona: Yeah, so it's important to know that the two people that really started Los Rebeldes are my grandfather and my great uncles. My grandfather was already good at playing music with his sons and my uncle had been playing with his friends, so they decided to come together and make a family band. We like to say Los Rebeldes officially started around 1983 and two of the original members were my dad, Luis Cardona, and my uncle Rene Cardona. When my grandfather retired from music, my dad became the leader of the band, and it’s been passed down from my grandfather, father, to eventually me. Another gentleman that's in the band is a family friend, Curtis Gilbert, from Austin, Minnesota. He’s been part of the band since I was six years old, and he’s a lifelong musician.
MCB: What does it mean to you to be able to get back on stage after the pandemic?
Cardona: It’s been huge and it’s been special to see my uncle who’s 72 years old able to get back on stage and perform, hopefully for the next couple of years. Our music isn’t for everyone — not everyone loves our music, but for the people that do, they really love it and we really appreciate it. We’re probably the longest standing Conjunto band in Minnesota and it’s just be so fun, so great to play and be with family.
Watch Los Rebeldes live in concert this Wednesday in Rochester. Details here.
✍️ Interview by Haley Handelman
About the opener: Root River Jam
Root River Jam is an Americana Roots band based in southeast Minnesota. Their original music includes styles from folk, country, rock, blues, Celtic, and jazz. Audiences are drawn to their sound and instantly connect with expressive melodies, improvisation, and interaction. Recalling the "jams" of the past and renewing the dreams of the future.
More upcoming forWARD shows
Jeremiah Nelson w/ Jealous Brother
August 25, 5:30-8 p.m. @ Roy Watson Youth Sports Complex
Erik Koskinen w/ Pat Egan
September 1, 5:30-8 p.m. @ Cook Park
Annie Mack w/ Soul Train
September 8, 5:30-8 p.m. @ John Withers Sports Complex
