Kiltro - "Guanaco"

Photo by Julian Brier

Denver's Kiltro have a sound quite unlike other bands that combine Latin roots with mainstream rock. "Guanaco" is a rock song with Latin roots, but Kiltro is just mixing it up differently. There is an intensity to the song without it being particularly loud or heavy. There is a distinct groove that is going to make a listener want to dance and move, even though there is a heavy darkness in the song. The song has an almost electronic element to it, even though it's much more folk. This is an intriguing song that only gets more so with each listen. You'll find something new each time you spin it, so plan on doing so frequently.

Chris Bowers (vocals/guitar) says of the band's new song:

"A guanaco is a South American animal that is a bit like a llama. It’s known for spitting. In Chile, it has another meaning, and is colloquially used to refer to police vehicles that shoot water at protestors. We wrote this song in the wake of the 2019 protests for a new constitution in Chile.  The line 'ya viene el guanáco' means simply 'here/now comes the guanáco,' which against a driving, melancholic backdrop, had an almost fairy tale quality to it. I felt it communicated a sense of foreboding and nervous anxiety. Taken more literally, it means a beast is coming, here.  Of course, a guanaco is not a terrifying thing, but a police line in riot gear with the machinery of dispersion and violence, is. 

“To be clear, the aim was never to make an explicit political point. Rather, I wanted to capture that peculiar environment of communal tension and mounting emotional energy, be it conviction or catharsis, or fear. The album had yet to take shape in those months, but I was certain the song would make an apt intro to whatever came next. I hope you enjoy it."

You can listen to "Guanaco" below. Underbelly is due out June 2. For more on Kiltro, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram. Upcoming tour dates are below the song.

June 21 - Detroit, MI - Lager House

June 22 - Columbus, OH - Woodlands

June 24 - Bethlehem, PA - Sabor Festival

June 25 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s

June 26 - Cambridge, MA - Club Passim

June 28 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right

June 29 - Vienna, VA - Jammin Java

June 30 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Music Hall

July 1 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle

July 3 - Nashville, TN - The Basement

July 6 - Madison, WI - The Bur Oak

July 7 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry

July 8 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen