American cancer society wrist band

Agua Dulce keeps the rhythm going with members on mend

San Diego Latin funk band Agua Dulce is well-known for its rhythm section, driven by the near-psychic link of brothers Tizoc (bass) and Joaquin (drums) Hernandez.

That link is temporarily severed, though, as Joaquin has suffered a wrist injury and is unable to play.

Fear not. The core members met while taking an African drumming class in San Diego, so they've got a fistful of in-house members who can fill in for Hernandez.

The eight-piece crew recently returned from a tour in Europe to finish its new EP, "Still Searching," released about a month ago. That was around the time Hernandez's wrist started bothering him. He's still not sure of the diagnosis, keyboardist and vocalist Dante Thomas said via telephone.

In the interim, the band's other vocalist, Dante Loaiza, will play the drums, giving up his duties on Quarto, a Puerto Rican guitar, and trumpet during Dulce's current tour.

The groove collective that is Agua Dulce (which translates to "sweet water") uses Latin rhythms as a base while intermingling elements of Afro-Cuban, nuyorican salsa, samba, bossa nova, Latin jazz, cumbia, reggae, and, of course, funk. Phew!

With Thomas singing in English and Loaiza in Spanish, Agua Dulce has taken its sound around the world, to France, Holland, Hungary, the Balkans, Iceland and more. Having played with artists such as Barbarito Torres (Buena Vista Social Club), Pete Escovedo and Ozamatli, the band is a fixture in San Diego. "Still Searching," a four-song EP, is Dulce's first offering since its debut three years ago. It features trumpeter Raymond Monteiro, who is on the road with Christina Augilera.

Though now touring with only five of its eight members, Agua Dulce recently added Giovanni Mejia, an ex-member of the B-Side Players (the California band, not the Spokane bar), and saxophonist Pete Ortega, who will both join Tizoc Hernandez and the Dantes onstage this weekend.

Check out songs from Agua Dulce's latest material when the band appears Sunday at The B-Side, 230 W. Riverside.

Showtime is 9 p.m. There is a $5 cover.

Family feud

While we're on the topic of Latin bands, Nightwatch is excited to see the return of one of Spokane's most popular Latin bands, Milonga, after a brief hiatus. But it's unfortunate that it comes with a shift in personnel amid tightening tension mainly between founding siblings Nic and Jennifer Vigil.

In a recent e-mail, Jennifer cites uneven pay for gigs, misused funds and Nic's inflated ego as her reasons for leaving Milonga.

"I have made it clear that I have no interest in performing with Nic until all of the missing funds are returned, and he apologizes for his flagrant ego trip," Jennifer stated.

A few other members have rotated out of Milonga as well, although Nic said it was his sister's choice to step out.

Nic responded, also in an e-mail: "As the band leader, it's always been my call as to who stays and who goes. I stand by my decision to release certain players from the band but my own sister was not one of them. She quit by her own accord . . . she's always welcome to come back."

Hopefully the Vigils can get their differences sorted out and get back to playing their great signature Latin dance music. In the meantime, you can still get down to an altered version of Milonga when the band appears Saturday at 9 p.m. at Mootsy's. The cover is $5.

Club hoppin'

* A colossal list of rock, punk, tecno and hip-hop bands performs for an American Cancer Society benefit concert, including: Ground Zero, P36, Headwound, Choice Fatal, The Federales, A Comfortable Silence, The Shoe Bombers, Ambeo, Soma, Badfish, Locke, Vapor, Shauk, Aaron Taylor, Pixel Juice, Learn, Marble, FunGuy, and CoAxle. The action starts Saturday at 6 p.m. at Veterans of Foreign Wars Hillyard Post 1474, 3004 E. Queen Ave. The cover is only $5.

* Montana blues man Larry Hirshberg performs a solo set on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Spike Coffee House, 122 S. Monroe. There is suggested donation of $3.

* Christian contemporaries Asylum play tonight at 7 at Borders Books and Music, 9980 N. Newport Highway. No cover.

* The Night Bloomin' JazzMen, featuring a nucleus of some of Spokane's better-known jazzers, appears Thursday at 8 p.m. at The Chapter, 105 E. Mission. No cover.

* Rare funk and jazz deejay Grand Groove returns Saturday at 9 p.m. to Mizuna, 214 N. Howard. No cover.

* All-ages rock lands tonight at 7 p.m. at The Detour, 175 S. Monroe, with Dead To Fall, A Life Once Lost, Shattered Realm, A Taste For Murder, A Hollywood Legend, and Ties That Bind. There is an $8 cover.

* California rock band Sunday Afternoon hits Saturday at 9 p.m. at Blue Spark, 15 S. Howard. Cover to be announced.

* Bluegrassers Monarch Mountain Boys light up Moon Time in Coeur d'Alene Thursday at 9 p.m. The cover is $2.

* Pat Coast Blues Band plays blues Saturday at 9 p.m. at Capone's in Coeur d'Alene. There is a $5 cover.

* Indie-rock Shearwater perform Saturday at 7 p.m. to The Shop, 924 S. Perry.