Al ritmo of his own drum
Ricky Carlini knows how to throw a party
AS RICKY CARLINI — the hombre behind Daleee Productions and the La’tin “GO” concert series — always says: “Life is crazy.” He thinks about how something he does now can have a repercussion in the future. Or maybe it has percussion in the future? How the 33-year-old Argentinian got his kick into the music scene as a hardcore punk drummer back as a teen and is now the steadygroovy through-line for Albuquerquebased Afro-Latin rock/hip-hop/funk band, Concepto Tambor.
Tempo caught up with the party thrower, who has partnered with Roots and Wires and Seco Live, for another night of swing those hips left-then-right and keep light on your Cumbia-tapping toes on June 3 at 6 p.m. Concepto Tambor will pair with another Albuquerque-based Latin group, No Sotros. The event at the open-air stage in Arroyo Seco is free, but they will be collecting donations for those impacted by the wildfire evacuations.
Tell me about your love of music. When did this start/develop?
My dad was always playing music at home and in the car. He liked a lot of what we call “rock nationale” — Argentinian rock ’n roll. He also listened to Tina Turner and Queen.
My grandpa on my dad’s side was a musician — big, big time. He taught piano and accordion in his small town. He always had a piano in his house. He was also a choir director for over 25 years.
For me, I feel like music is inside of myself. It fills my soul. Transports me. Plus, you get to share a lot with the others who play music and with the audience. There’s a connection. And it’s also a way to bring something to your community. It can be joy, it can be happiness, you can bring discussion or new ideas.
Did you play as a kid?
When I was a kid, I was watching drummers. My older friend in high school — he was like the guy who protected me — put me under his wing, somehow. I remember going to his house and he was showing me music. I started learning. I joined a band at 15. We were playing hardcore punk, which is still in my heart. Actually, last year I went to Argentina and we played together, like 15 years later.
When I came to Taos, even my first year working at the Ski Valley, I remember going to Abe’s, then Joy and Dickie Córdova told me to come to their band practice. Joy let me use his drum kit till I bought mine. I was helping at the brewery and met Concepto Tambor. One time I went to cover a gig, then more gigs, then I became the full-time drummer.
How’d you get to Taos?
I came to Taos in 2011 to work at the Taos Ski Valley. I didn’t speak any English when I got here. I was seeing that people had a loose lifestyle here, like how I was working at the Whistlestop Café and making enough to pay my bills and buy a drum kit. I had been in law school for three years before, so I thought this was super cool.
Seeing bands playing in bars and getting paid, I thought I could do the same. In Argentina, in the punk scene, it’s very underground and with no money at all.
When did you start Daleee Productions? Had you had experience in event planning before?
I finally moved to Taos full-time in 2016 and started Daleee Productions in 2018. When I was doing those punk shows, we did everything. We managed to find a sound system, got experience in trying to organize. You go with the flow and learn little by little.
I started meeting the right connections. Dan at the brewery trusted me, and John and Jerry with Roots and Wires trusted me, too.
I also like to fly drones and am into filming. I can put all these little things and videos under Daleee Productions. It’s more than music — my own brand for whatever creative things I can come up with.
How did the Lat’in “GO” series begin?
I realized there were a lot of people coming from South America to do the Work & Travel exchange program at the Ski Valley. I realized that there’s not much of a Latin scene in Taos. Sol Connection [who I played with] was kind-of Latin music; it was a mix, right? I got to see Concepto Tambor, and Baracutanga at the Ski Valley — 100 percent Latin bands. I thought I could organize a party and get them up from Albuquerque, and Sol would open. It became more and more popular.
How do you choose the artists to be apart of the series?
This may be cliche to say, but I feel the vibe and listen for the idea of what they’re doing. With Nohe & Sus Santos, I knew the guitar player, Randy Sanchez, who is very well-known in New Mexico. I also love Nohelia’s voice. She has a lot of presence on stage. The band is very rootsy. Some projects have a little too much plastic, as I say, but I think they’re very real. Great energy, high vibes.
Will you have these parties every month this summer?
Not every month. In the winter months, that makes more sense because there are the South American people at the Ski Valley and less events, in general. I’m working on the El Come Back Fest, which I started last year. I want to do less and make it better.