Lido Pimienta and Combo Chimbita @ Songbyrd Music House [DC] - 4/5/2022
Lido Pimienta at Songbyrd Music House in DC (Photo ©2022 Mauricio Castro)
The pairing of Lido Pimienta, and Combo Chimbita in one night is an exceptional poster child for the rich musical culture of Colombia. The two carry on the tradition of Afro-Indigenous storytelling themes - colonialism, inequality, unrest, resistance, and more come together in their own musically diverse ways.
Lido Pimienta is not one to take a tepid stance on world events. She took the stage in pink and light blue clothes in support of transgender people all over the world, especially in Medellin where six LGBTQ+ men have been killed this year alone. Show highlight “Agua” singles out the need for clean water for all people, regardless of socioeconomic status. She balanced out the serious storytelling in her songs with light-hearted jokes in-between songs - roasts of anti-abortion advocates (she sarcastically lamented the millions of sperm that never make it to conception) and even of her drummer/partner. (“Don’t ever date a drummer. You will never know quiet - every surface is a drum.”) Her voice soared over an expansive collection of percussion instruments played by her partner - multiple bells, maracas, chimes, and more played over a deep, pounding kick drum, with no traditional snare or tom drum anywhere to be seen. It was a hypnotic, compelling performance from start to finish.
Combo Chimbita’s music is hypnotic in different ways. The four-piece band is wildly propelled forward by singer Carolina Oliveros. Her voice draws from something deep within, channeling generations of Indigenous Afro-Caribbean musical tradition and marrying it with psychedelic rock to create an overwhelming and powerful show of force. And by the end of the night, Lido Pimienta and Oliveros joined together on stage together to sing Pimienta’s “Nada,” trading verses, hyping each other up and hugging in front of the cheering crowd.
Lido Pimienta’s sophomore album Miss Colombia was released in 2020 through Anti, with new music on the way soon (she performed an unreleased song a cappella for the crowd as her encore). Combo Chimbita’s latest album IRE was released this year through Anti.
