When I first developed an interest in rough-around-the-edges cumbia music, a friend (thanks Matt!) introduced me to the music of Dick El Demasiado, purveyor of “cumbias lunaticas.” Over the years I’ve managed to glean a bit more about him, then I recently saw a documentary about him called Dick Verdult: It Is True, But Not Here. I learned Dick El Demasiado the musician is a mere sliver of what Dick Verdult the artist has to offer. His culture-jamming tendencies are a reflection of his cultu...
When I first developed an interest in rough-around-the-edges cumbia music, a friend (thanks Matt!) introduced me to the music of Dick El Demasiado, purveyor of “cumbias lunaticas.” Over the years I’ve managed to glean a bit more about him, then I recently saw a documentary about him called Dick Verdult: It Is True, But Not Here. I learned Dick El Demasiado the musician is a mere sliver of what Dick Verdult the artist has to offer. His culture-jamming tendencies are a reflection of his culturally scattered upbringing- born in the Netherlands, raised all over Europe and South America, and currently living in the Spanish town of Calanda. When Arrington de Dionyso and I spoke to him last November, he was at home in Spain. Dick discusses the music that spoke to him in his youth, moving 20 times in his first 20 years, writing ugly poetry, creating music alone vs with a group, having an audience in a notorious street gang, that signature skeleton costume, and his definition of cultural distortion.
Gratitude to Jack Habegger for all the the portraits you've seen this season! Such strong work.
Want to hear the show more often? Be a part of the movement! Whenever I have enough money to cover a full work day sourced from supporters like you [at Patreon.com/lowprofile ] I will work on a new episode. I am currently taping season 10 for release in 2025, but in the meantime I have some fun stuff on the table- unpublished interviews with Gastr Del Sol, Elf Power, Dollar Country host Franklin Fantini and DJ Screw biographer Lance Scott Walker, plus live episodes from Scherler Sundays 2024 with interviews and performances from Chris Cohen, Mirah, Michael Hurley, Danbert Nobacon of Chumbawamba, Little Wings, Jonny Kosmo, Lori Goldston and Oh, Rose.
If your want to listen to more oral history from some pretty radical musicians, scope olympiamusichistory.org and dig around. I'm the audio editor and there are over 30 hours of interviews currently available on the website. We're in the middle of recording new interviews, so expect another 10 or so interviews early this summer!
Scherler Sundays is returning to downtown Olympia, WA every Sunday in July and August at 3pm. See a curated afternoon of bands and solo artists, plus live interview tapings for Low Profile. Catch artists you’ve heard on this show- Swamp Dogg, Stephen Steinbrink, Soul-Junk, and LAKE- plus other incredible acts like Pearl and The Oysters, Wut, Afrocop, Winehouse, Sunbathe, plus an extended throwback showcase curated by the Olympia Music History Project, and the return of Michael Hurley!
Get your tickets NOWHERE. All you have to do is show up. See you there!
For more information, visit freemusicolympia.org
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