CULTURE CLASH , WORLD CLASS CHICANO THEATRE TROUPE,  HEADLINES KPFK RADIO’s 50th ANNIVERSARY KICK-OFF
ON JULY 27 AT THE FORD AMPHITHEATRE

CULTURE CLASH, internationally renowned Chicano political theatre troupe, will headline a benefit performance for KPFK Pacifica Radio 90.7FM Los Angeles on Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 8pm at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood.  The evening kicks off the 50th anniversary year of celebrations for KPFK, a non-commercial, listener-sponsored radio station broadcasting since 1959.

CULTURE CLASH (www.cultureclash.com) will feature rare and satirical works from their historical anthology.  Joining the comedic rambunctiousness will be Lalo Alcaraz, creator of the daily comic strip, “La Cucaracha” and co-host of KPFK’s “Pocho Hour of Power, heard weekly on Fridays on KPFK at 4pm.  In the spectacular outdoor historic Ford Amphitheatre in the Hollywood Hills, attendees can expect a night of satire and great vibes under the stars sparked by the alternative rock music of MEZKLAH.  CULTURE CLASH, POCHO HOUR OF POWER AND MEZKLAH are donating their time and talent to commence KPFK’s anniversary activities as it reaches the 50th year of continuous public radio broadcasting in 2009, primarily sponsored by its dedicated listeners.

Founded in 1984 in San Francisco's Mission District, CULTURE CLASH is Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza.  Dubbed the “missionaries of mayhem, activists and all-around troublemakers,” CULTURE CLASH uses "performance collage" to bring history, geography, "urban excavation," "forensic poetry" and storytelling together in a contemporary, movable theater narrative through a Chicano point of view--what Guillermo Gomez-Pena describes as "reverse anthropology." 

CULTURE CLASH’S work has been produced by the nation's leading theaters including the Mark Taper Forum, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Huntington, The Alley Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Seattle Repertory, The Goodman Theatre, among others. They have also toured and lectured at major universities and colleges including Syracuse University, Yale University, Stanford University, and Universities and state colleges of California. CULTURE CLASH’s theatrical work includes The Mission, A Bowl of Beings, S.O.S.-Comedy for These Urgent Times, Unplugged, Capra Clash, Radio Mambo: Culture Clash Invades Miami, Bordertown, The Birds, Nuyorican Stories, Anthology, Mission Magic Mystery Tour, Anthems: Culture Clash in the District, Chavez Ravine, Senor Discretion Himself, Culture Clash in AmeriCCa, Zorro in Hell and Water and Power

Raucous, irreverent and politically smart radio talk show, the L.A.-based Spanglish-slinging "Pocho Hour of Power" on KPFK radio is Lalo Alcaraz, creator of the daily comic strip, “La Cucaracha;” writer/satirist and internationally recognized Ambassador of Aztlan Esteban Zul; voice impersonator and filmmaker Patrick Perez; stand up comedian Jeff Keller; and the music of DJ Boxy Dee.  The Pocho Hour of Power has its roots in the notorious underground zine, Pocho Magazine, the seminal magazine of the 90’s of post-Chicano satire founded by Lalo Alcaraz and Esteban Zul in 1990 offering a hilarious yet uncompromising perspective on the Latino experience. On any given “Pocho Hour of Power,” listeners can hear satirical radio sketches, politically charged parody songs and even serious public affairs segments with Dr. Dolores Huerta as well as guests including Ry Cooder (Buena Vista Social Club), The Blasters, Dave Foley (Kids In The Hall, Brain Candy), and Aaron McGruder (Boondocks) and Quetzal.

Described by the Los Angeles Times as “one of L.A.’s most powerful and promising alt-Latino bands” and  “talented and visionary, projecting an appealing confidence” by Music Connection, MEZKLAH blends alternative rock with touches of reggae, salsa, and cumbia layered over with elements of trip-hop, drum and bass beats, creating and defining their own genre of music. On their debut album SpiderMonkey, the group expanded the barriers of music, melding language and song structure with tracks that seamlessly switch between English and Spanish.  MEZKLAH is Angel Garcia, Greg Hernandez, Matias Pizarro and Juan Carlos Ramirez. The group has toured the world in support of their critically acclaimed release, playing shows throughout Europe, Latin America, North America and Japan and bringing their distinctive brand of Latin music.

Tickets for the benefit show in support of KPFK are on sale now at $35 and $25 per person.  For ticket information, please call (323) 461-3673 or visit www.kpfk.org.  For reservations to attend the Pre-show Celebrity Reception, please call (818) 985-2711 ext. 214.