Juanita and Juan is the name of a thrilling new project featuring the talents of punk rock luminaries Alice Bag (The Bags) and Kid Congo (Pink Monkey Birds/Cramps/Gun Club). The two respected musicians have a combined resume that is remarkable, but how did this duo come to be?
“We were invited to write a song for the Peacock series The Resort,” says Bag. “The idea was that we would write a song for them and then pretend to perform it poolside at a Mexican resort.”
“It was really fun, and the characters we played seem to have further things to say beyond ‘Arenas De Amor,’” adds Congo. “Our lounge duo seemed more unruly than a traditional lounge act, although we were trying to play it straight! We could not disguise our rebellious nature, so we brought the fictional characters into our real lives.”
Bag says that this project has allowed her to explore different configurations of sound, and experiment a little.
“We even have a couple of songs that are cumbias,” she says. “Also, the fact that we don’t use a full band but perform with our own pre-recorded tracks has really allowed me to go crazy with instrumentation.”
“I like to say it’s LOUD Lounge because I like it to be a party,” adds Congo. “A party at a Mexican beach. Electric guitars fuzzy and raucous, and keyboards melodic and demanding. With drum machine, Latin beats mostly, and Alice is a fantastic soulful and punk singer. I’m channeling a Barry White kind of talk-singing. We sing in Spanish and English language—I suppose Spanglish.”
The new album, Jungle Cruise, was recorded at Waterworks Studios in Tucson, AZ with Jim Waters, on Larry Hardy’s In The Red Records. “Fortunately for us, he was willing to take a chance on this kookie endeavor,” says Bag.
It’s all a fine example of the DIY ethic that the pair have long adhered to: “If you’re bold enough and creative enough, no one will guess that you don’t know what you’re doing,” says Bag.
“No rules in music,” adds Congo. “Simple recording. Say what you mean. Defy expectations.”
Look out for Juanita and Juan on tour, and get Jungle Cruise. Bag has a Spanish language translation of her book, Violence Girl, coming out in the summer, and Congo will be doing some shows with his Pink Monkey Birds.
