Since forming in 1995, the Mexican Cession (yes, like the land acquisition) has shown Buffalo its hybrid ska/hiphop/metal/funk style and has always contributed a bit of fun and joking in between. For about 5 years now, the Cession has done the musical tour in Buffalo, rising slowly from their 1995 formation, when most of the members were still in high school. Now though, the Cession has begun to broaden its horizons, traveling to Geneseo, Rochester, and Pennsylvania, and even as far as NYC and Boston to play shows.
Buffalo is still their home and main stomping grounds however, and you can see them play at such Buffalo music meccas as Showplace Theater, The Atomic, The Continental, and many different festivals and benefits in and around the area.
The Cession is comprised of 9 instrumentalists (2 guitars, one bassist, drums, keyboards, and a 4 piece horn section), which adds to their extremely distinct and unconventional sound. The combination of Lou Collela’s metal guitar riffs andthe bouncing sound of two trombones, a sax, and a trumpet makes for a striking sound. The band has been known to jump from a hiphop number into a straight up ska-based drinking song without any problems at all.
Songs like “Amnesia Girl”, “Lawrence King’s Engaged Again,”and “Monkey On a Bridge” all show the songwriting talent of the band as well as showcases their sometimes funny, often disturbing lyrics. Every song that the Cession has is high energy; these guys don’t seem to want to play those tender ballads.
The Cession’s talent is best seen through their live shows, showcasing seering guitars, solid horn lines, and a steady beat, all rolled into one. Their shows are always high energy and often include stunts and antics which can range from crazy to hilarious. Dressing up in matching Fubu outfits, the horn section coming onto stage in gorilla and dinosaur costumes, and opportunities for fans to come up and tell jokes are just a few of their more comical antics. On the crazier side, the Cession’s front-man, Leif Nelson, has been known to dress up like a devil and breath fire, and bass player Bryon Federick has been know to destroy the drum kit on more than one occasion.
Beyond their live performance, the Cession also has a couple CD’s out, which can be purchased at their shows or through their website, and are currently working on their most serious and promising album to date. For more information, show dates, and some hilarious stuff to read, check out their website at http://www.mexicancession.com.
