San Francisco based band Carne Cruda performed at SF State’s Depot March 30 bringing forth an energy that pulled students off their seats and on to the dance floor.

A two- hour performance from 5p.m. to 7 p.m. began with the sound of lively instruments as the band entertained a group of approximately 40 students. The band recently finished a three-day European tour in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, and Poland. The performance was organized by BECA graduate student Alison Victor, 26, who is the manager of the Depot.

Victor, who ran into the band at IKEA after hearing their demo from an SF State student and a friend of the band, found their combination of Latin, Surf and Reggae music very unusual.

"I saw how all these random different people who go to Ikea loved the band and right there and then I knew I had to have them," said Victor.

The five member band, which was formed in 2001, combines a mixture of different instruments with various influences from Central America. The combination of Caribbean, Salsa, Surf, Latin, Kumbia all rolled into one make up a band whose influences come from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Jamaica and Mexico. The intention behind the band is to play a style of music different from any other.

"The vocals are the message of challenging what we are told to do in life, (which is) to create our own destiny and not give into the consumer capitalistic approach," said Javier Navarrette, 33, who plays the conga and the timbales, also known as a Cuban-style drum.

A few of the 11 instruments used by the band members include a trombone, saxophone, bass, percussion, keyboard, guitars, conga, all of which puts the band in a position to switch back and forth between instruments. The band sings a mixture of Spanish and English lyrics and at times no lyrics.

All five band members make a living solely from playing music in various other bands in the Bay Area.

“The challenge is that there are very few bands (whose members) can make a living playing in just one band,” said singer Camilo Landau, who also plays the guitar and tres, known as an acoustic Cuban style guitar. Landau also manages the band.

With the social, political and nautical commentary behind their self-written lyrics, the intentions behind their newly released album “Spicy Sea Adventures” is to entertain and to urge people to dance. The album involves several metaphors about sea creatures including one involving a friendship between an octopus and a squid. Through the metaphors with sea life, the band tries to tie in a connection to human nature.

The album was released in October of 2005 independently by the band, with a message that said, "Don’t let the man get you down." Carne Cruda, the Spanish translation for raw meat, was a name created by one of the original drummers when the band first formed. Band member Charlie Gurke, 26, who plays the baritone, saxophone, and keyboards said the name is an alliterative as well as a unique name for the band.

BECA grad student Mandy Brown, 26, and long time friend of the band said they have a great message and bring together a lot of different sounds that draw attention.

"They have definitely developed more of a style and given themselves a new label and not something that already exists," said Mali McGee, who is the half sister of Landau.

Currently, the band is planning on playing as many shows as possible, with a recent show at the Elbow Room in San Francisco on April 7 with the band Bayonics. Carne Cruda will begin recording their second album as well as doing another European tour in September 2006.

Band members also include Ayla Davila, 26, who plays bass and David Flores, 33, who plays drums and cowbells. For more information about the band, log on to their Web site at www.carnecruda.com