MAMBO DIABOLICO | Eclectic Music Ensemble Rocks the West Coast

By Sophie Flay

Los Angeles : Ten-piece experimental music ensemble Mambo Diabolico is shaking things up as they sell out venues in California. The brainchild of renowned cartoon composer Ego Plum, the band features five-octave opera singer Lena-Marie Cardinale and noted musician/filmmaker Richard Elfman, founder of the rock group Oingo Boingo.

Composer Plum (aka Ernesto Guerrero), known for his work on “Spongebob Squarepants,” ‘The Cuphead Show” and other hit animations, says that Mambo Diabolico is an attempt at recreating the Latin music he grew up with- by way of his unique, absurdist filter. The result is everything from gothic Mambo, off-kilter Cumbia, experimental Salsa, and all sorts of demented re-imaginings of traditional Latin music and rhythms. He also takes the musical conventions of his heritage and turns them on their head with Dada-esque Spanish lyrics and musical stylings that have more in common with David Lynch, Frank Zappa and Bauhaus than Perez Prado or La Sonora Dinamita.

Mambo Diabolico has been featured in the soundtracks of the Richard Elfman films, “Aliens, Clowns & Geeks” and “Bloody Bridget.” Says Elfman, “I wrote a one-act play that featured a “band” on stage. Ego got some players together and buddy Darren Lynn Bouseman (“Saw” film series) saw the show and hired the “band” for his Theatre Macabre immersive. And the group somehow stayed together—kind of a ‘Life Imitates Art’ thing.”

Richard’s wife, Anastasia Elfman, plays in the band and also creates colorful burlesque choreography, sometimes with her film and stage dance partner, Marcos Ochoa.

Mambo Diabolico is definitely shaking things up and will soon be featured at major film festivals in Mexico City, Quebec and at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

Band members: Ego Plum (Composer, Musical Director, Guitars, Vocals) Lena-Marie Cardinale (Vocals) Steven Sarmiento (Bass & Guitars) Aaron Cohen (Organ & Percussion) Alen Hansen (Drums & Percussion) Richard Elfman (Congas) Anastasia Elfman (Cello, Theremin & Choreograph) Luis Rojas (Tenor Saxophone) Felix Diaz (Trumpet) Max Mineer (Trombone) Howard Hardaway (Baritone Saxophone)