One-fourth of the Bombón crew, DJ Panchitron continues to evolve as one of the best DJ/Producer combos in Houston. His ear for combining cumbia, tropical and tribal with rap creates some of the most adventurous, hard-hitting, and downright funnest music in the city.
Who? Panchitron is a native of Mexico who was raised in L.A., born Francisco Javier Briones. He moved to the Houston area -- Alief, specifically -- in early 2000, and in 2007 began studying the DJ arts with mentor Toy Selectah.
"Spending time and touring with Toy around the U.S. molded my style," Panchitron says today.
After sitting in with "amazing" producers such as Diplo, Vampire Weekend and Maluca he began touring with other Latin artist such as Cafe Tacuba, Kinky and Plastilina Mosh, and began to DJ in the Houston shortly afterwards.
Home Base: With the other Bombon DJs, Panchitron spins at Fox Hollow the first Saturday of every month. With his fellow artist Sines (or $INES) , he works on the Houston-based label Freshmore, and says to watch out for upcoming releases from Nahlike and Houston native Kruxx. Panchitron also helps coordinate events at downtown shoe/clothing store The Tipping Point (1212 Main).
Why Do You Stay In Houston? "Houston is an amazing city," he gushes. "I grew up in Alief, and it's cool to see a melting pot of cultures. Being from Mexico and living in a city that embraces our culture is great."
This is what Bombon is trying to capture, explains Panchitron, and touts up-and-coming local acts Ape Drums, Trill Made, Kruxx and Rabbit -- "Really, look out for him!!"
Good War Story: "The biggest one was having a Texas Tour of five shows in three days," says Panchitron. "We covered all major Texas cities, with no sleep and driving across Texas in the summer.
"We encountered every single thing that could go wrong did," he continues. From equipment failure to the clubs kicking us out for not turning the music off. Our last show was some what different... it was a mud-wrestling tournament while we were DJing. It was an experience, to say the least.
Music Scene Pet Peeve: "I don't like the segregation of genres being created by the scene," he says. "The more we are able to play cumbia, Jersey Club or Moombahton at different clubs we can expand the musical horizons; educate on the dance floor."
Five Records You Can't Live Without:
- UGK, "Game Been Good to Me"
- French Montana, "Stay Schemin (DJ Sliink Remix)"
- Kruxx, "Endonesia"
- Los DeAkino, "La Cumbia del Carbonero"
- Tame Impala, "Elephant"
Best Show Ever: "Best show has to be SXSW 2013 spinning back to back with OG Bobby Trill! he says. "We locked in and began to seduce everyone with sounds of cumbia, 3Ball and moombahton. RIP We killed the club!"
Next Show/Project You're Promoting: "Bombon is every first Saturday of the month and going strong," plugs Panchitron. "We will be kicking off the summer by having weekly in-store sounds at The Tipping Point and a mixtape for them as well. The releases with Freshmore will be anounced at FreshmoreMusic.com."
See who else has joined The Rocks Off 100 this year on the next page.
THE ROCKS OFF 100 2013 ALUMNI
D.R.I's Kurt Brecht, Thrash Zone Supervisor
Sloan Robley, The Last Houstonian Banshee
Jack Saunders, Dealer of Grit & Jangle
Richard Ramirez, Noise God and Black Leather Jesus
Mike Meegz, Scoremore's Houston Lieutenant
Jacqui Sutton, Houston's "Jazzgrass Lady"
Robin Kirby, Silk and Sandpaper Songwriter
Billy Dorsey, Grammy-Winning MARATHON Runner
David DeLaGarza, Don of Tejano Stars La Mafia
Jason Puffer, Your Psychedelic Sex Panther
Tobin Harvell, Fitzgerald's Unflappable Floor Manager
Walter Suhr, the Straw That Stirs Mango Punch!
Tony Garza, La Orquesta Salmerum Founder
OG Ron C, Chopstar King of the Purple Dome
Football, etc., Giving Emo Back Its Good Name
Angela Jae, Renaissance Artist
Shellee Coley, Voice of the Northern Woods
Blaggards, Houston's St. Paddy's Day House Band
DJ Meshak, Hongree Records' Sound Selecter
K-Rino, South Park Coalition's Southside Maven
DJ Candlestick, One Niceguy and a Very Busy DJ
Danielle Renee, Only Beast's Destroyer of Walls
Felipe Galvan of Los Skarnales
Kristine Mills, Houston's Brassiest Voice
Brian Davis, Punk Drummer, Horror Composer
Elroy Boogie, Top-Notch Turntablist
Alyssa Rubich, Angel of Instability
Alphonso "Fonz" Lovelace, Righteous Drummer
Frank Zweback, Funkmaster General
OG Bobby Trill, Bombon Beatmaker
Beau Beasley, Organist for the End of Time
Dwight Taylor Lee, the Wandering Bufalero
Coline Creuzot, Soulful Pop/R&B Singer
Cristina Acuna, Cactus Music's Twitter Fingers
Clint Broussard, Blues In Hi-Fi Man Now Back On FM
Nortnii Rose, Houston Ska's Greatest Hope
Ramblin' Chase Hamblin, the Man Who Will Be Paid
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
SHOW ME HOW
Newsletters
Chris Alonzo, Bringing Night Flight to Facebook
Follow @hprocksoff
Or sign in with a social account:
FACEBOOK GOOGLE + TWITTER YAHOO!