Bodega Island Festival with BoomBoxRepairKit, Hecho En Brooklyn, Mula, El Gallo Lester, Dinais, & More!

At the heart of Hecho in Brooklyn is the interplay between rock and carribean music. To some they are a merengue band with a rock edge. To others they are clearly a rock band with a twist in the percussion. The listener makes up their own mind as they're caught up in the tension and release that this unique combo presents. The musical blend pushes the boundaries of what has been heard in either style with a high-energy show that encourages everyone to have fun and maybe even dance a little.

The main influences heard in the band are the carribean sounds of merengue, bachata, salsa and reggae with a heavy dosage of rock power. Merengue, a dance music from the Dominican Republic, usually involves a full orchestra with horns, piano and multiple percussionists. HenB take the stripped down, punk rock approach to that style and have most of the harmonies and melodies played on guitars. This guitar driven sound is what gives HenB it's rock flavor and energy. The vocals try to bridge the gap between Hector Lavoe and Joey Ramone. The bass plays a dual role, giving the carribean rhythms their distinctive feel and experimenting with the possibilities the style clashes present. Tying it all together is the percussion with the tambora and guira and kick-drum providing the other pieces of the conundrum. The energetic rhythms of this classic merengue combo are given a more modern flair by including timbales, cowbell and snare drum to the mix. The songs produced range from laid-back, relaxing songs like "Caras" to raging numbers like "Palo" that will make you want to both shake your hips and mosh!

The band members influences help create their unique sound. Hecho en Brooklyn was put together by the vocalist, native Dominican and Brooklyn local, Leopoldo de la Cruz with Oscar Mejia, Julio Jake and Mauricio Romero. "