GUITAR
TOURING LATIN AMERICA | Chris Rocha
I love touring Latin America and I am extremely to six months and then stop. However, the for worshipping Jesus, the people are very
grateful to see God’s hand move and change countries in Latin America are so spread apart expressive and for some reason it’s easy for
people’s lives every night at our concerts. Being that it requires all travel to happen via airplanes. Latinos to express their passion. That can also
on the front line of the movement that is swiping It makes for such a unique experience because make the concerts very unique and fun in its
throughout Latin America will be something we can be in one country one day and own way.
that I will carry in my heart for the rest of my then travel to another country the next and life. Touring is always an adventure but touring experience a completely different culture and I’ve also had similar experiences like Chris,
in Latin America has it unique challenges and environment. It is so amazing to see different where amps won’t work or they’re hard to
experiences it brings. cultures and ways of life come together in one come by so I’ve started using the “Simplifier”
common thread to worship God. pedal by Humboldt Pedals. It has an amp and
When I say that I’m leaving for tour people
cab simulator which is very useful.
assume that I’m going to be gone for six A challenge that I have faced while traveling months at a time. Typically, bands and artists to Latin America has been the quality of Something else that we deal with is bad hum
in the States will get on a bus and tour for three gear available to use. Higher end gear isn’t from the electricity but that doesn’t stop us
available in some parts of the world and from worshipping God with everything. We
trying to find a nice, quality tube amp can be understand that these people come broken and
a little complicated. I can recall several times need God’s love in their lives. That’s one thing
showing up for soundcheck and the facilitators that we have to learn. It’s not how comfortable
didn’t have an amp for me or didn’t think to we are, it’s about the people. They’re the ones
get me one. I knew right away that day that that are important, they need to receive the
my tone was gonna suffer and did my best to message of Jesus so that’s what us musicians
accommodate. I eventually got a system that need to always keep in mind.
had amp simulators to cancel out that problem
and now every night I have the same consistent Another thing that’s been wonderful to see in
tone. Latin America is the growth of the church. It’s
actually pretty common to show up to an event
I’ve invited a great friend of mine Andrés Castro where you have 60,000 followers of Christ.
to join in on this article and talk about what his People think that the church is small out there
experience is to tour Latin America. He plays but in the last few years it’s grown so much.
with one of the biggest and most successful
Spanish bands (Generación 12).
It’s amazing to witness so many people proclaim
that Jesus Christ is Lord! There have been
[Chris] What’s it like to tour Latin America?
moments where we stop playing and just the
sound of so many people singing in one accord
[Andres] Well, I have been touring Latin
is more than sufficient!
America for over 15 years and it’s been an
incredible experience! Not all countries are
alike though. A lot of people especially from the
states think that they’re all very similar but that’s
just not the case. There are so many different
cultures and it’s a wonderful thing. One thing
that is the same in all countries is their passion
118
March 2020
Chris Rocha
Lives in Houston, TX, and is the guitarist and
producer for Miel San Marcos
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