PUYA To Tour US.

Puerto Rican hardcore champions Puya are ready to take their genre-defying show on the road with the announcement of a 40 city North American tour with Fear Factory. The trek is in support of the group’s new album ‘Union’, an album that redefines the notion of modern, heavy rock. “We wanted a loud, percussive, organic sound, and I think we did our job,” notes guitarist Ramon Ortiz. “This record is heavier, but at the same time a lot more rootsy.” After making a splash with their 1999 MCA debut album ‘Fundamental’, which won a Billboard Latin Music Award for “Rock/Fusion Album of the Year” (based on sales – 50 weeks on the chart, largely due to their #1 Metal Radio hit “Oasis” – the first time a Spanish language song achieved such an honor), Puya are set to make even further inroads far from the sandy beaches of Puerto Rico.

Featuring Production From Garth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Kittie) & Mudrock (Godsmack,
Powerman 5000), ‘Union’ Is the Follow-Up To The Band’s 150,000 Selling Debut “Fundamental”

“Nothing else sounds like PUYA. Interlaced in every song is this addictive rhythm, reminding you that this band is from some place else. And now they’re back and I have had the pleasure of seeing them perform the new material live. All I can say is that they took the best of their debut ‘Fundamental’, combined it with their heavy touring and a couple years of musicianship, and kicked my ass. I love “Ride”, “People”, and “Numbed”, and since I see about 50 live shows a year, I can tell you that the fans are ready for the new PUYA CD.” -Ian Barret, WAAF 107.3FM (Boston commercial-alternative station)

“Up till now, Puya has built a loyal hard rock following primarily singing in Spanish, even when some in the U.S. music industry figured they couldn’t do it. With ‘Union’ they’re crossing that crossover bridge by cranking out a barrage of slamming tunes in English and Spanish that will not only sell them a ton of records and take them to the next level (check out “Si Aja”), but will only confirm to the industry execs what the kids today already know – the U.S.A. is a melting pop of cultures once again and popular music is now going to reflect that. These guys are going to do again what Santana did 30 years ago to rock music. Thank God.” -Mike Shea, Publisher/CEO, Alternative Press

The reception to Puya’s debut ‘Fundamental’ was exceptional among both Anglos and Latinos alike, with the video for “Oasis” being included on MTV’s “Best Metal Videos of All Time” special. In the recording of the new album, Puya turned ‘Union’ into something of a Puerto Rican descarga (jam), inviting such guest performers as old school rumba percussionists Cachete Maldonado, Anthony Carrillo, Raphael Vargas, Hector Lebron, and legendary trumpet player Juancito Torres. Now the members of Puya are focused on ‘Union’ and the days ahead. “We finally put out an album that sounds as heavy as we do live,” says Ortiz. And for a band that shuns categorization, maybe instead they’ll settle for being considered one of today’s hardest rocking bands. That should suit them just fine.

PUYA NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
(Many more dates TBA shortly)

June 16 / Philadelphia, PA / Electric Factory
June 17 / Washington, DC / Nation
June 18 / Nashville, TN / 328 Performance Hall
June 19 / Winston-Salem, NC / Ziggy’s
June 21 / Norfolk, VA / Norva
June 22 / Albany, NY / Saratoga Winners
June 24 / Old Bridge, NJ / Birch Hill Night Club
June 26 / Hartford, CT / Webster Theatre
June 28 / Scranton, PA / Tink’s
June 29 / New York, NY / Hammerstein Ballroom
June 30 / Providence, RI / Lupo’s
July 1 / Portland, ME / State Theatre
July 3 / Buffalo, NY / Sideshow Music Hall
July 8 / Rochester, NY / Water Street
July 10 / Poughkeepsie, NY / The Chance
July 11 / Allentown, PA / Crocodile Rock
July 15 / Cleveland, OH / Odeon Concert Club
July 19 / Milwaukee, WI / The Rave
Aug. 3 / Los Angeles, CA / Palladium