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    Los Angeles: Spaghetti Cumbia, a band born from cultural fusion

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    Los Angeles: Spaghetti Cumbia, a band born from cultural fusion
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    Spaghetti Cumbia poses for a portrait at Vasquez Rocks in northern LA County on March 26, 2022. The band created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock and roll.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    Ivan Kashinsky

    This is part of a special series, Cumbia Across Latin America, a visual report across six countries developed over several years, covering the people, places and cultures that keep this music genre alive.

    Marcel Campos, the lead singer of Spaghetti Cumbia, often talks about being caught in between two cultures — not Mexican enough for Mexicans and not American enough for Americans. Ni de aquí, ni de allá. The Spaghetti sound was born out of a fusion of the two cultures. The members of the band all have deep connections to their Mexican roots. They grew up listening to Latin music in their homes and at family parties in Boyle Heights and East LA. Paulo Paredones, the bass player, known as El Maniacs, remembers yelling at his dad to turn down the cumbia. But growing up in LA, they were also heavily influenced by classic rock, punk rock and hip-hop. The band created their own style, mixing cumbia with all their influences and adding a Spaghetti Western sound.

    UNITED STATES, LA - Pedro Zapata, known as Pedro Pistolas, guitar player and vocalist in Spaghetti Cumbia, plays his guitar surrounded by the crowd at a show El Rey Theater in Los Angeles on December 29, 2024. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Pedro Zapata, known as Pedro Pistolas, a guitar player and vocalist for Spaghetti Cumbia, plays his guitar while surrounded by a crowd at a show at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on Dec. 29, 2024.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    Bobby Guerrero, known as El Gallo, the guitar player, and Pedro Zapata, known as Pedro Pistolas, guitar player head to their show at La Cita, in Los Angeles on March 15, 2025.

    Bobby Guerrero, known as El Gallo Digital, and Zapata, who both play guitar for Spaghtti Cumbia, head to the band’s show at LA’s La Cita bar on March 15, 2025.

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    UNITED STATES, LA - Adolfo Mercado plays the drums at a show at Las Perlas in Los Angeles on June 17, 2022. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Adolfo Mercado Jr. plays the drums at a show at Las Perlas in Los Angeles on June 17, 2022.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    In the early 20th century, the land east of the Los Angeles River became a destination for immigrants, and by the 1940s, the area was mostly Latino. Today, East LA and Boyle Heights are both about 95% Latino, and Los Angeles County has the largest Hispanic population in the country, with 4.8 million people.

    UNITED STATES, LA - Adolfo Mercado, the drummer of the band, lays on the floor at the end of practice session in Los Angeles on May 18, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Mercado lays on the floor at the end of a practice session in LA on May 18, 2023.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    The band Spaghetti Cumbia hangs out before practice, where they played in a garage, at the house of the drummer, Adolfo Mercado, on April 22, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    The band hangs out before practicing in Mercado’s garage on April 22, 2023.

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    UNITED STATES, LA - Marcel Campos, lead singer of Spaghetti Cumbia, gets ready for a show in his bathroom in Alhambra, Los Angeles on November 3, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families. ESTADOS UNIDOS, LA - Marcel Campos, cantante principal de Spaghetti Cumbia, se prepara para un espectáculo en su baño en Alhambra, Los Ángeles, el 3 de noviembre de 2023. Es el bajista de Spaghetti Cumbia. La banda Spaghetti Cumbia creó su propio subgénero combinando la cumbia con estilos occidentales y rock ’n roll. Crecieron en el lado este de Los Ángeles cuando la violencia de las pandillas plagaba el área; Los miembros recurrieron a la música como un camino alternativo. Ahora, triunfan en los clubes del centro de Los Ángeles, mientras mantienen trabajos diarios para mantener a sus familias.

    Campos, the band’s lead singer, gets ready in his bathroom ahead of a show in Alhambra, a city just northeast of LA, on Nov. 3, 2023.

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    UNITED STATES, LA - Marcel Campos, lead singer of Spaghetti Cumbia, hangs out with his son, Ethan Luke, before heading off to a gig at his home in Alhambra, Los Angeles on November 3, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Campos hangs out with his son, Ethan Luke, at his home in Alhambra, Calif., before heading off to a gig on Nov. 3, 2023.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    The band members were teenagers in the ’90s when gang violence was at its peak on the city’s east side. Pedro Zapata, or Pedro Pistolas, one of the band’s guitarists and vocalists, remembers when over half of his friends were joining gangs. Like some of the other band members, he was tempted to follow. Looking back, they say they’re thankful they didn’t — many of their friends were shot down in the streets or ended up spending their lives in prison. Their love for playing music may have saved them by connecting them with a different crowd. There was no time to spend on the streets with rehearsals and studio recordings.

    UNITED STATES, LA - Marcel Campos, lead singer of Spaghetti Cumbia, visits the grave of an old friend in Lancaster before a gig on March 26, 2022. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Campos visits an old friend’s grave in Lancaster, Calif., before a gig on March 26, 2022.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    A view of Los Angeles on November 6, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    A view on Nov. 6, 2023, of downtown LA, where Spaghetti Cumbia would play regularly at the mezcal bar Las Perlas.

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    UNITED STATES, LA - Marcel Campos, lead singer of Spaghetti Cumbia, heads off to a show from his home in Alhambra, Los Angeles on November 3, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Campos leaves his home in Alhambra to head to a show on Nov. 3, 2023.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    Although Marcel plans to build a “Spaghetti Empire” and the band members dream of hitting it big, right now, they all work multiple jobs. Campos works at Costco and delivers for Instacart, often sleeping only a few hours. Because of the cost of living in California, he must hustle to support his family. As the band plays larger venues, the extra income really helps to make ends meet.

    UNITED STATES, LA - Bobby Guerrero, known as El Gallo, and a guitar player in Spaghetti Cumbia, folds the American flag at a school in Los Angeles where he works as a janitor on May 12, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Guerrero folds an American flag at a school in LA where he works as a janitor on May 12, 2023.

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    Paulo “El Maniacs” Paredones, the bass player for Spaghetti Cumbia is blessed by his son, Tekuanotl Huitzitzilin, before he leaves for a show in Boyle Heights on March 30, 2023. He is the primary care giver to his son. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Paulo “El Maniacs” Paredones, Spaghetti Cumbia’s bass player, is blessed by his son, Tekuanotl Huitzitzilin, before he leaves for a show in the city’s Boyle Heights neighborhood on March 30, 2023.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    UNITED STATES, LA - Marcel Campos lights a stick of palo santo, a ritual to bring good energy to the room, before a show at Las Perlas in Los Angeles on April 28, 2022. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Campos lights a stick of palo santo to bring good energy to the room before a show at LA’s Las Perlas bar on April 28, 2022.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    Spaghetti formed nine years ago and began playing in a small mezcal bar in downtown LA, called Las Perlas. Campos or Paredones would light a stick of palo santo before performing to clean the space of any negative energy. The place would fill up fast and the band would set up right on the dance floor, playing to a Latino crowd. Under the dim red lights, the audience and the band became one, swimming in a sea of sound.

    Paredones laid down thumping cumbia bass lines as Adolfo Mercado, often compared to Animal of The Muppets, wailed on the drums. With their wireless guitars, Bobby Guerrero, also known as El Gallo, and Zapata weaved through the crowd playing psychedelic guitar riffs. Campos, tapping into his punk rock influences, ripped his shirt off and poured all his energy into the show. The crowd would dance, scream and let go of the stress of everyday life.

    A mosh pit forms at the Regent Theater as Spaghetti Cumbia plays in Los Angeles on March 8, 2025. Spaghetti was followed by Vilma Diaz, a Colombian Cumbia star. he band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock downtown Los Angeles clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    A mosh pit forms as Spaghetti Cumbia plays at LA’s Regent Theater on March 8, 2025.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    UNITED STATES, LA - Pedro Zapata, known as Pedro Pistolas, guitar player and vocalist in Spaghetti Cumbia, plays his guitar surrounded by the crowd at a show at Las Perlas in Los Angeles on March 30, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families. ESTADOS UNIDOS, LA - Pedro Zapata, conocido como Pedro Pistolas, guitarrista y vocalista de Spaghetti Cumbia, toca su guitarra rodeado por la multitud en un espectáculo en Las Perlas en Los Ángeles el 30 de marzo de 2023. La banda Spaghetti Cumbia creó su propia subgénero combinando la cumbia con estilos occidentales y rock 'n roll. Crecieron en el lado este de Los Ángeles cuando la violencia de las pandillas plagaba el área; Los miembros recurrieron a la música como un camino alternativo. Ahora, triunfan en los clubes del centro de Los Ángeles, mientras mantienen trabajos diarios para mantener a sus familias.

    Zapata plays his guitar surrounded by the crowd at a show at Las Perlas on March 30, 2023.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    Ivan Kashinsky

    UNITED STATES, LA - Bobby Guerrero, known as El Gallo, guitar player of Spaghetti Cumbia, kisses his his girlfriend after a show at 1st street Pool & Billiard in Boyle Heights on June 18, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Guerrero kisses his girlfriend after a show at 1st Street Pool & Billiard in LA’s Boyle Heights neighborhood on June 18, 2023.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    Ivan Kashinsky

    This coverage was made with the support of the National Geographic Explorer program.

    Ivan Kashinsky is a photojournalist based in Los Angeles. You can see more of his work on his website, IvanKphoto.com, or on Instagram, at @ivankphoto.





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