Meet the Musician: guitarist, bassist and back-up vocalist Pablo Anton-Diaz

This post features guitarist, sometimes-bassist and rock music devotee Pablo Anton-Diaz. 

I’ve been playing in rock bands since I was 12, and I’m also a closet metalhead (“closet” because I’ve never really agreed with the aesthetics of the genre or even played in a metal band, but I adore that style of music in secret over any other). I’m a musician that never had the guts to go pro, so I also work as an economist during working hours, and I love it. I play guitar, guitar and more guitar. However, I can also do tolerable backing vocals (when I rehearse) and defend myself at bass, which will be useful for me as I continue to participate in Flashband, where it’s important to be versatile and flexible.

I’m from Mexico and I’ve been living in D.C. for the past couple of years. Back home, I played with several different bands, ranging from power pop to hard rock, and with my last one I was signed to one of the main indie labels in the country for a while. We released one album nationwide and had a few cool and semi-important gigs, but not much happened with the band after that. Soon after, I got the opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree in the U.S. and the band broke up as soon as I accepted it.

A video from my last concert in Mexico, with my former band Evo,
before I came to the US in 2012

Currently, I am still playing with the band I formed through Flashband. Since last April we’ve been working on building a solid setlist based on cool covers, but also including some new original material we’ve been writing so that we can start booking some local shows ASAP. It’s a pretty straightforward rock band, but a little more diverse than most because of our own individual backgrounds. You’ll start hearing more from us pretty soon!

My first Flashband experience was amazing. I played on the Trio Stage at the Flashband Anniversary Party last April, and it’s one of the best experiences I’ve had so far in D.C. Everything went down smoothly. The jam session was a little awkward at first because I didn’t know anybody, but at the end it didn’t take long for me to find my bandmates, and choosing the songs was also easy because we had pretty similar tastes in music. 

We had a great time rehearsing for the gig and I can even say we bonded, since everybody had the right amount of commitment. Besides a few minor technical issues we experienced on stage, the show was amazing too. The place was packed and the response of the crowd could not have been better. The other bands killed it and the overall vibe of the event was very positive. It was just an ideal scenario. I hope all future Flashband gigs will be just as fun.

Flashband gave me the opportunity to revive my interest in playing music. When I arrived here, I focused all my energy onto my new job and stopped playing for more than a year. I didn’t think I would ever be able to play live in D.C., let alone get another band started. But Flashband changed that, and now I’m also starting to get involved with other side projects. 

Also, I don’t want to come across as cheesy, but Flashband has really given me a newfound sense of belonging. Before joining, I had no idea that such a vibrant community of local musicians existed in this city: musicians from all types of different backgrounds, ages, proficiency levels and even cultures. All diverse in genres and level of commitment, but united by a single common trait: their love of music and the desire to play and have a great time. Being a part of Flashband has helped me fall in love with D.C. Things like Flashband are what make this city so unique.

To other musicians who are new to Flashband, I say be as open as you can at the beginning, because Flashband will be able to fulfill whatever musical needs you have, if you do not narrow your choices. If you want a low commitment experience, don’t want to be in a band, but if you just want to get on stage every now and then to see what it feels like, this will be the easiest way you can achieve that. On the other hand, if you want to meet more musicians in the city and form a more serious band, this is also the place to do that. You decide. The more people you network with at the jam sessions, the more options you’ll have to choose from.

Bringing down the house at one of the best rock venues in Mexico City (Bulldog Cafe)
with some Rage Against the Machine, back in 2008

Music is an integral part of my identity and who I am. I would have a very hard time defining myself without it. Besides, even though I have never done it professionally, most of my life has always revolved around it. Almost all of my best friends have been people I’ve played with in different projects over the years, and I’ve never really had any other extra-curricular activities or hobbies besides playing in rock bands. I’ve pretty much always spent most of my free time playing music, writing music, or just generally thinking about music. (Here's my personal Soundcloud channel, where I’ve compiled some of the songs I’ve written and recorded over the years with different bands.) 

The best part for me of playing music in DC is definitely the venues. There are several live bars that are extremely cool, yet small, and always full of people willing to listen and appreciate new bands and their new proposals. The amount of opportunities to draw a crowd for new up-and-coming bands might not be unlimited, but there’s certainly more tools available for them and a wider variety of fora than what I was used to back in Mexico, where the rock scene is dominated by just a few media outlets and the handful of well-known artists they support, even in the independent sphere. So for me that was unexpected, but certainly appreciated. 

Want to be featured in an upcoming Flashband Meet the Musician? Contact Deborah Lash for more info.