Kimmel Center Kicks Off New Philly ¡En Vivo! Concert Series with Calle 13 Tonight

Kimmel Center launches Philly ¡En Vivo! concert series with Calle 13, winner of a record-breaking 19 Latin Grammy awards and two Grammys. Puerto Rican super group, Calle 13, features brothers René Pérez Joglar a/k/a "Residente" and Eduardo Cabra Martínez a/k/a as "Visitante", mixing social and political messaging in an eclectic, genre defying performance that seamlessly blends Afro-Latin funk, hip-hop, rock and reggae.

Calle 13 recently completed a sold out tour in Spain and the U.S. in support of their fifth album release,MultiViral (2014) -- one of the "45 Best Albums of 2014" (Rolling Stones). They make their Philadelphia debut with MultiViral tour performance tonight, September 27 at 8 p.m.

Calle 13 is literally changing the discourse about Latin America -- artistically, politically, and socially, known for being one of Latin music's most dynamic live performers. Through the years, the band has collaborated with chart topping artists such as Shakira, Nelly Furtado, Rubén Blades, Omar Rodriguez and Mars Volta, among others.

MultiViral continues the band's decade long tradition raising the social consciousness of Latin American issues and culture with a hybrid mix of rap, alternative rock, and experimental music. The album's spirit of collaboration is prominent with Uruguayan literary genius Eduardo Galeano narrating the introduction of the album, based on a short story he had written called "El Viaje" (The Journey), from his book Bocas del Tiempo (Mouths of Time). "Perseguido" (Chased) features Biga*Ranx with French lyrics and Jamaican influences. The humorous interlude, "Stupid is as stupid does," is totally unexpected with John Leguizamo outlining stupidity in all its contradictions and manifestations. One of the most outstanding surprises of the album is the magic fusion between Calle 13 and Silvio Rodríguez, renowned Cuban singer engaged in the Nueva trova movement.

Julian Assange deserves particular attention in MultiViral; a man courageous enough to put in danger his personal security by disclosing information that was hidden from people by the media and by those who rule the world. The song revolves around media manipulation and misinformation in response to the interests and power of the governments. This collaboration merges with Kamilya Jubran, an Israeli-Palestinian musician and performer, accompanied by the stellarTom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) who was ranked by Billboard magazine as one of the best guitarists of all time.

Tickets for Calle 13 start at $40 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at kimmelcenter.org, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad and Spruce Streets (open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).