A Poetic Stampede

While other musicians rode out the global pandemic holed up at home working on new material, Dante Elephante’s Ruben Zarate took a different tack. Not knowing if or when live performing would again be possible, the band’s singer and songwriter lived vicariously through immersing himself in archived live concerts.

“It’s one thing to decide you want to stop making music, but it’s really different when the decision gets made for you,” Zarate said. “I’ve thought about that awkward decision of not playing music anymore, but when the pandemic hit, there was definitely a fear that maybe the world just ended my music career for me.”

Zarate’s fear was short-lived. At the end of 2021, as communities around the country opened up again, Dante Elephante tentatively returned to the stage before it fully committed to touring in 2022. The band will be back at home April 7-8 when Zarate brings them to SOhO Restaurant & Music Club for a two-night performance that will be recorded for both live album and video releases.