Dylan once hand-picked Tito Larriva's Plugz to back him up on Dave Letterman's show. But when the multi-culti punk group morphed into the Cruzados, Larriva's rock career went off-road. Tarantism is his return -- a blues-rock study on bugs and the angel of death. At its best, Tito & Tarantula sound like a dark, spaghetti western theme band, the Stones ("Slippin' & Slidin'"), Cream, and the folky Led Zeppelin ("Sweet Cycle") all in one. When Larriva sings instead of screams, he sounds like Jack Bruce, as on "Back to the House" and "Jupiter." It's just OK, but Larriva is the kind of guy you want to root for: audiences cheered big time when his Desperado character shot Quentin Tarantino. As a bit-part actor and composer, you can't better his hip filmography -- from Repo Man to Freeway to She's So Lovely. He also played Hammy in the original Pee Wee's Playhouse. ~ Denise Sullivan, All Music Guide
Felix Mack (Art Direction), Jay Baumgardner (Assistant Engineer), David Tickle (Mixing), Tito Larriva (Engineer), Nick Vincent (Vocals), Jennifer Condos (Vocals), Laurent (Assistant Engineer), Ryan Arnold (Assistant Engineer), Tito Larriva (Vocals), Nick Vincent (Drums), Tito Larriva (?), Lyn Bertles (Violin), Eddy Schreyer (Mastering), Lyn Bertles (Mandolin), Jamie Seyberth (Assistant Engineer), Mike Thompson (?), Charlie Midnight (Producer), Robert Rodriguez (Producer), David Tickle (Engineer), Tito Larriva (Guitar (Rhythm)), Steve Holroyd (Engineer), Jennifer Condos (Engineer), Jennifer Condos (Bass), Waddy Wachtel (?), Steve Mixdorf (Engineer), Lyn Bertles (Harmonica), Adrian Esparza (?), Mark Goldenberg (Producer), Chalo Quintana (?), Nick Vincent (Percussion), Paul B (Assistant Engineer), Joel Soyffer (Engineer), Lyn Bertles (Recorder), Michael Hacker (Photography), Debra Dobkin (?), Lyn Bertles (Vocals), Felix Mack (Design), Peter Atanasoff (Vocals), Peter Atanasoff (Guitar), Tito Larriva (Producer), Mark Goldenberg (Engineer), Thom Panunzio (Mixing), Brad Gilderman (Mixing), Brad Gilderman (Engineer), Dave Shiffman (Mixing), Tony Marsico (?), Lisa Lewis (Assistant Engineer)
The album was the first full-length CD that the band ever released, after developing a fan base from performing the songs "After Dark", "Angry Cockroaches (Cucarachas Enojadas)", and "Opening Boxes" on the From Dusk Till Dawn soundtrack as well as the songs "Back to the House (That Love Built)", "Strange Face (of Love)", and "White Train" to the Desperado soundtrack, both of those films by Robert Rodriguez, who co-produced the album. Several members of the band were also featured in From Dusk Till Dawn, playing as the band in the "Titty Twister" bar, performing "After Dark" and "Angry Cockroaches (Cucarachas Enojadas)", and are well-remembered for the scene. Music videos were made for "After Dark" and "Back to the House (That Love Built)", using clips from the films mixed with footage of the band performing them.
"After Dark" and "Back to the House (That Love Built)" were co-written by rhythm guitarist/lead vocalistTito Larriva's former bandmates in the Cruzados. "Back to the House (That Love Built" was written by Larriva with former bassist Tony Marsico, along with Charlie Midnight and Marsico's wife, Valerie Marisco. "After Dark" was written by Larriva and former lead guitarist Steven Hufsteter while they were still in the Cruzados. Hufsteter later joined Tito & Tarantula as a second lead guitarist in 2002, and is currently still in the band. The album also features guest appearances by Marsico and former Cruzados drummerChalo Quintana.
Adrian Esparza on "Back to the House (That Love Built)"
Production
Brad Gilderman - mixing on "Smiling Karen", "Jupiter", "Sweet Cycle (of Life)", "Flying in My Sleep" and "Killing Just for Fun", engineer on "Smiling Karen", "Slippin' and Slidin'", "Jupiter", "Flying in My Sleep" and "Killing Just for Fun"
Dave Shiffman - mixing on "Slippin' and Slidin'"
Thom Panunzio - mixing on "Back to the House (That Love Built)"
Joel Soyfer - mixing on "After Dark", engineer on "Slippin' and Slidin'" and "Back to the House (That Love Built)"
Dave Tickle - mixing on "Strange Face (of Love)", engineer on "Strange Face (of Love)"
Julian Mack - mixing on "Angry Cockroaches (Cucarachas Enojadas)", engineer on "Angry Cockroaches (Cucarachas Enojadas)"
Mark Goldenberg - engineer on "After Dark" and "Angry Cockroaches (Cucarachas Enojadas)"
