BIO

LATIN. FUNK. FUSION. SOUL.

Profetic Calaveras is a four-piece Latin/funk/fusion band based out of Durango, CO. The band was originally formed in 2016 in Elizabeth, New Jersey by dynamic duo Alex Armando Ruiz and Carolina Togo Ruiz, who later added more musicians to the group in Tyler, Texas and then Durango, Colorado, including current drummer Gab Kaplan and current guitarist Dylan Grewal. The group draws much of its sound from the musical stylings of both of the co-founders’ Latin and Hispanic roots, as well as from various styles of Funk, Jazz, Rock, Indie, Punk, and Metal genres.

From coast to coast, Profetic Calaveras spreads high vibrations of love and light through their progressive, funk-driven compositions and heartfelt lyrics. The quartet dances seamlessly through all genres and energies together creating not only a dynamically flexible and unique sound, but with each member adding their own flavors of soulful improvisation, fat grooves, and colorful chords into the mix, the sound waves that fill the air are guaranteed to get you up and out of your chair.

You can find this group of multi-instrumentalists (lovingly nicknamed as “PROFCAL”) playing their spicy brand of original music on almost any type of bill. From punk to funk, there’s something for everyone at a Profetic Calaveras show!

The Band

Alex Armando Ruiz | Guitar/Keys/Synth/Vocals/Aux Percussion

Photo: Peter Oliphant

The Texas-grown, dairy-free, bandleader can often be found in his greenhouse garden tending to his organic vegetables or flexing his photography skills out in the mountains. Alex is the best Tech-Deck boarder in the band and a connoisseur of hot chips. Alex’s corner of instruments includes but is not limited to guitar, keys, synth, and congas. His current side projects include working with Alex Blocker and Chuck Hank.

Alex is inspired by artists such as Guthrie Govan (The Aristocrats), Carlos Santana (Santana), Mark Lettieri and Cory Henry (Snarky Puppy), Mario Camarena and Erick Hansel (Chon), Nai Palm and Simon Mavin (Hiatus Kaiyote), Jimi Hendrix (Jimi Hendrix Experience), Walter Becker and Donald Fagen (Steely Dan), Eric Clapton (Cream), Herbie Hancock, Brain May (Queen), Los Amigos invisibles, Rawayana, Cultura Profética, Monsieur Periné, Daymé Arocena, Gilberto Gil, Silibrina, Organ Freeman, Yamandu Costa, Mateus Asato, Greg Howe, Pedrito Martinez, Lianne La havas, and Allen Stone.


Carolina Togo Ruiz | Bass/Vocals

This spicy, Brazilian, groove-crushin’ meme queen, also known as Cali, can be found hiking in the mountains with Alex and their dog Kiwi, or snowboarding on a powder day. Cali is also an aspiring trombone player, making her the third member of Profetic Calaveras to play brass as a secondary instrument. 

Cali’s musical style is inspired by artists such as Michael Pipoquinha, Victor Wooten (Bela and the Flec-Tones), Joe Dart (Vulfpeck), Thundercat, Mike League (Snarky Puppy), Brian Beller (The Aristocrats), Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone), Bootsy Collins (Parliament-Funkadelic), Kelsey González (The Free Nationals), Prince, Geddy Lee (Rush), Matt “Maffyuu” Byas (Phony Ppl), Paul Bender (Hiatus Kaiyote), Antônio Carlos Jobim, Paul Turner (Jamiroquai), Marcus Miller, Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Jaco Pastorius, Les Claypool (Primus/Lennon-Claypool Delirium/Oysterhead)


Gab Kaplan | Drums/Vocals/Synth/Horn

This non-binary, multi-instrumentalist, New Yorker can be found in their kitchen playing with organic veggies or behind the camera lens at your band’s show. Gab has played high brass with two different drum corps and can occasionally be seen playing both trumpet and drums at the same time with PROFCAL, as well as switching instruments with other members of the group. Gab also plays drums, bass, and sings with Dylan in their punk side projects, in addition to being a session musician for many other projects and artists.

Gab is influenced by artists such as Neil Peart (Rush), Keith Moon (The Who), Brann Dailor (Mastodon), Mario Duplantier (Gojira), Chris Tsgakis (RX Bandits), Dave Grohl (Nirvana/Foo Fighters), Danny Carey (Tool), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Adam Deitch, Nate Smith, Max Roach, Dennis Chambers, Harvey Mason, Yussef Dayes, Perrin Moss (Hiatus Kaiyote)

Dylan Grewal | Guitar/Synth/Vocals

Hailing from the Wisconsin shores of Lake Michigan and sprouting from the DIY scene in Milwaukee, this gearhead and cheesehead can be found at the park with his pup Indiana or behind the soundboard at your local bar! Dylan also plays guitar and sings with Gab in their punk side-projects.

Dylan’s musical style is inspired by artists such as Elliott Smith (Heatmiser), Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (The Mars Volta/At The Drive-In), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Matt Pike (High On Fire/Sleep), Thom Yorke (Radiohead), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Phoebe Bridgers, Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Neil Young (Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young), John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Brent Hinds and Troy Sanders (Mastodon), Les Claypool (Primus/Lennon-Claypool Delirium/Oysterhead), Blake Schwarzenbach (Jawbreaker/Jets to Brazil), Paul McCartney and John Lennon (The Beatles), Anderson Paak, Kendrick Lamar, Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) and Nicholas Raymond (The Traveling Suitcase/solo)