I’m a day late again. I also know that Chente isn’t a Chicano. Still, like Juan Gabriel, I can’t pass up the opportunity to celebrate his birthday and note his status a cultural icon for many Chicanos, even the pochos.
How many of us have felt a little more connected to the motherland after hearing Chente’s rendition of “Volver, Volver” or “El Rey”? I know I have. I came to this music through the most mainstream of channels: Chente and Linda Ronstadt. Still, it inspired pride, especially as I learned that some of his most popular songs were written by my paisano, José Alfredo Jiménez.
He may not be the best singer of rancheras, but he’s definitely done his part to keep the music alive and attracting new fans.
Below, I’ve posted one of my favorite songs. What’s your favorite Chente song? Any great memories of seeing him live in concert?
On February 3, 1959 a small-plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, killed three American rock and roll musicians: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, as well as the pilot, Roger Peterson. The day was later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean, in his song “American Pie”.
February 3 marks a big loss for rock n’ roll and American music in general, it’s different for Chicanos as there were few of us out in the mainstream. We’ve all seen La Bamba and know the story of Ritchie Valens’ short-live music career.
To commemorate Ritchie Valens’ passing I suggest one of the following activities:
Watch La Bamba on DVD
Throw your laundry in the air and yell “Ritchieeeeeee!” in anguish.
Play some of Valens’ hits, like Come On Let’s Go (original version, not the Los Lobos covers)
Zack doesn’t need an introduction here nor do I need to list the reasons why he’d be on a post about Chicano history. Right? I mean, the guy wrote “People of the Sun.”
Zack and Rage Against the Machine did a lot to raise awareness about the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas in 1994. Everything can change on a New Year’s day…
Alejandro has several posts about RATM’s music and it’s meaning in his own life. He wrote about the one RATM concert I ever attended at the DNC in 2000:
It was [August] of 2000 and the Democratic National Convention was being held at the famed Staples Center, in Los Angeles, Ca. On the other side of the fence, Rage Against The Machine was scheduled to perform a free show that evening, and before you knew it, over 250,000 people had gathered to proclaim their right to say whatever the fuck was on their minds. I was one of them. Those previous shows were about to culminate into one giant “this is it” at the DNC, and it was to that night to which I traced my confidence and energy. [The Music that Made me Dance]
I also recommend PearMama’s slew of RATM-related posts.
I think I might re-watch Battle of Mexico City. It’s been a while. Some of the issues Zack touches on, such as the student movement in Mexico City, may feel outdated 10 years later, but he also touches on the ejidos and the background for the EZLN uprising. It’s also a reminder that the struggle for autonomy is continuous and fought locally too.
Juan Gabriel (born Alberto Aguilera Valadez)
January 7, 1950
Yes. I know I’m a day late in recognizing Juan Gabriel’s 60th birthday.
But it’s been a busy first week back at school, job 1 and job 2 and it’s going to be a busy quarter overall. Enough excuses, back to Juanga.
Wasn’t he born in Mexico? What does he have to do with Chicanos?
Yes, he was born in Paracuaro, Michoacán. And plenty. Five simple reasons:
Though he was born in Michoacán, we all know he made a name for himself singing in the bars of Ciudad Juárez on the border. In fact, he’s always been somewhat on the border in both the literal and figurative sense. He seamlessly goes from pop to rancheras to disco to ballads. He’s coy about his sexuality, but it’s clear that he presents a different image of the stereotypical Mexican man and entertainer.
He wrote Amor Eterno, the song we all sing when we lay our loved ones to rest.
In the middle of Wednesday night’s Café Tacuba concert at the Gibson Amphitheatre, Lori turns to me and asks, “What is this, like your fourth or fifth time seeing them?”
“Ugh, no. 12th, I think.”
The show was part of Café Tacuba’s 20:20 tour, or 20 cities to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
The tickets said 8:15 and we arrived at 8:20. The lights were already off and the audience was screaming in excitement. Lori and I rushed to the pit and took our place on the right side.
For the next three hours Rubén, Meme, Quique and Joselo (plus Luis, their drummer) played songs from all of their albums.
Lori and I danced and jumped and sang along (me more than her, given that she doesn’t know their music too well). We got excited when we spotted our cousin, Rene, and his friend Edgar in the seats just behind the pit. Our legs and backs were hurting at the end of the show. Lori had never seen their dances to “Déjate Caer,” “El Baile y el Salón” and “El Puñal” — I’d never seen that one either — and was pretty amused.
By the end of the show, we were tired. From all the dancing and jumping. Still, I was satisfied. I got my Café Tacuba concert fix for the summer.
Highlight: The climax of the show definitely came when Alejandro Flores, “el quinto tacubo,” stepped out to join the band on violin for “Ojalá Que Llueva Café.” Before that he played a son jarocho song (name escapes me) and after “Ojalá” he stuck around and played equinto and violin on a few songs from Re. The addition of Flores really emphasized how good Café Tacuba is at crossing genres.
I also loved the fact that they played so many songs they rarely play live. I’m pretty sure I’d never heard “El Espacio” live. I’ve complained that they can be a little predictable in their live shows, but not this time around. They went from playing a good chunk of Cafe Tacuba to skipping to some songs from Sino.
Finally, I liked that Rubén was quite talkative. I would talk more if I was him, that guy jumps around the stage a lot. I also thought it was cool that he handed the mic to a guy after “El Puñal” at the “end” of the show. The guy proceeded to ask his girlfriend to marry him. I think he should have said “y yo te di mi amor en un concierto de Café Tacuba” before popping the question. That would’ve been cool.
Lowlight: None, really. I mean, I would have liked to have a seat once in a while.
As usual, I wrote down the setlist and took lots of photos.
Summer concert season continued last week with the much-anticipated Café Tacuba show at the Greek Theater. As soon as I heard about the show, I purchased pre-sale pit tickets. I’ve been to the Greek Theatre twice before. And although it’s a nice venue for a summer night, I know I prefer to see los Tacubos in a smaller, more intimate setting.
More photos and short review, highlights, lowlights, and setlist after the jump. (more…)
Prior to Monday night, I’d seen Stevie Wonder live once. My mom, sister and I were having lunch at Roscoe’s after visiting LACMA when my sister noticed him sitting on the other side of the restaurant. I didn’t get a good luck until he walked out with his entourage. My mouth dropped, I could feel his greatness (or maybe it was the waffles?) as he walked a foot away from my table. As soon as I got the chance, I gushed about my brush with Stevie to all my friends who love his music. They were jealous.
That sense of amazement I felt five years ago made a comeback when Stevie Wonder came out on the Hollywood Bowl stage escorted by his daughter, Aisha and two sons. He proceeded to perform an incredible show. I can’t write a review. If I tried, it would
If I tried to write a review for Stevie Wonder’s show at the Hollywood Bowl on Monday, it would go something like this:
OMG!!! It was so awesome!!! OMG!!! I can die now! In fact, I almost died of sheer euphoria during “Sir Duke”!!! OMG!!! Stevieeeeeeee!!!
I’ll spare you the gushing and swooning in favor of pictures and video after the jump. For an actual review, check the LA Times.
I’d be sad about it if (a) I was still looking for dates for the concerts I’ll be attending later this summer and (b) Sean had not submitted three mix cd’s over the span of a few months. Of course, Sean can’t be my concert buddy since he lives a few thousand miles away. I’m okay with that because whenever I find the padded envelopes in my mailbox after a long and/or crappy day, I know I’ll be treated to several great songs and a clever cover.
I’m set for most concerts this summer, but still can use a buddy for a few shows. List after the jump. (more…)
I got around to checking my email a little after noon yesterday. I scanned the subject lines for the most attractive. These two caught my eye:
“Congratulations! You have won BABASONICOS tickets from Losanjeaous!”
“You Won Tickets to Attend Babasonicos’ Concert tonight!”
For a few seconds, I wondered why Losanjealous sent me two notice emails and then I remembered that I’d entered a contest earlier in the week with La Banda Elástica. Dude, I’d just gotten quite lucky… twice!
February 17, 1940: Vicente Fernández
