Mexico

Märiachi Crüe

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 | musiX | No Comments

I was in Mexico for a week and a half only to return to find that every blogger and their mother had written about Ryan Adams releasing a new metal record. It was fantastic news … I thought I had actually missed something while I was gone.

I spent a solid 10 days without a single note of American music entering my cochlea (save for a couple of Rock Band sessions that included an arthritic, 8-minute rendition of Metallica’s ” … And Justice For All”). No iPod. No nothing. The state of Jalisco is the birthplace of mariachi. Sometimes we’d hear two, three ensembles playing at once while we sat at any of the numerous cafes and bars in Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque and nearby Guanajuato. And it was great.

I observed these generations of men perform together: The proficiency of the playing. Lyrics celebrating life and the beauty of a woman. The pageantry. Not a hair was out of place. And their pantalones looked as if they were spray-painted on to their thin legs, and were usually bejeweled with small, silver studs. It hit me: Mariachis are rock stars in Mexico, the original glam rockers if you will—except they play better music … and look like actual men.

The song most often performed was “Guadalajara,” written by Pepe Guízar in the 1930s, and done and redone countless times since. It’s the anthem, the mariachi equivalent of “Rock and Roll All Nite.” And Pepe Guízar is sort of the Ronnie James Dio of mariachis, only a little taller. I know this probably all sounds ridiculous … but only about as ridiculous as mariachis performing a Radiohead song. Which is to say, not at all ridiculous.

“Guadalajara” - Pepe Guízar

“Guadalajara” - Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán

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Aqui. Ahora. En el futuro.

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 | musiX | 1 Comment

I come to you from the past. I wrote this almost a week ago so that it would reach you in the future … as we meet here at this very moment in the present. ¿Confundido?

As you read these words I am in Guanajuato, Mexico—the birthplace of Diego Rivera—perhaps inside the very house he lived in … that or I’m looking at dead people at the Museo de las Momias. And there’s a very good chance I have a cold Negra Modelo in one hand and a fish taco in the other (TDoL likes to multi-task). Or there’s a chance my tender, white flesh is cooking on a beach in Melaque (with a cold Negra Modelo in one hand and a fish taco in the other). I can’t really tell you because … well, I’m not even here yet. Or am I. Am I not?

That said—this is all you’re going to get from The Days of Lore until el 15 de marzo. So I’m taking this time to tell you what’s on the horizon. First off, I’ve been listening to Soft Crash, the new LP from Orland, Calif. trio Nothing People (whom I’m convinced are actually from a distant planet), and it is creeping me out … in a good way. And Titus Andronicus‘ new album The Monitor is teaching me what really happened during the Civil War—it rocked! Look for more thorough reports on these and much more upon my return. If I return.

But the big news here at TDoL HQ is that I’m gearing up for the first-ever The Days of Lore Presents show on April 16 at the Doug Fir that will include The Mother Hips along with a couple of great Portland bands in Jared Mees & the Grown Children and Monarques. It’ll be an unforgettable night of rock … and with any suerte I will have a Negra Modelo in one hand and a fish taco in the other. Look for giveaways of some Mother Hips goodies in the coming weeks.

I leave you now with a little slice of Mexico with Los Dug Dug’s, a band out of Durango that created their psychedelic sounds after hearing the Beatles in the late-’60s. The band’s self-titled debut is still one of my favorites … probably the best 127 pesos I’ve ever spent.

“Let’s Make It Now” - Los Dug Dug’s

“Eclipse” - Los Dug Dug’s

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