Fans of this genre know that Vargas de Tecalitlan is the best there is. They are coming to Calexico for Cinco de Mayo. Sorry I can't find any online
info for a link.fdt - 4-30-2007 at 08:51 PM
Hey, a tour of Calexico after the book signing?AmoPescar - 4-30-2007 at 09:15 PM
We should put together a NOMAD trip to the famous Festival of the Mariachis in Guadalajara.
I LOVE Mariachi music and would love to see it in person. If you've ever have the chance to see it on TV, don't miss it!! It's a fantastic experience!
I think it was broadcast on PBS here in San Diego.
Miguelamo BAJACAT - 4-30-2007 at 09:22 PM
That would be La Plaza del Marichi.And Mariachi 2000 is not so Bad..BornFisher - 4-30-2007 at 09:23 PM
Amo-- What a great idea. I still will not deleat that PBS program from my TIVO. Still watch it too!!
It`s so amazing how groups from places like Croatia and Japan are down with the locals in Guadalajara!! And it`s so cool how the groups must go the
the plaza for acceptance!! I`m in there!!Oso - 5-1-2007 at 07:39 AM
"We should put together a NOMAD trip to the famous Festival of the Mariachis in Guadalajara"
woooo-hoooo! put me down
Plaza Garibaldi
bajajudy - 5-1-2007 at 08:50 AM
If you ever find yourself in Mexico City on a Saturday night, go to Plaza Garibaldi and you will see 100's of mariachis, all auditioning to find jobs
for that night or some night in the future. It is quite a scene. Guys walking around selling shots of some dog awful tequila.
The best group we saw was an all female marichi band.
Another was a bunch of teenagers who sang some terrific harmonies.bajajudy - 5-1-2007 at 08:56 AM
As for Guadalajara, there is always a mariachi festival going on there. It is hard to go anywhere in the historical district without hearing this
fabulous music. I was at a party one night where the band had 21 members. I had goosebumps and was teary eyed all night because the music was so
beautiful, the harmonies so perfect and the message heartfelt.wilderone - 5-1-2007 at 03:33 PM
Thanks for the opinion - I bought a Vargas de Tecalitlan CD on eBay today.Oso - 5-1-2007 at 04:35 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
Thanks for the opinion - I bought a Vargas de Tecalitlan CD on eBay today.
Not just "IMO", it's pretty much a definitive fact. They set the standard by which all others are judged*. Just as "Mexico's Team" is "The Sacred
Flock"i.e.; The Striped Goats of Guadalajara (Americanistas can bite me), Vargas is "Mexico's Mariachi" and Mariachi is "Mexico's Music" (even though
I'm actually a bit more partial to guitar trios and Yucatecan ballads) There are many genres of beautiful music in Mexico, but when you feel like
drinking tequila, eating chicharones and letting loose with an occasional "AJUUUUAAAAA!!!", nothing gets it like a good Mariachi.
*check out the Vargas history on the website.
BTW, Don't buy into that French BS that the name comes from bands hired to play at weddings during Max's (very short) emperorship. As "Juanga" has
pointed out, mariachi is simply the Otomi word for "fiesta".
[Edited on 5-1-2007 by Oso]DianaT - 5-1-2007 at 04:56 PM
This thread makes me so sentimental. I treasure the five years we lived and taught school in Calexico before we retired. Our high school students
were the best ever---one is now ready to graduate from Harvard, one from Smith, one from Stanford, and several are in the California UC system. And
many are still hanging out in Calexico and Mexicali.
It is such a unique town. I hope others will visit it---not just drive through it. Most of the people in Calexico live on both sides of the border.
It is just a fasinating place to study and live border culture.
The Cinco de Mayo festival will be wonderful---they really know how to put on a fiesta.
Enjoy! For anyone who attends, it will be worth the drive.
Diane
On edit, the last time, 1990, we were in Guadalajara at Mariachi Plaza, many of the performers were quite drunk by afternoon. However, we went to
Tonala and watched a wonderful display of the elders teaching the young people to play their instruments as they performed.
