Damn. I had waited a while to catch this guy do "his thing" as I missed the last one and heard it was something to catch. Weeeeeeeeell, it just didn`t hit a home run in my ball park, I don`t even think it got to second. I understand that cumbia is cumbia and that that shit is supposed to move a mutherfucker like a mutherfucker. I wasn`t moved.
Let`s start by saying that $5 was what was blasted as to what you were going to pay for this show, yet upon arriving at the ticket window, prices had changed to 8. Now here we go: First, I think the damn DJ was the musical highlight of the evening. The first band didn`t do too much for me, every member just played fluff. By fluff, I mean a band where ever one has an instrument but doesn`t play anything too important to really be noticed if anything goes missing. A band that makes an environment by a car driving by while a lady walks with her child and a dog randomly strolls around. Just desensitized music, sorry band.
Now on to Mr. Pineapple. Goddamn could and did this guy talk forever, and I mean forever. You ever had anyone you don`t know want to strike up a conversation in the waiting area at the doctor? At one point I didn`t know if I was there to listen to music or babble. There was a ton of raza I will say, and a ton of raza trying to get down to the boogie. Hey, if I still drank, I probably would have felt something too...
There was just a feeling to me that the music was suppose to magically come out of the instruments and move the people. When in turn, you are supposed to play that mutherfucker like a bat outta hell and show the audience what magic can ensue from your "passion." I waited, and waited, and nada. Maybe he was just comfortable as shit! I don`t care how young or old you are, don`t get too comfortable.
People were enjoying themselves, booze was flying out the bar and nice second hand clouds of marijuana here and there were nice. At 5' 7" I consider myself to be on the short spectrum but damn did all the little Indians come out for this one, I felt like a giant at some points. I think I`m having a better time listening to Celso Piña on Google Play right now. Was Celso Piña a badass or is he still, I dunno, we probably just didn`t meet at the right time. It was nice to see about 8 people from work and about 10 known Santaneros, but in the end this is just one dudes opinion. So don`t go getting your cumbia chonies in a bunch...
Ended up capping the night off with a revist to the Taqueria Ayutla Oaxaca on Main and Dyer. Last time the tripas were shit. This time around, they made up for it and were actually good. Would I wait in line for an hour or line up and hour before the fucking truck even gets there like some folks do? FUCK NO! The line was fairly small this time and we stopped. I got "Uno de asada, uno de chorizo, dos de pastor, y uno de tripa con una horchata, por favor."