* * * * Email Comunikae from Marco en Colombia * * * *
Yo,
Things have been gradually improving on the music front down here.
This past Thursday I went to see Systema Solar play their first live show in my hometown and it was DYNAMITE!! Nothing but non-stop "vacile" and good vibes coming from these crazy mofos! Systema are the true working man's Rocky to Onda's British Council puffed up Ivan Drago. :)
On Friday I went to a record collector's gathering and met Rodrigo Soto who designed the Discos Fuentes logo! Turns out that there are vinyl junkies here after all, it only took me nine whole months to find the sneaky bastards! People from all over the country flew down to show off their rare gems and it was really heartwarming seeing them beaming with pride as their hard to find boleros, danzones, tangos and cumbias blasted from the speakers. Rodrigo played a lovely 45 called "Cumbia para Gardel" in which he sings! As I came to find out this man of many talents was once a member of Los Teenagers as well as a composer of many tropical hits back in the day.
If I wasn't so broke I would have made my way down to this year's Petronio Alvarez in Cali. I watched the live broadcast and I'm not exaggerating when I say it's already established itself among the finest music festivals currently taking place in Latin America. It reminds me a lot of Wattsstax in the sense that music is being used as a vehicle for afro Colombians to come together and vindicate their identity and vast contributions to our society. I've never seen an audience so entranced by the music and you know that whole Pacifico vibe it's right down my alley. There's a Bullerengue festival taking place later this year and I'm going to make my best effort to go to Puerto Escondido and can catch some of this action in person.
When I open up my chicha pub down here I'll fly you down to teach these fools about marineras and chicano music!!
late
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