is by all appearances through their stomachs!
DC played an absolutely AMAZING set in San Antonio last night, Just on Fire! Surprisingly the fire marshall did not try to close down the show, despite people dancing in the aisles and the extreme heat being produced onstage. I would like to think I maybe had a little bit to do with it, having fueled them up with a homemade supper beforehand. If there is any evidence to it, this group should eat more spinach before going on! ( It was Indian food, specifically saag paneer, which is spinach with homemade cheese.) Of course, they have done powerful sets before without my know ing what they ate beforehand, so I am just speculating....
The brownies someone brought them didn't seem to hurt either!
See, there ya go- feed your band and they will play better! ;)
and kudos to Alex for quick thinking when the mike went out. That was truly the level of professionalism in this band- the show continues without fail! Mark was a little surprised I think, but if Phil got a good shot of the event, it will make for a neat memory. (after a few moments thought when his wireless mike stopped working, Lobo grabbed Mark's, swinging it out enough to use it, then sharing it with Mark during the chorus. It was a great way to solve a momentary problem and not stop the show.)
Oh yeah , and someone complain to Sam's about the chairs! It is hard as heck to sit still at a Del Castillo gig and they took away all our dancing room! The place was as full as I have ever seen it, which was SO cool, considering that last time everyone stayed home for the Spurs playoff game.
The place was hopping last night! Local jazz interp band Sexto Sol opened up, out for the first time in many months. Man, they were HOT! Mike's being out on active duty for the Army hasn't taken a thing from them. They have even had time to mix down a live CD, so if you are local enough to find it, check these guys out. Tremendous band. Very Return To Forever.
Well, I need to go do some non-food related errands, so more later.
ciao.
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
a sad state of affairs
As I have said before, this site is not strictly for Del Castillo, but for my music interests in general. I have a statement to make that is possibly going to offend, but it must be said.
Cat Stevens, once well-known popstar and peace activist, was kicked out of this country the other day. He chose a path many years ago that including becoming Muslim, and for a long time, rejecting his past as a musician. He has been a devout man, and a proponant for peace worldwide. Apparently, the fact he has stood up and said things against the current US president's policy on Iraq and past ones on Iran has gotten Yusef Islam (his name now) put on a watch list. He had the nerve to have an opinion that went against the guy trying to stay in office, so an entire plane of people were deverted from their destination and he was "removed" before they could continue. A little pointless, don't you think, since he had been in the US not six months ago, at a rally for peace? What has changed so drastically that this man needed to be harrassed and publically shamed where he was once welcomed? And what has happened to the supposed policy of tolerance for Muslims of all nationalites (Yusef is still a British citizen)?
I am a pagan and receive enough prejudice for a dozen people, brought on by other peoples' insecurities about their own religious choices. I am disgusted at this lack of insight and use of blatant fear tactics by the people of this government. There is enough hatred among humans without this need to attack innocent nationals who come to this country in good faith. Does celebrity automatically make one a target for prejudice, while the unknown can WALK across the Canadian-American border?!
This needs to be rectified and one man in particular is owed an apology.
I truly believe the human species is damned to die by its own hand.
Cat Stevens, once well-known popstar and peace activist, was kicked out of this country the other day. He chose a path many years ago that including becoming Muslim, and for a long time, rejecting his past as a musician. He has been a devout man, and a proponant for peace worldwide. Apparently, the fact he has stood up and said things against the current US president's policy on Iraq and past ones on Iran has gotten Yusef Islam (his name now) put on a watch list. He had the nerve to have an opinion that went against the guy trying to stay in office, so an entire plane of people were deverted from their destination and he was "removed" before they could continue. A little pointless, don't you think, since he had been in the US not six months ago, at a rally for peace? What has changed so drastically that this man needed to be harrassed and publically shamed where he was once welcomed? And what has happened to the supposed policy of tolerance for Muslims of all nationalites (Yusef is still a British citizen)?
I am a pagan and receive enough prejudice for a dozen people, brought on by other peoples' insecurities about their own religious choices. I am disgusted at this lack of insight and use of blatant fear tactics by the people of this government. There is enough hatred among humans without this need to attack innocent nationals who come to this country in good faith. Does celebrity automatically make one a target for prejudice, while the unknown can WALK across the Canadian-American border?!
This needs to be rectified and one man in particular is owed an apology.
I truly believe the human species is damned to die by its own hand.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Muy Caliente Weekend!
And how!
I warned folks somewhere along the line in this blog to watch out for Texas heat. It can get nasty out there in the sun, even when it feels cool at first. I got my own fair share this weekend, but managed to still avoid sunburn.
************************************************************************************
And nearly a week and half later, I haven't finished the story!
As it is very late, a quick start and then I will work on it as time permits. South Austin Celebration- a local block party to raise money for several good causes, including the Texas School For the Blind (hi Frank!) Yow, it was a blistering day. Drank no alcohol, and not nearly enough water, sweated myself silly, and then went down to Victoria the next day to do it again!
The guys played a festival for a church group in V., and I was really surprised when it was held on a tarmac, not in a grassy field. Hothothot. We (Casey Phil Angie Myself Terry and a bunch of other crazies) managed to find enough shade to not pass out, but I haven't seen my buddy Casey act so much like a lizard in a long time. He wasn't alone, but one could tell who was local,'cos it didn't phase them quite as much.
At both gigs DC did an amazing job, especially the Rev, who had to be in the sun the whole set down in V. Yikes. Outdoor gigs in Texas should be outlawed during the depths of summer. They can actually get dangerous! I was quite surprised I didn't have trouble with sun poisoning.
More details later!
************************************************************************************
A couple of stories to add....
In Austin, it appears Mr Ruiz has a bit of a fanatical following. Next to me there was a group of about a half dozen young females, some of whom were at least 21, who were squealing about Alex through much of the set. Had it not been for the extremely shrill voices, I would have found them even more amusing than I did. It felt like the Beatles had come back! I was a little more than five when they played on Ed Sullivan and could not for the life of me figure out what my sister, cousin, and all the girls in the audience were screaming about. This group of girls in Austin sounded exactly the same! When he tossed out a scarf in our direction, I instinctively grabbed at it and immediately gave up. I guarantee I would've lost a limb had I actually laid hands on the thing! And, shades of Elvis or Frank Sinatra, I watched the one who got it rub that sweaty piece of cloth all over her own face. (He had been wearing it.) Ya know, I have been a fan of many bands, fanatic of a few, hugged many a sweaty, just-off-stage musician, and in better than 30, 35 years of concert going, have NEVER been tempted to get quite that personal with a piece of clothing....... Oh well. It was the first time I have seen quite such behaviour out of a DC audience, but I suspect it won't be the last. Every member has his fans, though a couple seem to get more direct attention. And I am sorry for and proud of all the boyfriends and husbands who put up with it, because it must be deflating sometimes. Luckily, I think a lot of the guys go because they too really do appreciate what goes on on that stage. It is not meant for one age group or one sex, but for all of humanity.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++===
And then there was Victoria.
I have made some friends among the DC fanbase, and a couple of them made it down to V., as did my best friend Casey and myself. It was hard as hell to feel like doing much of anything, but the cogs were apparently turning in my friend Angie's brain! She and her husband Phil, who was wisely hanging out in the car, I am supposing in the AC, took off for a little while. When they returned to the tarmac, they were loaded for bear: squirt guns.
At first glance, one might assume from their demeanor that Phil and Angie are nice, quiet people. They are very soft-spoken, courteous, a pleasant young married couple....
Do not be fooled.
There is a streak of mayhem in there that comes out in unusual ways. The toys were only part of it. There was much plotting on who and when would be attacked! Sadly, the water in the guns ended up getting to about the same temperature as the outside air, so it was soon "Okay, I'm wet, but not a whole lot cooler..." Casey put up well with being attacked repeatedly, though it may just have been he was to hot to be concerned with fighting back.
Alex and Karol's boy, Phoenix, found a more novel way of having fun with a squirt gun: he sucked on it. Hey, water was at a premium that day!
We, of course, did not shoot at any of the guys while they were playing. Water, electricity, band member...not a good mix, really. We did go after a few of them after they got off stage, but everybody was so sweaty by then, I am not sure if they felt anything. When we went for hugs, they were apologetic about being sweaty and we all just looked at them and scoffed. We'd been that way most of the afternoon. Despite the heat, everyone, all us nutty fans included, were in really good spirits. It was a little tough to walk away and go find food and iced tea, but a little. I am sorry I didn't stick around for Duarte, but I know my limits.
It was, inspite of the heat, a wonderful Labor Day weekend -best I have had in a long time!
I warned folks somewhere along the line in this blog to watch out for Texas heat. It can get nasty out there in the sun, even when it feels cool at first. I got my own fair share this weekend, but managed to still avoid sunburn.
************************************************************************************
And nearly a week and half later, I haven't finished the story!
As it is very late, a quick start and then I will work on it as time permits. South Austin Celebration- a local block party to raise money for several good causes, including the Texas School For the Blind (hi Frank!) Yow, it was a blistering day. Drank no alcohol, and not nearly enough water, sweated myself silly, and then went down to Victoria the next day to do it again!
The guys played a festival for a church group in V., and I was really surprised when it was held on a tarmac, not in a grassy field. Hothothot. We (Casey Phil Angie Myself Terry and a bunch of other crazies) managed to find enough shade to not pass out, but I haven't seen my buddy Casey act so much like a lizard in a long time. He wasn't alone, but one could tell who was local,'cos it didn't phase them quite as much.
At both gigs DC did an amazing job, especially the Rev, who had to be in the sun the whole set down in V. Yikes. Outdoor gigs in Texas should be outlawed during the depths of summer. They can actually get dangerous! I was quite surprised I didn't have trouble with sun poisoning.
More details later!
************************************************************************************
A couple of stories to add....
In Austin, it appears Mr Ruiz has a bit of a fanatical following. Next to me there was a group of about a half dozen young females, some of whom were at least 21, who were squealing about Alex through much of the set. Had it not been for the extremely shrill voices, I would have found them even more amusing than I did. It felt like the Beatles had come back! I was a little more than five when they played on Ed Sullivan and could not for the life of me figure out what my sister, cousin, and all the girls in the audience were screaming about. This group of girls in Austin sounded exactly the same! When he tossed out a scarf in our direction, I instinctively grabbed at it and immediately gave up. I guarantee I would've lost a limb had I actually laid hands on the thing! And, shades of Elvis or Frank Sinatra, I watched the one who got it rub that sweaty piece of cloth all over her own face. (He had been wearing it.) Ya know, I have been a fan of many bands, fanatic of a few, hugged many a sweaty, just-off-stage musician, and in better than 30, 35 years of concert going, have NEVER been tempted to get quite that personal with a piece of clothing....... Oh well. It was the first time I have seen quite such behaviour out of a DC audience, but I suspect it won't be the last. Every member has his fans, though a couple seem to get more direct attention. And I am sorry for and proud of all the boyfriends and husbands who put up with it, because it must be deflating sometimes. Luckily, I think a lot of the guys go because they too really do appreciate what goes on on that stage. It is not meant for one age group or one sex, but for all of humanity.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++===
And then there was Victoria.
I have made some friends among the DC fanbase, and a couple of them made it down to V., as did my best friend Casey and myself. It was hard as hell to feel like doing much of anything, but the cogs were apparently turning in my friend Angie's brain! She and her husband Phil, who was wisely hanging out in the car, I am supposing in the AC, took off for a little while. When they returned to the tarmac, they were loaded for bear: squirt guns.
At first glance, one might assume from their demeanor that Phil and Angie are nice, quiet people. They are very soft-spoken, courteous, a pleasant young married couple....
Do not be fooled.
There is a streak of mayhem in there that comes out in unusual ways. The toys were only part of it. There was much plotting on who and when would be attacked! Sadly, the water in the guns ended up getting to about the same temperature as the outside air, so it was soon "Okay, I'm wet, but not a whole lot cooler..." Casey put up well with being attacked repeatedly, though it may just have been he was to hot to be concerned with fighting back.
Alex and Karol's boy, Phoenix, found a more novel way of having fun with a squirt gun: he sucked on it. Hey, water was at a premium that day!
We, of course, did not shoot at any of the guys while they were playing. Water, electricity, band member...not a good mix, really. We did go after a few of them after they got off stage, but everybody was so sweaty by then, I am not sure if they felt anything. When we went for hugs, they were apologetic about being sweaty and we all just looked at them and scoffed. We'd been that way most of the afternoon. Despite the heat, everyone, all us nutty fans included, were in really good spirits. It was a little tough to walk away and go find food and iced tea, but a little. I am sorry I didn't stick around for Duarte, but I know my limits.
It was, inspite of the heat, a wonderful Labor Day weekend -best I have had in a long time!
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
The Future?
Tonight is the Latin Grammy Awards show. I know from past contact with the music industry that the whole Grammys thing is really political, and based on sales more than actual talent. Looking at the list of people who are up for awards, many of whom are from other countries and completely unheard of in the US, I have to wonder if American- born latin based groups get a fair shake in the running. I mean, groups like Los Lonely Boys or Santana get noticed in the regular grammys and I sort of wonder if, due to that, they get less attention in the Latin ones.
I could be talking out my ear, of course.
I am, of course, daydreaming about the future and seeing those shining Del Castillo faces on that stage. I detest the fact the sales directly effect whether or not one can get nominated, but it is a business, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. That almighty dinero, after all, speaks loudly to most people.
I just would like a way for a larger chunk of the public to hear what these guys can do. One song done on a national show would change everything for them. Our local (in state) show apparently thinks they play the wrong kind of music ( I won't name names here, but I am really PO-ed with this particular show for their lack of insight. Not Texas music, my butt!)
Then again, there are good arguements for going up the ladder a little slower, through a grass-roots method. There is nothing like seeing these guys live, and I cannot say how a performance on TV, a hundred yards away from the audience, might affect perception of them. It would be a challenge to the band, yes, but not necessarily a good step to take yet. Let more folks hear of them by happenstance, get the buzz going, and then put them out to the more generalized public.
I'm just shooting the breeze with myself this morning. If this all starts to happen in the next six months, I may end up shooting myself in the foot. It was a tough month, knowing they were out there with all those new people. Strange case of envy on my part. I would've been at every gig if I had had the ability. Silly thing, ain't I?
I could be talking out my ear, of course.
I am, of course, daydreaming about the future and seeing those shining Del Castillo faces on that stage. I detest the fact the sales directly effect whether or not one can get nominated, but it is a business, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. That almighty dinero, after all, speaks loudly to most people.
I just would like a way for a larger chunk of the public to hear what these guys can do. One song done on a national show would change everything for them. Our local (in state) show apparently thinks they play the wrong kind of music ( I won't name names here, but I am really PO-ed with this particular show for their lack of insight. Not Texas music, my butt!)
Then again, there are good arguements for going up the ladder a little slower, through a grass-roots method. There is nothing like seeing these guys live, and I cannot say how a performance on TV, a hundred yards away from the audience, might affect perception of them. It would be a challenge to the band, yes, but not necessarily a good step to take yet. Let more folks hear of them by happenstance, get the buzz going, and then put them out to the more generalized public.
I'm just shooting the breeze with myself this morning. If this all starts to happen in the next six months, I may end up shooting myself in the foot. It was a tough month, knowing they were out there with all those new people. Strange case of envy on my part. I would've been at every gig if I had had the ability. Silly thing, ain't I?
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