Beto Cuevas "Aqui"

I didn't intend to record any video at 4th&B the other night for Beto Cuevas, especially since my battery was a little low, but I decided to catch some of "Aqui" because Beto's voice is just amazing. So many people were taking pictures and recording, I was hoping to find someone who was closer or who captured a whole song, but the sound on the few I've found is absolutely terrible, so I decided I would post this half capture just to give an idea of how great the performance was. This song is "Aqui" from La Ley's album, Uno.

Beto Cuevas "Aqui"

YouTube Video: La Ley "Tejedores de Illusion"

This is La Ley, and last night James told me I just had to see this video because of the scenery. He explained that this song was written when their native country, Chile, was still under the rule of Pinochet, and it was a song of hope (title translates to "weavers of illusion"), and the song sounded amazing live.

Here's the video:

Beto Cuevas @ 4th & B, 4.2.08

I have to admit that it wasn't until I was generating my "Things To Do" list for the week that I realized that Beto Cuevas was playing at 4th & B. And even with that information, I had to Google his name before I realized that Beto was the singer of one of my favorite "rock en espanol" bands when I was in college, La Ley. I'd seen them at least once in the past, if not more, but at the time, I went to so many Spanish rock shows that it's all kind of a giant blur...one of the reasons I'm grateful that I can blog about it all now- because even if I forget, it's committed to my virtual backup memory. But after tonight, I guarantee I won't forget.

My night started out with dinner with my sister, my niece, Kristian, and his friend. We had to wait a bit for a table but it made our Ponce's meal that much better. After dinner it might have been quite easy to slip into food coma, but I thought I needed a good deviation from my norm and what better than Beto's show where I knew I'd be surrounded by a bunch of strangers outside of my normal scene and routine?

I arrived, and as it seemed the stars aligned, found my friend who walked me into the show and hooked up a photo pass. The show started and I raced to get into the photo pit for the first three songs and was surprised to see just how many photographers were shooting the show. Giant cameras and all, I dodged my way around the all male photogs trying to get some shots.
After a few from the left, I moved to the right, only to bump into some giant man, who when he saw my little point and shoot digital camera, searched for my credentials by grabbing me by my jacket. Yeah, Dude, you have a photo pass. I have a fucking ALL ACCESS photo pass, so kiss my ass. If there had been a moment of quiet, I would've liked to tell him that if he ever laid hands on me again I'd break his $3000 camera. I took as many pics as I could and then when the time came, filtered back into the crowd, where the illumination of 30 digital cameras actually pleased my line of sight to the stage.

There's something that I will always love about "latin" rock stars. They definitely move with more poise and control onstage than most bands, and I feel like I understand how bands back in the day could stir girls (and even straight men) into a frenzy, because most English speaking bands lack it today, but it's still a huge part of the show for musicians like Beto (and La Ley back when they were still together), Moenia, Juanes, Mana, and others of their ilk. They choreograph some uber sexy stage moves. It's a beautiful thing to witness, though I still felt like a bit of an outsider, and was still not quite getting into it more than the bobbing of my head to the music.
But then I stepped outside and the most amazing thing happened. A stranger approached and spoke to me in Spanish. Asking where I was from, and in not so many words, asking why I was there, then assuming because I had the photo pass that I had no interest in the band, just the shots...but before long, we were talking and turns out he's a Mexicano born and bred in P.B. and so while he chose to speak to me mostly in Spanish, was ok when I resorted to my shitty Spanish and mostly English. We talked for some time before reentering the venue where he told me that La Ley was/is his all time favorite band.

To me, there was something amazing about being at a show that I was enjoying but maybe not really "feeling", and meeting someone who explained how much he loved the old band, this musician, his voice, and even explaining some of the lyrics that perhaps I'd thought I understood. Everything took on a whole new meaning as this perfect stranger took the time to translate and explain the words that were beyond my Spanish vocabulary.

We grabbed a couple drinks at the bar as we chatted endlessly about the music, the show, his travels, my writing, the way the lyrics refer to politics, family, and all the things that inherently matter, particularly from the perspective of his people, mi gente, even if I wasn't raised puro, all while enjoying the show and the energy around us. And it was an amazing thing. There were things he'd say in English for my benefit, and then things that just don't translate that had to be spoken in Spanish, and while I'm always proud of my heritage and ethnicity, this particular circumstance reminded me that while I might not have grown up with frijoles on the stove, this is a part of who I am and made me want to explore that part of me just a little bit deeper. Oh yeah, and turns out my ambassador lives less than two blocks away from me. Is that what Jewish people call kismet?

Beto Cuevas Setlist, 4th & B, 3.2.08


After the show we chatted for a few, then I was off to the Tower Bar where I caught The Muslims set. I'll have to take a look at those pics and see if they're even worth posting, but the set was as good as ever and the drummer now has a standing drum set, meaning everything is set high and he stands while he plays which is a cool touch to their sound and feel.

Needless to say, I should've been asleep hours ago but it was an amazing night and I've got lots of plans for Thursday, Friday and the rest of the weekend, so I had to get this all published before I let time pass and the memory fade. Gracias por todo, mi carino amigo nuevo...

Got Mana?

I'm still home sick and mustered the energy to run to the store to buy every variety of Zicam/Airbourne/Nyquil/Dayquil and Robitussin available, along with smoothies, juices, gatorade, tea, and cans of soup. I'm working on my third box of kleenex. With this time, I decided to load more CDs into my iTunes. When I got to Mana, I opened the cases to find my CDs are missing! I have Revolucion de Amor, but what kind of cruel joke is it for someone to take my Unplugged CD and replace it with Puff Daddy's Shyne? Or to find Suenos Liquidos replaced with Clubbers Guide to...2000? Anyway, I have no idea who could've borrowed my CDs but if anyone has them and doesn't mind burning me copies, I'd appreciate it.

Juanes is Coming To San Diego

You probably had no idea that I'm a HUGE fan of rock en espanol, huh? Pretty much all I listened to in college was Shakira's Pies Descalzos along with some Nek, who sings in Spanish and Italian, thrown in. That was actually when I liked Nelly Furtado and her English/Spanish/Portuguese music, but then she just turned into another pop ho. Anyway, I LOOOOOVE Juanes; was one of the lucky ones who saw him at 4th & B on his Bud Light tour- then we attempted to see him at the Del Mar Fair but there were so many people cramming into the grandstand we were sure the building was going to collapse. Anyway, got this little e-mail I thought I'd share.


JUANES
La Vida World Tour
Saturday, May 3
San Diego Sports Arena
On sale Friday, January 18 at 10am

Anybody out there gonna hook up tickets, maybe a photo pass, maybe a makeout sess with Mr. Hotness himself? Please let me know.


Juanes
Fotographia