They’re weird. They’re Mexican. They play surf music. That’s why they named the band the Mexican Weirdoh’s Surf Band.
guitar
Kids learn traditional music at free mariachi summer camp (video)
A free mariachi summer camp in the city of Santa Rosa spreads the love for Mexico’s music in Northern California.
Mas…Kids learn traditional music at free mariachi summer camp (video)
Guitarist Luis Caballero: ‘Cucurrucucú Paloma (Call of the Dove)’ [video]
The Mexican pop tune Cucurrucucú Paloma has been on and off the charts since the mid 1950s, usually as a vocal number. This new music video, from guitarist Luis Caballero and friends, re-imagines the love story as a sweet instrumental.
Nevada riot grrrl + SoCal pocho = PDX duo Tallwomen (audio)
Drummer David Jacobo is a SoCal pocho (Sylmar/Van Nuys/East Los) who works as an educator with special need kids in Portland. Guitarist Cassi Blum. from Reno, Nevada via the East Coast, is a PDX barista.
Together for just six months, the two kick it old school Black Flag style as indie punk band Tallwomen. POCHO’s Punk Rock Artesano Junco Canché gives them “5 liberty spikes out of 5.”
Mas…Nevada riot grrrl + SoCal pocho = PDX duo Tallwomen (audio)
MORE COWBELL! The Mexican Juligans twang a tune for ‘Parral’ (video)
Twangy guitar-wielding Chilangos The Mexican Juligans name-check places all over the country in a surf-spaghetti-western-movie-theme music video inspired by classic cowboy flicks. And they especially ❤️ Parral, Chihuahua.
Mas…MORE COWBELL! The Mexican Juligans twang a tune for ‘Parral’ (video)
Flaco Jimenez and Ry Cooder: ‘He’ll Have to Go’ (video)
“Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone,” Ry Cooder sings. “Let’s pretend that we’re together all alone. I’ll tell the man to turn the juke box way down low. And you can tell your friend there with you HE’LL HAVE TO GO.” And then Flaco Jimenez plays.
Flaco Jimenez, Ry Cooder: That’s the way the girls are from Texas!
“You shoulda told me you was married, baby,” she said. Those were the last words he ever heard. Flaco Jimenez and Ry Cooder explain: That’s the way the girls are in Texas! If not, we’ve got lyrics:
Mas…Flaco Jimenez, Ry Cooder: That’s the way the girls are from Texas!
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: I ain’t gonna study war no more (music video)
The people who count things and make lists say there are over three dozen wars going on right now. Some “experts” insist this is inevitable, but others offer a different vision. One opposing point of view comes from a dead dude we know as Isaiah:
Mas…Sister Rosetta Tharpe: I ain’t gonna study war no more (music video)
The Mexican Juligans twang a tribute to ‘Parral’ (music video)
Twangy Chilangos The Mexican Juligans name-check places all over the country in a rock en español video inspired by classic cowboy movies. And they especially love Parral, Chihuahua.
Mas…The Mexican Juligans twang a tribute to ‘Parral’ (music video)
Shameless! Charo finally reveals the meaning of ‘Cuchi-Cuchi’ (videos)
Mystery of the ages! You won’t believe what this actress and flamenco guitarist said! The one weird phrase that turned a Spanish ingenue into a superstar! I never expected I’d react like this when watching a video from Oprah! When this blonde chica began playing, the audience gasped!
Charo fans: You know you’ve been waiting for this. Was it worth the wait?
Mas…Shameless! Charo finally reveals the meaning of ‘Cuchi-Cuchi’ (videos)
Paco De Lucia: ‘Tico Tico’ (video)
Famed Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco De Lucia just shreds in this version of the classic Tico Tico. RIP.
Ciro Hurtado, guitar; April Espejo, dance: ‘La Negrita Tomasa’ (video)
There’s not much to this video. Ciro Hurtado plays his original composition La Negrita Tomasa on acoustic guitar as Julio Ledezma keeps the beat on the cajon. Radiant dancer April Espejo celebrates in bare feet on an empty wooden stage. No effects. No vocals. Perfectly sweet and wonderful.
Elise Roedenbeck’s ‘MiJA Weekly’ Tax Day Espectacular 4.15.13 (video)
Happy Tax Day, pochos! This week on MiJA I discuss the near conclusion of back-room negotiations on immigration “reform” and delve deep into the heart of the Internets to discover Barbies of the World. You think Mexican Barbie is bad — Peruvian Barbie comes with an anchor baby (and she’s not the worst of them!)
Mas…Elise Roedenbeck’s ‘MiJA Weekly’ Tax Day Espectacular 4.15.13 (video)
Is that an ironic ‘hipster’ mustache or a real bigote? (video)
Mustaches are everywhere, and sometimes it’s hard to tell if that guy’s mustache over there at the bar or the bigotes on those women at the table in the back are for real or merely ironic affectations. This handy how-to guide will help you distinguish the posers from the sincerely hairy.
Señor Flavio surfs the softer side with ‘Dulce Babalu’ (video)
POCHO’s crew of slackers, surfers, skaters and all-around SoCal party peeps missed this video when it came out in March, but when we started going through the tunes on the excellent new FREE Nacional Records Sampler, this track perked up our ears and made us look for a video. From Argentina with love, meet Señor Flavio, pochas y pochos, with Dulce Babalu.
Two musicians enter the park — but only one man leaves (video)
Everything is chill when the street musician starts playing his accordian in the park — until the suave guitarist shows up. Who will win this battle of the park work stars? The musical gunfight is a toss-up, until a mysterious third man appears.
Is guitarist and singer Omar Torrez the Latino Jimi Hendrix?
Omar Torrez sure can play! That’s why he toured with Tom Waits and played with others like the Buena Vista Social Club and Jethro Tull. The Los Angeles Times wrote: “Dare we dub him the Latin Hendrix?! The fastest fingers in the West, a massive talent poised to break out and kiss the sky.”
Omar Torrez describes his music as “equal parts rock, Latin, delta blues, atonal classical, and performance art.” His heritage is as diverse as his music, ranging from Spanish and Basque (via Mexico) to Norwegian, Native American and Russian roots.
We especially like his new release — a happy-go-lucky smile of a tune called Marina (play this loud!) which will have you chair-dancing in no time at all. Srsly.
Lost Acapulco: ‘Miradas De Amor’ (old-school long board surf music)
Hang ten, pochos, with this super mellow old-school surf guitar instrumental from Lost Acapulco, the Mexico City surf, garage and punk band.