|
 Globalisation
+ Balkanisation = La Polka Madre y La Comezon
3 march 2007
La Faena on Saturday
24 February took the very essence in the variety that exists within the Mexican scene
and gave it a traditional twist with its ornate interior and bullfighting
relics. Each of the bands playing would of the distinct combination of
something essentially Mexican overlaid with a lacquered finish of other
international influences to create a engaging product with improving degrees
of polish.
Los Negretes’s late
appearance seemed to suggest a disorganised vein that carried through the
performance. The band has something interesting within the interaction of
instruments. There is a bohemian edge to the music exaggerated by trumpet
tones that provided a perfect introduction to what the night was to hold.
Les Traguiques
continued the evening with the French influenced shoegaze offering that
seems built on a solid rock foundation that could compliment many musical
styles. The band has enjoyed the opportunity to play a number of important
gigs in recent months, including sharing the stage with The Album Leaf in
December. As well as making progress on the live front the band has started
to make plans to record material with some of the big names on the
production side already showing an interest.
Finally as late night
turned to early morning as La Polka Madre y La Comezon took to the stage
with an elaborate set of boiled bone light-boxes and low voltage neon. The
suggestion was of a daring circus tightrope walk that wobbles with complete
control between music and theatre merely to extract gasps from the
audience.
The tightness of the 5
integrants on stage is almost startling. Even the movement, as they
interweave themselves through an extended set, gives the impression of a
cleverly choreographed traditional dance; but retaining the
spontaneity to ignite the audience into random reactions such as running
rabidly on the spot.
If ever there was an
act that encapsulated the international nature of the expanding scene it is
La Polka Madre. Mexican meets Fin with a common ear for Jewish and Balkan
Gypsy jigs, add on Mexican clarinets and American bass and drums and an
early troubadours spirit and you have half an idea of what to expect.
As many fight to
reconcile their passion for music with the day job to cover the rent La
Polka Madre are true journeyman musicians. They have played from coast to
coast in the
US
in 2006 and have plans to tour Europe in 2007.
In Mexico they are
playing over 20 gigs in a month while also providing musical support for a
theatre production in Coyoacan. This takes incredible commitment. The
outcome from the shared experiences manifests itself in the extra
understanding they display on stage to create a performance to engage both
heart and mind.
At times it seems rock
overwhelms the radio and other media. Nights such as La Faena provide real
alternatives. These are created by the coinciding of minds influenced by
the more extravagant and exotic to provided breath as well as depth to New
Mexican music.
http://myspace.com/madrecomezon
http://myspace.com/lestragiques
http://myspace.com/losnegretes
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