May 2008
Music Menu of this month's listings, stories and columns Border Beats
Recently added to the El Paso playlist:
-- Glenn Leffler, “Acoustic Journey,” Adventures in Solo Guitar.” Leffler’s thoughtful nature and faith are evident selections from the flowing opener, “Pandora’s Box” to the slightly perkier “Pop’s Rag.” The songs are consistent and clean throughout. There are no surprises on this album, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, making this a good choice for the office or early morning back porch lounging.
-- La Guitarra presents Mario Otero, “Down at the Pass.” Otero has a great way of combining the gritty edge of the border with the disciplined sound of classical guitar. The clever narrative at throughout is a suitable tribute to Robert Rodriguez’s “El Mariachi” Trilogy, followed by a series of regionally inspired tunes like the grito-infused “Bandito Concierto” and the heart-breaking bilingual lament of “The Children of Juarez.” Although, honestly, I prefer the instrumentals on this offering, especially the brief “La Vienta” reunion featuring Otero and Stefan Schyga.
-- Stefan Schyga -- “A Winter Romance.” It has been far too long since Schyga has released a solo CD, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Packed with 15 instrumental flamenco-inspired tracks, standouts include the jazzy, mystical “Niko” (joined by Otero) the snaky rhythms of “Bossamenco” and the exotic, percussion-fused “Streets of Marrakech.”
-- Lisa Kay Tate
La Viña’s Music On the Patio -- La Viña Winery in La Union, 4201 S. NM Highway 28, one mile north of Vinton Road, hosts live music 1 to 5 p.m. on selected Saturdays and Sundays. Picnics are allowed, but beverages must be purchased from the winery. Admission is free. Information: (575) 882-7632.
May concerts feature Live By Request May 3 and May 11, Blues Messiah May 4, and Slick Reynolds May 17.
Jazz Unlimited -- The big band presents an afternoon of big band music at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 5005 Love Road, with renowned jazz saxophonist Mack Goldsbury and the Sunshine Dixieland Band. Admission is free, donations accepted. Information: 637-4569.
El Paso Blues Society -- The informal gathering of blues fans will host its first meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, at King’s X, 4119 N. Mesa. A blues-only jam session hosted by Austin Jimmy Murphy and Ragged But Right begins at 9 p.m. All musicians, including harmonica players, must bring their own instruments and amplifiers. Drummers must bring their own snare. All else provided. Musicians need to sign up for the jam. Information: Jim Murphy 526-0719 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays).
Hi Lo Silvers -- The women’s chorus performs at 7 p.m. Friday, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 9 and 11, at First Presbyterian Church, 1915 Swan Street in Silver City. Admission is free. Information: 1-800-548-9378.
Song Slam -- UTEP’s UTEP Music Theatre Company presents an evening of songs and arias from music theatre and opera 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 9, in Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall. Admission is free. Information: 747-7815.
Springfire – El Paso’s long-running comic singing group performs dinner shows at 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, at Great American Land & Cattle Co., Gateway North in Northeast El Paso between Diana and Transmountain. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Cost: $29.95 for dinner and show. Reservations/information: 637-7060.
Jazz at The Philanthropy – JazzElPaso Connection presents the Caroline Durant Quartet featuring “The Tiger of Contemporary Jazz” Mike Hamilton at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at The Philanthropy Theater in The Plaza Annex. Tickets: $25 (Ticketmaster). Cocktails precede at the Oasis Bar at 7 p.m. Information: 317-5503 or jazzelpaso.org.
Verse and Harmony open mic -- Lighthouse Coffee Company East, 3021 McRae, will host an evening of poetry and music 7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 10. Poet and musician sign-up at 7 p.m. Verse & Harmony is every second Saturday of the month and usually runs four rounds with a five-minute allotment per performer each round. Bring poetry, songs, instruments, and friends. Musicians must supply their own quarter-in cables for electric instruments. Admission is free. Information: (Lighthouse East) 594-7879 or elp.spokenword@att.net.
Zin Valle Musical Sundays -- Zin Valle vineyard, 7315 Hwy 28 in Canutillo (3/4 mile north of FM 259), hosts live music 1 to 4 p.m. every other Sunday featuring Julio Ortiz or James Springer. Ortiz performs jazz, blues, Latin blues, reggae, folk and classic rock. Springer performs contemporary and classic rock. Admission is free.
May’s concerts feature Ortiz on May 11, and Springer on May 25.
Honor Jazz Concert -- Ysleta ISD Fine Arts’ Celebrate the Arts Series presents Ysleta’s top jazz musicians and guest artists saxophonist Dan Bortan and guitarist Steve Marquez at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, at the Ysleta Administration and Cultural Arts Center Theatre, 9600 Sims. Admission is free. Information: 434-9700 or finearts.yisd.net.
Big Band on the Rio Grande -- The 17-piece band presents a special jazz concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 16, at the NMSU Music Recital Hall in Las Cruces. Admission: $7 ($5 students and seniors). Information: Helen Sachs, (575) 373-2188.
Rockhound Bluegrass Festival -- The 2nd annual festival May 23-25, at Rockhound State Park near Deming, N.M. featuring live bands, open mic sessions and food vendors. Bring a lawn chair. Tickets available at the gate. Sunday admission is free. Information: (575) 546-6182, (575) 744-5998 or friendsofrockhound.org.
Rockhound State Park is five miles south of Deming on State Road 11 and then east on Rockhound Road (State Road 141) for nine miles.
Open mic sessions are 4 to 5 p.m. Friday and 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday. Live music is 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday. A special Gospel music session is 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.
Silver City Blues Festival -- The 13th annual event is May 23-25 at Gough Park, corner of Pope and 12th Streets in Silver City. Sponsored by the Mimbres Region Art Council. The event features live blues music, studio tours, street dances and more. No dogs or alcohol allowed in park area; beer garden available across the street. Admission is free, unless otherwise listed. Information: (505) 538-2505 or (888) 758-7289 or mimbresarts.org.
Friday, May 23:
-- Buffalo Dance Hall concert featuring Guitar Slim, 8 p.m. to midnight. Admission: $10.
Saturday, May 24:
-- Gough Park performers -- Edie and the Silver Blue Roots, 1:15 to 2:30 p.m.; Albuquerque Blue Connection, 3 to 4:15 p.m.; Big Pete Pearson and Rhythm Room Allstars, 4:45 to 6 p.m.; Zac Harmon, 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Sherman Robertson, 8:30 to 10 p.m.
-- The Buffalo Dance Hall Jam Session is 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Admission: $10.
Sunday, May 25:
-- Gallery Studio Tours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Downtown Silver City.
-- Gough Park performers -- Alex Maryol 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; Jen Exten Trio with Pat Dutton and Pat Chase, 1:45-2:45 p.m.; Chris Dracup and Tommy Elskes with Alex Moralez, 3 to 4:15 p.m. Marie Knight Legacy Performer, 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. John Mooney acoustic show, 6 to 7:15 p.m.
Friday night dance and Jam Session tickets available at the door or by credit card at 1-888-758-7289.
The 2nd Annual Vets Blues Bike Run is 9 a.m. Saturday, May 24. Information: Jose Rey (575) 534-4752 or (575) 313-5116.
‘Pump It Up’ Fridays -- The weekly band nights are 9 to 11 p.m. Fridays in May at Adventure Zone, 251 E. Redd. The event will showcase local musicians from El Paso, Las Cruces and Juárez. Information: 585-9663 or 433-0766.
Steve Smith and Hard Road -- The Las Cruces mandolinist/guitarist and his band perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 1, at Young Park as part of Las Cruces Art in the Park concert series. Admission is free. Information: (575) 525-0559, (575) 525-6752 or desertnight.com.
Grupo Fantasma -- The Austin-based Latin funk band opens its summer tour in El Paso at 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, at Zepplin’s Pub, 111 E. Robinson, with guests Radio La Chusma and Mexicans at Night. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission/information: 532-2003 or myspace.com/zeppelinsep.
Rock and Roll Rumble IV -- Bands chosen to compete in The Eagle 99.1 FM’s annual Classic Rock Battle of the Bands hosted perform at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, through June 4, at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino’s Franklin Lounge. The competition offers $5,000 in band equipment for the winning solo artist or band. Information: 351-5429 or 991theeagle.com.
Howling Coyote Coffee House -- Acoustic musicians and poets from the Las Cruces/El Paso area are invited to take part in an open mic jam session Fridays, May 2 and 16, at Mastery in Life Center, 575 Main in the Las Cruces Downtown Mall, North End. Performer sign-up is 6:30 p.m. with performances starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but donations welcome. Information: (575) 490-6672 or kenktx@aolcom.
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino -- Live music is offered 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sundays (mariachis) and 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays (jazz) in the Franklin Lounge. No cover. Information: (575) 874-5200.
Disco with local DJs is 6:30 to 10 p.m. Sundays, and karaoke is 8 p.m. to midnight Thursday, May 1.
-- Friday, May 2 – Skarabajo
-- Saturday, May 3 – 4 Play
-- Sunday, May 4 -- Mariachi Cuauhtemoc
-- Friday, May 9 – Los Dukes
-- Saturday, May 10 – BJ Pando
-- Sunday, May 11 -- Mariachi Las Caponeras
-- Friday, May 16 – Tejas
-- Saturday, May 17 – Conjunto Invernal
-- Sunday, May 18 -- Mariachi Los Galleros
-- Friday, May 23 – Rhapsody
-- Saturday, May 24 – Project
-- Sunday, May 25 -- Mariachi De Mi Tierra
-- Friday, May 30 – Inolvidable
-- Saturday, May 31 – Bosse
-- Sunday, June 1 -- Mariachi Alegre.
‘Every Other Tuesday’ at the Rio Grande Theatre -- Doña Ana Arts Council hosts a variety of musical performances 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. every other Tuesday at the historic Rio Grande Theatre, 211 Downtown Mall, Las Cruces. Admission is free. Information/schedule: (575) 523-6403.
Folk Fury -- KTEP, 88.5 FM, features three hours of acoustic and folk music -- with an emphasis on recordings by local musicians and occasional live appearances by them -- from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturdays. Hosts are Dan Alloway and Gregg Carthy. Requests: 747-5153.
Border Chorders -- The El Paso men’s barbershop and a cappella group rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at University Presbyterian Church, 244 N. Resler. Director is Bob Calderon. New singers are always welcome. Information: Dave Meier, 751-9617.
The Border Chorders are the El Paso chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society (formerly known as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, or SPEBSQSA).
Sungold Chorus -- The El Paso Sungold Chorus of the Sweet Adelines, under the direction of Lanny Desautels, rehearses at 7 p.m. Mondays at All Saints Church, 3500 McRae. All ladies interested in making good friends and good music are invited. Information: Jeanette, 778-7503.
The women’s chorus is dedicated to the performance of barbershop harmony, musical education, and community involvement.
SCENE UNDERGROUND
DJ Cat at The Line Bar May 2 — Catherine Wentworth, aka DJ Cat, began her long career as a critic for NYC Urban Beat Magazine, which gave way to her ascension to The Source hip-hop magazine and then to Vogue magazine, where she eventually met and hired three-time Grammy-winner DJ Mark Ronson. Ronson is credited with discovering DJ Cat’s talent to harness a pair of turntables and headline shows. DJ Cat’s career is the epitome of the Gen Y life — alternating time behind the decks, the camera and the writer’s desk. Now in full stride musically, she makes her return to the Line Bar in Juárez, having just completed a tour of Europe and Australia. Tickets are $7 for men and $5 for women at the door. The Line Bar is at 562 Juárez Ave.
Le Castle Vania at Myst Ultra Lounge May 2 — Back in town for the second time in less than a year, it is obvious that Le Castle Vania didn’t get enough of the EP crowd his first time around. Touring virtually nonstop since his last El Paso performance, Le Castle Vania somehow found the time to release a record as half of the electro group Lies in Disguise, with Blake Miller, who also played in Juárez a few weeks back. Ticket prices are TBA. Myst is Downtown in the Union Plaza District.
Zechs Marquise Record Release Party at Zeppelin’s May 2 — Straight out of the 915, Michael Farraro, Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez, Marcos Smith and Matthew Wilkson, better known as Zechs Marquise, have been lighting up crowds all over the West Coast. They will now drop their long-awaited debut full-length album, “Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare,” before heading out on the road again, touring from coast to coast. Zechs Marquise’s experimental jam-band sound can be described as String Cheese Incident meets Mars Volta. The band is taking a do-it-yourself approach to record distribution: their album can be purchased online at myspace.com/zechsmarquise. Show support for your local artists and scene, naw mean? Tickets at the door are $7 for 21 and up, and $10 for those under 21.
Cedric Vargas at Vanilla May 16 — South Florida house-music maestro Cedric Vargas brings his transcontinental blend of tribal and hard house to El Paso. A past resident of Crobar at the Cameo Theater and now the 24-hour superclub Space in Miami, Cedric Vargas also has performed at electronic music’s most prestigious event, Winter Music Conference. He also headlined the Ministry of Sound Tour and played Caracas. Tickets for the show are a very reasonable $10 at the door. Get there early — stay late.
Jägermeister Music Tour at Club 101 May 29 — Cold-medicine-turned-party-favorite Jägermeister presents their self-titled music tour, featuring Hatebreed, 3 Inches of Blood, Powderburn and Five3Nine3. Hatebreed has been a favorite of hardcore fans, staying heavy in a musical landscape trending toward emo and experimental sounds. Concertgoers should be warned that fans of the group 3 Inches of Blood are known to don Viking helmets, and brandish both plastic and real swords. Tickets are $20 at the door.
Have news for Scene Underground?
Write Luis Ruiz at lruiz490@gmail.com.
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Copyright 2008 by Cristo Rey Communications.
Roundup
Music
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Here's the Ticket
Program Notes
On Stage
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Southwest Art Scene
At the Museum
History Lessons
Nature
Film Scene
Keep on Bookin'
Becoming Bicultural
Liner Notes
Stage Talk
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Better Parenting