By Angel Galvan
¿Es este el fin del mundo tal como lo conocemos? Could this be happening in Cleveland? Allegorically speaking, according to Mexican Aztec Calendar revelations, Cleveland’s drought of Iconic Mexican rock group tours will come to an end on September 21, 2018. This will be the date that Café Tacvba performs @ the legendary Agora concert hall.
Aztec Calendar historians assert that every year or two a Mexican rock group performs at a local venue but they insist that the vast majority pass over Cleveland…that is until recently when there was a strange shift in the wind of good fortune.
Within the last few years the number of Mexican rock concerts increased…although, rarely was there ever one of Iconic caliber with the exception of an intimate stop at a packed Grog Shop by Molotov in 2013. Now, with so many Rockero Mexicanos stopping in Cleveland, this cultural paradigm shifting event seems to have been correctly foretold and now is engraved within the annals of Aztec Lore. The ‘coup de grace’ being, of course, an amazing and cerebral Café Tacvba concert in Cleveland.
Finally! After a 13 year absence Café Tacvba is coming back to Cleveland in early fall. The group previously performed here twice. The first time they came here Reves/Yo Soy had just been released. They performed many songs from that album at Peabody’s DownUnder legendary concert hall in the East Bank of the Flats on Nov 18, 1999. Six years later, Café Tacvba’s second and last performance here was @ the newly opened House of Blues back on June 22, 2005, and to a much larger crowd than at Peabody’s. One relevant factor regarding the increase and the larger turn-out was the growth of Cleveland’s Mexican population. It still continues to grow…in spite of the developing anti-immigrant sentiment around the country.
Café Tacvba was born in 1989 in Naucalpan, Mexico. The group members are Ruben Albarran, Enrique Rangel, Joselo Rangel, Alejandro Flores, Emmanuel Del Real, and Roberto Silva. Some of their releases include – Café Tacvba, Re, Avalancha De Exitos, Reves/Yo Soy, Cuatro Caminos, Sino, El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco and Jei Beibi. They also appeared in “Amores Perros” and “Y Tu Mama Tambien” and won awards that include a Grammy and sibling Latin Grammy’s. This group’s songs are a fusion of styles and influences from indigenous, Jorocho, traditional, Norteno, ska, electro punk and electronic included.
They have an amazing ability to transition fluidly from one genre to another and then combine them which is absolutely genius. During the late 90’s and early 2000 Café Tacuba performed in Cleveland alongside other Mexican Fusion bands including Molotov, Plastilina Mosh, Los Lobos, Ozomatli, Santana..etc.
Café Tacvba is not well known in most of the US, and especially not in Cleveland. In this city, this group is only known mostly within the Mexican, Central & South American communities, which are small but gaining in stature. Their fans are hard to reach but they are fanatics.
Café Tacvba typically fills soccer sized stadiums in Mexico. Cleveland has a foreign born population of 4% while the national average is 14%, which makes Cleveland a hard sell for any culture. But the expectation this third time around is that Café Tacvba should easily sell-out the 500 seat ballroom with a credible possibility to do the same at the 1800 capacity theater.
About a week ago Fusion Mexicano met with a typical Café Tacvba fan at Tower City…his name was Luis Ramirez-Alonzo. This Mexicano was on his way to Houston to visit family, but occasionally travels to Mexico as well. The discussion led to the announcement of the Café Tacvba Concert and the palpable anticipation developing among the local Mexicanos, and in such a short time. Luis stated that he has been to seven Café Tacuba concerts which is amazing considering he is a Clevelander. He attended both the Peaboby’s and the HOB concerts in Cleveland. But he also attended Cafe Tacvba concerts in Chicago, Houston, and in Mexico and when the opportunity presented itself. Now, Luis plans on attending the September 21, 2018 concert @ the Agora along with many of his Mexican friends.
On the National and International scene Café Tacvba tour through most major cities similar to American bands. They toured many of the national and international festivals. Café Tacvba performed at Lollapalooza and Coachella with other Mexican, Latino and International bands – Mexican Institute of Sound, Lighter Shade of Brown, Rage against the Machine, Guadalajara Joe, Dios (Malos), Cypress Hill, Manu Chao, Los Amigos Invisibles, Gogol Bordello and Balkan Beat Box. These International bands and Café Tacuba shared the same stage with many familiar American heavyweights such as: Cleveland’s Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, Metallica, Nirvana, Ministry, Jane’s Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, House of Pain, Beastie Boys, Depeche Mode, Front 242 and Livin Colour just to name a few.
The Tequila, limes and Corona’s are already sloshing and the atmosphere amazingly festive with anticipation.. The memories remain fresh of the time when ‘Pochotitlan’ & ‘La Preferida’ with DJ Johnny Tamales, DJ Angel G and DJ Lilly represented WCSB 89.3 FM Cleveland State Radio and the Cleveland Mexican community at both shows…and, the support from Blanca, Jazmin and others from Tepehuanin Nelli Mexican dance group, as well as Chango, Cleveland’s Mexican Hip-Hop recording artist. Now, the time is here with more promise and potential.
Salud!! Here’s a toast to Café Tacvba and all the fantastic Mexican Rockeros that came before and to the Rockeros that promise to make new memories and Cleveland a regular Rock En Espanol destination. Viva Café Tacvba!! Viva Mexico!!!
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