9 replies to this topic

[harpman]

Will be at "Fonda Dona Lola" Wednesday night 7:30-10:30
August 15,22,29, and September 5th.....766-4455 for reservations
It's always fun to try something new.

[CCC]

Are they still at el Barco Monday nights?

[harpman]

Yes....still at El Bar Co on Mondays.

[CCC]

Awesome! Thanks.

[Musicdoc]

Several people have asked where Fonda Dona Lola Restaurant is located. It's across the street from the Whaffle House on the West end of Ajijic.

[ezpz]

Jam musicians, I used to live near El Barco, unfortunately, because of all the noise generated from there. Please be aware that the Mexican neighbors who surround El Barco and the other restaurants on the East Side of Ajijic are quite sick of the loud gringo music, but are resigned to their fate, feeling that no one will listen to their complaints. They say, "Well, we just go in when the music starts" which is a sign that the people in the neighborhood no longer feel like they can enjoy their age-old custom of sitting outside on the warm summer evenings. I used to have to turn on my own stereo quite loud to drown you guys out, but I usually played Mexican music that my neighbors could enjoy.

I now live a bit farther away where live music from Barco and Bodega is audible 3 blocks away. The little bar at Bugambilias plays loud recorded music but it is not so bad. In my new house, ear plugs actually work. But that is not a solution for the Mexican neighbors/families who would not be able to 1) afford them, or 2) talk to eachother when using them.

Please show consideration for the neighbors who suffer through your performances. It is abundantly obvious from your excessive volume that you don't practice or rehearse. This is not only an embarassment to the entire foreign community, but an insult to the local majority community of Mexicans who are mostly descended from people who have populated this area for hundreds of years and already have rich, melodious musical and other traditions! It's not like there is no music in Mexico!

The 3-chord music, itself, gets tediously monotonous, and when poorly rendered and horribly LOUD, it's like hearing someone scratch a blackboard. I'm trying to be nice about this. I guess if people are drunk enough, they don't notice these things.

If you total up the hours of live music played, the gringo rock bands have by far superseded the far more appealing, traditional fiesta bandas and/or mariachis of the local culture, which is a tragedy. If you spoke Spanish and chatted with the real people here, you would understand. If you knew Mexican music, you'd understand. The people here LOVE music - their traditional, cheerful, romantic kind, not singers who sound like dying cows. The standard for great singing around here is Alejandro or Vicente Fernandez, for starters...but, you already knew that, right?

The best live music/dancing and overall fun to be had here is at the local fiestas, but the gringos stay away in droves. Why?? It's sad that there is just not more cheerful Mexican music like cumbia or salsa at the bars for dancing. But, the owners want to attract the gringo dinero, and they demand everything in English, sadly.

FYI, in your behalf, I have apologized many times to many different neighbors in earshot of these restaurants for the rude invasion of their home life and culture..all year around now! Please think about that the next time your little finger gets trigger happy on the volume knob. Please think about the people that have to get up early to go to work or school, which starts next week.

[lcscats]

Jam musicians, I used to live near El Barco, unfortunately, because of all the noise generated from there. Please be aware that the Mexican neighbors who surround El Barco and the other restaurants on the East Side of Ajijic are quite sick of the loud gringo music, but are resigned to their fate, feeling that no one will listen to their complaints. They say, "Well, we just go in when the music starts" which is a sign that the people in the neighborhood no longer feel like they can enjoy their age-old custom of sitting outside on the warm summer evenings. I used to have to turn on my own stereo quite loud to drown you guys out, but I usually played Mexican music that my neighbors could enjoy.

I now live a bit farther away where live music from Barco and Bodega is audible 3 blocks away. The little bar at Bugambilias plays loud recorded music but it is not so bad. In my new house, ear plugs actually work. But that is not a solution for the Mexican neighbors/families who would not be able to 1) afford them, or 2) talk to eachother when using them.

Please show consideration for the neighbors who suffer through your performances. It is abundantly obvious from your excessive volume that you don't practice or rehearse. This is not only an embarassment to the entire foreign community, but an insult to the local majority community of Mexicans who are mostly descended from people who have populated this area for hundreds of years and already have rich, melodious musical and other traditions! It's not like there is no music in Mexico!

The 3-chord music, itself, gets tediously monotonous, and when poorly rendered and horribly LOUD, it's like hearing someone scratch a blackboard. I'm trying to be nice about this. I guess if people are drunk enough, they don't notice these things.

If you total up the hours of live music played, the gringo rock bands have by far superseded the far more appealing, traditional fiesta bandas and/or mariachis of the local culture, which is a tragedy. If you spoke Spanish and chatted with the real people here, you would understand. If you knew Mexican music, you'd understand. The people here LOVE music - their traditional, cheerful, romantic kind, not singers who sound like dying cows. The standard for great singing around here is Alejandro or Vicente Fernandez, for starters...but, you already knew that, right?

The best live music/dancing and overall fun to be had here is at the local fiestas, but the gringos stay away in droves. Why?? It's sad that there is just not more cheerful Mexican music like cumbia or salsa at the bars for dancing. But, the owners want to attract the gringo dinero, and they demand everything in English, sadly.

FYI, in your behalf, I have apologized many times to many different neighbors in earshot of these restaurants for the rude invasion of their home life and culture..all year around now! Please think about that the next time your little finger gets trigger happy on the volume knob. Please think about the people that have to get up early to go to work or school, which starts next week.

So in other shorter words you don't like the music.
This is not just about noise but about your opinion
on music. Reread your post and I am sure you will
see the insult if you didn't do it on purpose. Maybe
your choice in music would be more tolerable eh?

[bwhite1948]

So in other shorter words you don't like the music.
This is not just about noise but about your opinion
on music. Reread your post and I am sure you will
see the insult if you didn't do it on purpose. Maybe
your choice in music would be more tolerable eh?

I read ezpz's post differently. S/he is not reviewing the jam band music as good or bad, musically speaking. S/he is saying that American/Gringo rock music played so loudly that it causes local Mexican families and gringo neighbors to hole-up in their homes, is inappropriate.. The music is not traditional and while it may be tolerable if not played so loudly, it is not tolerable to most people, be they Mexican or Gringo, at its current volume.

S/he's saying it's annoyingly LOUD, not annoyingly bad. Hence, inappropriate.

I agree.

[elsanto]

"The 3-chord music, itself, gets tediously monotonous, and when poorly rendered and horribly LOUD, it's like hearing someone scratch a blackboard. I'm trying to be nice about this. I guess if people are drunk enough, they don't notice these things."

-thats not about volume,sorry-the intention here is obvious.

this person is criticizing the music and musicians.apparently someone "above" this music.may i offer that many of the traditional songs we hear here is three chords-in a different context.i observe that we have music,both good and bad,like any other town this size.most of our ex-pat musicians struggle to make a living,love the music,or both-they're good people who deserve to practice their art,if they have an audience,and it seems they do.
i lived in Jocotepec for a year-hardly heard english,let alone the"devil;s music"-maybe an answer for some....
moving to Axixic to be away from all things American is not rational.
me, i treasure all that "three chord"music-from blues to bluegrass,country to rock,that music is my blood-i'm proud of it and all it represents.the people who struggled and sang-the story of America.Rock and Roll IS folk music...Sorry you don't see it that way -Sorry you don't enjoy it.i live right near Dona Lolas-it wasn't that loud.....it was 2 hours
lets live and let live,people...we came all this way.....


OK,now i'll turn up the Johnny Cash and get "drunk enough"-sheesh

it's only rock and roll,but i believe the man said love is all you need

[CCC]

Ezpz has a long history of complaining about the music at el Barco. It has been pointed out to her in previous threads that the jam band has many non gringo musicians and that el Barco has been in operation for close to two decades but this poster is more interested in complaining about the music than logic.

I look forward to the Jam Band no matter where they play. And my Mexican neighbors play a variety of music very loudly early and late. I would not presume to speak for an entire community. Nor would I presume to criticize some one else's taste in music. Nice try though.