| beautifulyoo.com |
| Summertime
Blues, Reggae and Red Hot Rock |
Antequera,
Estepona and Alora, inland Malaga, Andalucia, Spain |
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| The
thing about professional musicians is that they tend to be rather
good. Wild enthusiasm, although something never to be discouraged
in my book, is often tempered by experience, as a smoother, more controlled
power takes its place, gentle melodic moments often contrasted, and
all the more effective as a result, by well directed and carefully
measured bursts of increased volume and more rapid pace. Thinking
of Peter Green and the original Fleetwood Mac as Spanish guitarist
Antonio ‘Tonky’ de la Peña chiselled a riveting
opening riff into the balmy, twinkling, big easy summer night in Playa
San Francisco at the Antequera Blues Festival, I was soon swept up
in a frenzy of delight, along with all the other enchanted members
of the audience, by the sensationally energetic Francisco Simón
Josele Martín on harmonica, accompanied most ably by the intricately
woven backing combination of rhythm guitar and pounding drums. Recently regrouped for a limited number of performances, the original Tonki Blues Band, (Antonio de la Peña, Francisco Simón Josele Martín, Naco Goni, Pancho Company), who rose to fame soon after their creation in Madrid in the 80s, were unforgettable, simply magnificent. A couple of nights later, with the temperature perhaps a couple of degrees lower by the sea, we put down our cool boxes and unfolded our camping chairs on the sand at La Rada Beach in Estepona to enjoy the 6th Annual Reggae night beneath a beautiful full moon. A wide silver path stretched out across the ocean behind us, while in front, beside the silhouette of massive palm trees and the backdrop of the beachfront, the colourful lights of the well-organised stage splayed out into a thin, deliciously fresh sea mist, mingling with the smoke jets behind the musicians and the undeniable spirit of reggae, constant references being made to the man himself, El Señor Bob Marley. It was a party in the true sense of the word, the crowd, made up of all types of people of all different ages, were dancing and singing away happily from the moment the first band, Misty Mountain, began to play. The volume steadily increased along with everyone’s enjoyment as a long list of reggae favourites melted away into the night. The second band, Uka’s Moon, came on without delay and the atmosphere was sensational, both the audience and the performers feeding on each other’s sheer joy and enthusiasm. It was one of those nights we will probably refer to from time to time for the rest of our lives, heaven on earth. On the following Monday night we made our way across the village of Alora, the path made clear by the droves of eager people ahead of us. He arrived in a big car with a huge police escort. The girls in the thronging crowd went wild. “Arrebato, Arrebato!” they screamed at the top of their lungs. “Oh, Arrebato,” our neighbour had cried out to us across the railing of our terraza the night before, her eyes glazing over with adulation. El Arrebato, the Enchanted. They were all obviously completely under his spell. It was a free performance at La Trocha, marking the beginning of the pueblo’s annual fería. Afraid of being trampled by dancing female feet and quite a few rather enchanted young men as well, I couldn’t get near the stage with my camera. Spanish pop and rock idol El Arrebato simply had to wave his arms and clap his hands to whip the spectators into virtual hysteria. Balconies in overlooking apartment blocks were spilling over with fans and even those poor souls stuck at the back, without being able to see a thing, were partying for all they were worth. And at last, the next night in Alora, it was the turn of my own personal favourite local band, Devil’s Dandruff. It was a sultry night, hot enough even for the King of Flames himself. The solid power of the band instantly drowned out the cacophony of sound in the nearby fairground and when singer Sergio announced a Jefferson Airplane song, ‘Don’t You Want Somebody To Love’, it just made my day. “When the truth is found to be lies And all the joy within you dies Don’t you want somebody to love? Don’t you need somebody to love?” Yes. I went straight in, took some photographs and then returned to the side of the one I love to enjoy the music and magic of the wonderful Spanish night. Having just released their debut album, Suicide Lifestyle, which was mixed in New York, the band is enjoying huge popularity throughout Spain and soon, I suspect, around the world. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, should you ever get the chance to see these guys live, don’t let yourself down by missing it. They are the business. There is no shortage of good music in Andalucia at any time of year, but the last two weeks of July and the beginning of August, the height of the season, always offers the cream of the crop, the natural Spanish joy and readiness to party always providing an atmosphere that seduces the best performances possible from the musicians. Of course you do have to be careful. It’s true ‘there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues’ or, for that matter, reggae or red hot rock. You see, the thing about good music is that the more you hear, the more you want! Keep an eye on next year’s Blues Festival programme on www.antequerabluesfestival.com and the Alora fería on www.alora.es |
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August
2007
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the area: |
Flights and Car Hire |