Description
For many in the valley, this is their father's music, and they're proud of it. King of the ranchero, this 70-year-old monument from Jalisco has been recording for more than half of his life, and is also the namesake of a 30,000 seat Guadalajara arena. What one gets here, obviously, is a chance to see some living history: the principle exponent of a music that defines a nation. Opening for Fernandez is Paquita La Del Barrio from Vera Cruz (a stage name not so far from "Jenny from the Block"). She's a well-upholstered performer with an Ethel Merman sort of niche, to compliment a gift for foot in mouth disease (as per her unlovable public comment regarding gay adoption last spring). However, we can assume she knew what she was saying when she recorded her classic "Rata de dos Patas" or "Two Legged Rat" (perhaps a musical tribute to the cheating first husband she dumped); it can be compared and contrasted to Memphis Minnie's fine tune on this subject, "Black Rat Swing."--Richard von Busack, sanjose.com
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