Raters live!

If you missed my previous post on Raters, check them out first, and then go to this show.

Want to watch the Super Bowl and drink craft beer?

If you are looking for a place to watch the Super Bowl and drink good beer this Sunday, both El Depósito and La Graciela have announced through twitter/facebook they will be open and showing the game. I imagine the Beer Factory will also be showing the game since they are pretty much an American-style sports bar, but I'm not completely certain.

Nahtabisk*, Mexican new wave!

 Several months ago, I picked up this 12" ep by Nahtabisk* on the recommendation of a friend. The record was self-released by the band in 1984, and according to the all-knowing interwebs, it seems the band did little else. The contact information the back of the record suggests they were from Mexico City, although I can't be sure.

 This synth-driven punk/new wave record is a fairly interesting listen. Musically, it reminds me of fairly simplistic early punk, except it is all electronic. The vocals, unfortunately, are very pedestrian and uninspired, but I like listening to this every now and then for the music alone.

Check out the tracks here:

1. Frio escalofrio
2. Buscando un trabajo
3. La dama de probeta
3. Así es...!

In defense of piracy

In light of recent events, I thought I would re-post something I wrote over three years ago. I am not defending the owners of Megaupload or anyone who makes a profit from piracy. What I am defending are blogs like Holy Warbles, one of the greatest music blogs to have graced the internet that is now gone.

"Music is primarily an art form, not just a product to be consumed. I mean this in two ways. First, the logic of music creation follows that of other art forms, literature, painting, sculpture, theatre, etc., not the logic of supply and demand. Music has always been and will always be created as a form of expression regardless of the economic circumstances surrounding its distribution.  Artists create because they have to create, not because it is profitable. Writers continued to write, painters continue to paint, musicians continue to play, not because they know they will receive a paycheck every two weeks, but because of something inside them that requires this form of expression. Second, the enjoyment of art should not require certain financial resources, much like public sculptures and murals, free access to public libraries, taking pictures of anything found or created that one considers art, etc. Art has been maintained in various ways, including certain styles of music (i.e. jazz, classical) not because it is profitable, but because it is considered something valuable, something that represents the beauty and the absurdity within us all. 

"Free access to museums and galleries (in many places), and free access to books through libraries has not destroyed other forms of art. Why has it come to the point where free access to music has been considered a crime? The absurdity of this crime becomes all the more incomprehensible when we view music as art, not as a capitalist product with a copyright. The fight to restrict music to those who can pay has a striking similarity to those who ban books, to authoritarian regimes who restrict internet access and censor cultural production. Is music revolutionary? Music can be powerful, but I’m not so idealistic to think the message of music will destroy the dominant forms of power. What are they afraid of?

"For years, music has been available for free through public libraries, although the selection was somewhat restricted due to budgetary and other constraints. Libraries have not killed music, artists still create, labels still produce music, people still attend concerts. Home taping was considered the death knell of music in the 80s. But surprise! music is still around.  

"Think about what it is that libraries provide to our societies. I can go to the library, check out a book, read it, return it, and never have to pay a penny. I can do the same with a compact disc, a vinyl record or cassette (for those libraries that still have them), or a DVD or VHS. Nothing stops a person from copying any of these works, yet a campaign to shut down libraries to protect copyright laws would be unthinkable as many have come to depend on library access or consider it a right.

"While through libraries and other public institutions, many people have access to the greatest literary and artistic creations, for some reason, it is considered inappropriate to have access to the greatest (and no so great) musical creations. To become educated about literature, about painting, and about other arts, requires very little in terms of financial resources. However, to become educated about an equally valid art form, music, regardless if you think that applies to Mozart, John Coltrane, Morbid Angel, Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin, Kanye West, Albert King or the Dead Kennedys, is extremely difficult without a significant financial investment. Music is a record of the human experience, to protect this form of art for the benefit of all, for enjoyment, for enlightenment, for educational purposes, does not require making everyone pay for it, it requires making it available to as many people as possible. 

"File sharing, music blogs, mp3s, home taping, burning CDs, these are all ways of democratizing art, of creating a democratic library of music that ensures everyone can enjoy a popular form of art.  Lovers and appreciators of music have taken it upon themselves through the internet to revive lost musical creations to educate the young and the old about all they missed because of the absurd idea that only one art form can be enjoyed if you pay for it (while others can be free). The nameless and anonymous individuals who provide music for free are creating a historical record of music that could easily be lost or only enjoyed by a very few. Libraries and other public institutions have failed in this regard, appreciators of music as art have come forward to not only protect, but revive and share what should be available to everyone."

Raters

 

Give a listen to new Mexico City band Raters. This three piece play extremely noisy minimalist punk with just a guitar, drums that sound like garbage cans, and a megaphone.  The only reason I found out about this band was because they were following me on twitter. Thanks guys! It doesn't seem like they have any upcoming shows, but they do have a CD you can either buy online or at El Botiquín in the Centro Histórico. You can also download their songs for free from Bandcamp.

Polvo (the Mexican band)

A side

I had been looking for this single from Nuevo Laredo's Polvo for several years after first hearing the tracks on the Psychedelic Rock Mexican comp, and I finally came across it at the Vintage Vinyl record show back in August.

These two tracks are great fuzzed out, hard blues rock similar to other Mexican bands of the 70s like Three Souls in My Mind and La Fachada de Piedra. It is unfortunate that Polvo didn't record much else besides a mediocre single in 1975.

B side

Check out the tracks on youtube:

1. Have You Ever Been There?

2. Can't Get Enough

Upcoming Lorelle Meets the Obsolete show!!

I've been meaning to check out Lorelle Meets the Obsolete ever since I posted about them back in August, but for one reason or another, I haven't been able to make it to any of their live gigs in Mexico City. Hopefully nothing comes up and I can make it to this upcoming show at Foro Alicia. They have a new 7" coming out soon and if we are lucky, it will be available at the show!

La Region - Cerveza Artesanal en La Narvarte!!

A new craft beer shop has opened up in Colonia Narvarte called La Region, Central de Cervezas Artesanales. They have a nice selection of beers (room temperature or cold) from Tempus, Calavera, Cucapá, Minerva, Jack, Weissbier, and La Chingonería, plus a small selection of Mexican botanas to accompany your drinking.

I hope this means we'll start seeing more beer options in Narvarte, because right now, they are pretty slim.

They are located at Xola 1603. You can either walk there from Etiopia metro/metrobus by going east on Xola a few blocks, or get off at the Dr. Vertiz Metrobus stop from Linea 2. La Region is located on Xola just across Vertiz from the metrobus stop there.

Lower taxes on Mexican microbrews?

A PRI Senator from Baja California introduced a bill to reduce the amount of taxes on microbrewers. According to this article in El Universal, microbreweries are charged about 8 pesos on every liter they produce, but the bill would reduce the tax to 1.6 liters. The major industrial brewers pay about 3.5 pesos for every liter they produce. I hope this passes, but my guess is that this bill comes a little too late in the budget process for the next fiscal year, and all legislators will be leaving office before the negotiations next year.

Record Show and Concert, October 29, 2011

This is out in Iztapalapa, doubt I'll make it down there for this, but maybe I'll be feeling adventurous that day?

History of Punk in Mexico

There is a new book out about the history of punk in Mexico, and El Universal has a story on it. They also have a music blog post where you can check out youtube videos of several of the classic Mexican punk bands. I haven't seen the book yet, but it is supposed to be available at El Chopo. I'm going today to see if I can find it!

Bop! is closed....

Last time I tried to go to Bop! Libros y Discos, they were closed. And not just closed as in not open, but there was no longer an actual building behind the storefront. Not sure what happened, but it is a bummer one of the better record stores in the city is gone.

Pictures from Cerveza México, Sept 2, 2011

 I was too busy drinking beer to take good pictures, but at least these will give you an idea of what Cerveza México was like.

Cerveza Casera stand. They had a pale ale and hefeweizen to try.

Cervecería Hacienda, makers of Jaguar Pale Ale, Hidalgo Stout, and Catrina Red Ale.

A glimpse of Cerveza Querétaro, Cervecería Amalias, and La Chingonería.

The crowd, and Cucapá in the background.

Calavera and Bohemia

La Chingonería's Házmela Rusa Stout, and the glass we had to buy to sample everything.

Another glimpse of La Chingonería stand, and the Beer Company in the background. They were out of their IPA.

Cervecería Primus with Tempus beers to try.

Cervecería Rámuri with three different dark beers to try, two stouts and a smoked porter.

Veracruz Brewering(?!) Company. They had a pilsner to sample, out of the dark beer.

The Beer Box installation. Offering samples of Cerveza Guadalajara, and a new organic brewery from Huixquilucan, Edomex.

Rámuri Diablo Blanco Mexican Lager

 Rámuri Diablo Blanco Lager

5.0% ABV

2 out of 5


I picked up this bottle at the recent beer festival, Cerveza México. Cervecería Rámuri is based out of one of the Bajas, not sure which. I'm pretty sure they are from Tijuana, BC, which is what they said at the fest and what their facebook page says. But, the bottle says Los Cabos, which is in Baja California Sur, so maybe Diablo Blanco is produced there.

Anyway, this "premium mexican lager" is one of the most tasteless beers I have ever had. In one sense that makes it better than a Corona, Sol, or Tecate, because there is no way I want to taste anything like those beers and I'd much prefer a Diablo Blanco over some industrial Mexican lager. But, I like the taste of beer. When I want a beer it means I don't want sparkling water.

I've never seen this available for sale in Mexico City, but it is possible one of the beer stores picked up some stock while these guys were in town for the festival. Can't say I recommend searching for it though.

Rámuri Diablo Blanco stand at Cerveza México, Sept 2, 2011

Mexico City beer festival starts today!

Cerveza Mexico at the World Trade Center starts today and goes through September 3rd. Home brewers, craft brewers, and industrial brewers will be there. I hope to return with lots of beer and pictures!

A couple great articles on Mexican craft beer (in Spanish)

There are a couple new articles up at hazcerveza.com that are really well written actually engage in some much needed criticism. The first is a review of the recent beer festival in San Miguel de Allende and includes some reviews of newer microbreweries. The second is a critique on the quality of some of the craft brews and the way some restaurants/shops/bars treat beer, leading to some pretty awful experiences. If you read Spanish, I highly recommend checking them out. My own personal perception if the craft beer movement in Mexico is that there is very little criticism of the quality of the beers being produced. There needs to be some more honesty if craft beer is going to grow here, so those who are interested in trying a cerveza artesanal are not turned off by tasting a poor-quality or poorly-treated beer.

The lack of posting

My work is taking over my life right now, so I haven't had a lot of time to update the blog. I'll try to post when I can, and hopefully I'll get back to a more regular blogging schedule in a few weeks.

Purple Hand Honey Ale

Purple Hand Honey Ale

1 out of 5


5.0%ABV

This beer is really boring. If there was a blind taste test between a Bohemia Clásica and this, it would be hard to tell the difference. It basically tastes like one of the better commercial lagers. It is supposed to be a honey ale, but the flavor of honey is so unnoticeable.

This beer is also fairly expensive. I bought it a long time ago at the Beer Box for something like 45 pesos if I remember correctly.

Cerveza Homero Hefeweizen

Cerveza Homero Hefeweizen

4 out of 5

5.0%ABV

When I first moved to Mexico City I was able to easily find the fabled Duff Beer and drank a fair amount of it. It was a solid pilsner that was much better than your typical Mexican lager. Sadly, it disappeared from the market, probably due to copyright problems. It is supposed to be coming back as Ffud, but I still haven't seen it available where I shop for beers.

Despite my longing for another bottle of Duff, at least there is Homero hefeweizen to satisfy my craving for a Simpsons related beer. This hefeweizen is very solid, medium-bodied and cloudy like a wheat beer should be. It has nice hints of banana and oranges, but the fruitiness is not overpowering. The one problem with the beer is that is was a little too carbonated.

You can buy a bottle of Cerveza Homero at El Deposito.

7 Barrios de Cervecería Lesnez

Cervecería Lesnez is based out of San Luis Potosí and produces the 7 Barrios line of beers. I'm generally not impressed, although their Brown is pretty decent. They also make an blond ale which I haven't seen available anywhere in the city.

7 Barrios Amber Ale, 2 out of 5, 5.1%ABV 

This beer was fairly nutty, with hints of caramel and vanilla. Definitely did not taste like an amber ale to me. It may have been too old and certainly wasn't enjoyable.

7 Barrios English Brown Ale, 4 out of 5 , 5.1%ABV

The Brown is the best of the 7 Barrios beers I have tried. It was easy to drink and slightly hoppy, not something I'm used to tasting in most of the boring brown ales available in Mexico City.

7 Barrios Hefeweizen, 1 out of 5, 5.1%ABV

Wow, this is one of the worst hefeweizen's I've ever had. Very weak and light, almost no flavor at all. There is a slight hint of sourness to it that makes it unpleasant.

You can buy all three of these beers at La Belga.