A musica visit and 4 pm concerts.

This afternoon I dropped by Meraki’s, one of my favorite music venues in Ajijic, to see what the lineup is next week.  I was curious because a popular jazz/pop/rock singer from LA is visiting next week and I wanted to find out who is playing where so I could introduce her to the local music community. 

Meraki’s is Ajijic’s most popular pop music venue -where the cool kids go.  The owner, Joel, books hot young bands and artists who play original pop and rock music and some Mexican music along with covers, while many other venues are booking bands that play oldies for the retired expat crowd. Being an old expat, but far from retired, I enjoy both of them.  But for socializing with a young Chicana singer who has toured with Grammy winners and has over a million streams on Spotify, I am leaning toward pop and jazz places to give her a taste of the hot music scene in Lake Chapala.

Unfortunately, apparently that taste of the music scene will start at 4 pm in the afternoon. 

Yep, that is what Joel, the owner ,told me – come in at 4 pm. Are you serious?  I know artists who are just getting up at 4 pm!

Because the Governor of Jalisco pushed the Red Button last week and enacted stringent Covid restrictions, venues have to close by 8 pm and most venues close before 8 pm so their staff can catch the buses, which stop running at 8 pm. Some venues are kicking things off at 5 or 5:30, others prefer 4 p.m.  To me it’s a little early.  Actually, what is early is shutting down and going home at 8 pm.  The bars are closed too, so the town is deserted until morning.

I think the solution here is to go to afternoon concerts to see the local bands in action, have early dinners to finish up when the venues close at 7:30 or 8, and then move the (small, Covid-safe) party to my house for tequila and conversation afterwards in the evening.  Should not be difficult to gather musicas at my house after 8, pm because they will have either finished up playing or not have been booked in the first place because of the Red Button.

 I will let you know how it all works and include, along with photos of the 4 pm concerts.

Featured image: Oceana Sun and Gilberto Rios on base at Meraki’s (photo: Patrick)

Patrick O’Heffernan