First off, the sonic dissonance was overwhelming, at least during the moments when music was being played at multiple stages, and blaring out of a DJ booth in a sponsor's tent. This is one thing I've noticed at a few festivals lately, you are trying to listen to one band and the sound's a bit off, then you realize it's because there is another band starting to play across the way on another stage. (Note to festival organizers, if you are going to have multiple stages, point them away from each other or put some sort of sound barrier between them!)
As I walked around, it appeared everyone was having fun, families taking their kids to ride amusement park-type rides, teenagers watching the stunt bicyclists do tricks off of ramps and checking each other out, and everybody passing by the main stage(s) to listen to music.
Monster Energy Drink biker doing a stunt-
One group that wasn't happy, it appeared, were the bands. The main stage was set up with two stages side by side, so that, ostensibly, while one band was performing, the sound guys could change out the other stage and prepare for the next performance. So when Rey Norteno, for example, started playing on the left hand stage, the right side was abuzz with activity. However, the musicians were not pleased when, two songs into their set, the radio DJs rudely cut them off and started talking to the audience. I could tell from my spot next to the stage that the lead singer was pissed, and the band kept playing, until the organizer cut their mics. As someone told me after the event, the first song was spent trying to get the sound right, and just when musicians were getting into a groove in the second song, they were cut off. But the two stage thing wasn't that effective, 10 minutes was not enough time to switch over and there still ended up being a lot of dead time between acts.
Rey Norteno performs briefly-
And for one changeover I witnessed, the switch was not from band to band, but from band to a string of celebrity appearances and proclamations from government officials and sponsors. I was treated to a 30 minute performance by La Chilindrina. If you don't know who that is, she is an adult who dresses up like a child, with pigtails and nerd glasses, and talks in an annoying high-pitched voice on a daytime television show. Her "jokes" weren't funny, and after a few minutes the whole act seemed a little insulting to the audience's intelligence. Not very many people were laughing, even those who could hear the poor sound quality coming from her faulty wireless microphone. By the end, the audience, and especially the young men in the area near me, started calling for MUSIC!
But the organizer decided one celebrity should be topped by another. Carmen Salinas, a telenovela star and singer, came to the stage. Proclamations by city and state officials followed. They let so many media on stage that the cameras surrounded the diminuitive actress, and the crowd couldn't see her to take pictures. So folks started throwing water bottles at the cameramen and shouting for them to get down. Finally Senora Salinas took the mic, told the cameramen to get out of the way and then turned around to tell the politicians they should take heed not to pass a law similar to Arizona's harsh immigration policy in North Carolina and moreover, that they should get rid of the 287(g) program. This lady had spunk!
Carmen Salinas on stage-
I listened to a few more bands, including one called Voluntad Musical that had a lead singer with a pot belly who was tearing it up like James Brown. But finally the heat was too much for me, and I decided to head out.
Voluntad Musical-
Some other observations:
1. Unlike years past, this year the carnaval did feature port-o-johns. Which was lucky, because I did have to pee at one point.
2. I found it a bit tacky that the organizer of the event, Alez Ruiz, performed a set (of many more that 2 songs) with his band. His excuse that he was hoarse (from annoucing celebrities) was a laughable explanation for his lackluster singing performance.
Alex Ruiz performs:
3. I heard through the grapevine that, on a 95 degree day, Mr. Ruiz did not provide any of the performers with water or refreshments.
4. For $10 entry and $10 parking, I'm not sure how much of a good deal this carnaval was, especially since it's in the middle of nowhere.
5. What's the newest thing in cowboy boots? I saw a few guys walking around with these on:
6. Quite a few people showed up, but it is false advertising to claim that this is "la fiesta mas grande de los Estados Unidos." Umm, No.
A view of the crowd-
7. Here are a few of the bands that performed:
Salazar Band-
La Autoridad de la Sierra-
I didn't catch the names of the following groups; if you recognize someone, let me know.
