Flamenco at la Clac; MORE COWBELL
Flamenco round II. After classes I walked to Av. De Mayo and reserved a table at La Clac for the 12:30 show. Andrea and Sophia met me around 10:30.
Memorbilia and kitch cover the yellow walls of the Clacs. In dull company the eyes can wander onto peculiar nick knacks mounted at around the room. After dinner we funneled downstairs to the stage.
The show had an untraditional twist. A full figured big haired Latina diva dominated the stage. Her voice and musical style had little connection with Flamenco, she would have seemed more natural singing pop. I enjoy fusions all the same but her performance seemed greedy. She hogged the stage and tried to out do the other performers. To put it mildly she acted and over sensually, sigh and moaning. My patience thinned even more when she busted out the cowbell. I wanted to shout “more cowbell”.
Will Farell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mie9hhQTUM
At one point 8 performers filled the stage, including Romero. I have now been to 4 of his shows. He has a sort of quite confidence that even a squealing diva can’t compete with. He is humble but could easily perform solo. At one point he played a duet with a young guitarist from Cuba; by far the high light of the show.
Some of the other performers faded into the background; the creepy flutist, the drummer concealed by the singers massive hips. And the poor dancer who scarcely got to warm up. She took the stage twice before “la reina” felt threatened and began mimicking flamenco moves.
The night felt quite comical to my group. We had argued with the waitress over the bill for misquoting our meal. During the show we each sat behind unique characters who blocked our view. Sophia sat behind an impossibly large woman in leopard. While Andrea and I sat behind an older couple. The woman danced in her seat uncontrollably, bobbing and weaving and clapping her hands sin rhythm. Her husband in contrast was a tall old ghost with white hair. He sat like stone and did not move the entire show;” Like a broom”
We walked home and had a good laugh about the evening. I finished my night by drinking a big bottle of water and watching the SNL cowbell skit.
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