OK, OK, maybe it’s not what you see on American Idol. Maybe it’s not what you hear on radio. Maybe the rappers and the hip-hoppers would roll over laughing when these guys walk in the door, especially since they will be dressed like Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase in The Three Amigos. But it is fun! A lot of fun. If you are not smiling when a good mariachi band finishes a set, you may as well go home because you’re not going to provide much amusement for anyone anyway.

Last night we saw the La Fiesta mariachi band in Cape Canaveral, and they were amazing. It’s not the first time we’ve heard them, and we will make it a point to hear them again. Songs like “La Bamba,” “Tijuana Taxi,” “Cuando Caliente el Sol,” “Besame Mucho,” “Tequilla,” and so many more flooded the small restaurant formerly known as the Moonhut. If you get a chance to hear them, you should.

There is some debate about the derivation of mariachi music. There appear to be French, colonial American, and prominent Mexican and Spanish influences. But some musical aspects seem to be always present. A mariachi band will generally include a classical guitar, one or more violins, a vihuela (high pitched five-string guitar), one or more trumpets, and always a guitarron (a large acoustic bass). Also, I’ve never heard a mariachi band that couldn’t combine voices powerfully yet sweetly. Oh yeah, don’t worry about not being near the band. They are going to come strolling over to your table, and you will have an up-close and personal experience.

And for a little while, everyone will be happy – the owner, the cash-register operator, the wait staff, the cooks, the people packed around every available table and tucked into every available booth. Even those waiting for a seat, will tap their toes and sing along. And, you know, that’s what good music ought to do. – Bob Tatum

Sound Traveler will be playing in Port Canaveral this coming Saturday, and we will be visiting the Will McLean Music Festival next weekend. Check our schedule for details. Also check our Facebook site. Click on the Facebook icon on this page for easy access.

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2 Comments to “SongTravelin’: 03.02.11 Moonhut Mariachi Madness!”

• March 2, 2011 at 10:28 am
  jacques says:

  Mariachi actually comes from the French word for “marriage,” and it was originally used for wedding receptions. The form of music became popular in the southwestern sections of the US and northern parts of Mexico. This is probably where it took on so many Spanish influences.
• March 3, 2011 at 2:12 pm
  Patty says:

  One of my favorite things to do at Epcot is visit the Mexican pavillion when their mariachi band is playing. They are truly top-notch musicians. I’ve always enjoyed the energy of the mariachi style. Although I’ve never had the chance to join or sit in with a mariachi band, I’d love to try it. They may not think a chick would fit in with the machismo groove, but I’d give it a shot.