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Welcome to Tijuana

August 14th, 2007 · Posted by Skuds in Music · 2 Comments · Music

Welcome to Tijuana
Tequila, sex and marijuana”

With a new album about to be released, and a visit to Britain scheduled for October, the media are starting to show some interest in Manu Chao again. I have seen two articles/interviews already this week, but can’t help adding a comment or two myself.

Its almost a cliche now to say that Manu Chao is big all over the World but very much a minority interest in Britain. Even the Americans seem to be getting into him, judging by the reception the Radio Bemba Sound System have been getting at festivals across the US.

But Manu Chao is more than just a popular musician. He is a global citizen, and a true rebel. Back when he was in Mano Negra there were accusations that they were a French rip-off of the Clash, but long after most of the British punks have given up or sold out he is living the life more than they ever did.

He has toured extensively in South America, travelling by train or by ship – sailing into a port and playing a show on the cargo deck. The band travel to G8 summit venues to join the crowds. Although they play some marathon concerts you still stand a good chance of finding the band busking in the street to entertain the queue beforehand. I don’t think it is exaggerating to say that he has been capturing the imaginations of working people around the world in the same way Bob Marley did.

In the same way as Baaba Maal will charge top-dollar to British and American concertgoers and CD-buyers and then go home and play all-night free concerts for villages back home in Mali, Manu Chao is happy to let shows like Brixton and Texas subsidise tours of South American mining villages where the locals wouldn’t earn enough in a week to buy a ticket for the Brixton Academy, and between tours he can be found jamming in his local bars in Barcelona or Brazil.

All very worthy – there are other people who go out and treat the poor in developing countries as equals, but how many of them rock like fuck? A Manu Chao concert is one of the most exciting places you could ever find yourself, and if I don’t find myself in the Brixton Academy on Oct 4th or 5th I shall be gutted.

I expect to be unbearably excited for the next couple of months.

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2 Comments so far ↓

  • skud's sister

    We were listening to Clandestino on the way down to Banbury to the Cropredy Festival.Talking of the press crawling out of the woodwork though – did you see the Guardian article about Fairport at the beginning of August? Even spookier was hearing Virgin radio advertising the forthcoming Rush tour! (The whole world is turning into Rob…..)

  • Skuds

    Thats a scary thought. Mind you, I wouldn’t mind turning into Rob if it meant my iRiver 20Gb would turn into a 40Gb.