muse on walkabout: July 2009

That was what was printed on the cute black concert tee shirts they handed out at the entrance.It epitomized the Mexican spirit of resilience and their special brand of joie de vivre.

Our night out started at 5.30pm when we joined some Mexican friends in a line to enter the concert area – actually there were 2 lines, one for men and the other for women (which moved far slower as there were more bags to search at the entrance and I suspect there were slightly more women at the concert given the artist lineup). After going from bar to bar searching out a wine bottle opener and some plastic cups we started our fiesta in the line, pouring a cup or two for the kind souls who let us into the line just in front of them. We had 3 bottles between us and unfortunately had to lose the last unfinished one and the corkscrew at the bag check.

When we finally made it through the gates (the wine and cheese helped dull any impatience and we were quite pink-cheeked and merry by the time we were through), the atmosphere was electric. Party boats dotted the water all along the Bay as they got as close as possible to the stage. The sky was dark and looming and it didn’t take long for the rain to pour down on us. I had a poncho in my bag but it was impossible to get to in the mosh pit, so I stood in my tank top and shorts with my friends and the entire population of Puerto Vallarta getting absolutely drenched. It was invigorating! I think the wine helped keep us warm for a bit.

We had to wait quite some time before the concert actually started. But I didn’t mind, in the rain, in the steamy sandwich of armpit to cheek to shoulder to chest, my mind trailed off to that summer in Glastonbury. It was where I met you. You who could make an electric guitar sing like Satch could. I was barely twenty, and you were just twenty four. But your green eyes held more truth for me than the Holy Bible did at that time. And they saw only me. Even though we were right next to a bunch of models from Holland frolicking in the mud. We talked, and drank, and laughed, and shared our brief lives in that one afternoon. And when the rain came, you kissed me.

I was snapped out of my reverie when the crowd surged and moved as one ant colony towards the front of the stage. No empuje! No pushing! As people were getting slammed into each other.I laughed as it hadn’t stopped raining and I was right royally soaked. I put on my black concert tee to warm up a little. Then, Alejandro Fernandez finally appeared on stage after a couple of passes in a helicopter overhead. The crowd went crazy! Tonight I could see why, this man in the flesh is even larger than life! He looked a little older than when I’d seen him in my favourite music video, which I found sexier, more interesting. But then I always did have a bias for older men.

It wasn’t typically my sort of music for a concert as I usually lean to the rock, blues, folk rock, alternative genres, but you can’t be in Jalisco and not love Alejandro. It was a great party on stage where he sang with friends and fellow artists Gian Marco, Maria Jose, amongst others.And I came away at the end finally donned in the poncho, thinking what a night!