VL mini review: Julieta Venegas in San Francisco

Mon20Nov2006

VL mini review: Julieta Venegas in San Francisco

13:01 H | Topics: Events - Music - San Francisco

VL (I) had the opportunity to see Julieta Venegas in concert last night at San Francisco's Fillmore Theatre. Since no one invited us as press, I decided to attend the sold-out show as a "civilian" since I adore the Julieta. Unfortunately, no cameras were allowed so I don't have any great pics. I wouldn't have anyway, since I am only 5'2" and the stage was rushed by some of the tallest Latinos I've ever seen in my life, impeding my view of what was a really good show. Fortunately, however, a kind reader named Brian has donated his photos, one of which is featured here.

I planned on getting to the place late and deliberately missing the opening band, Los Abandoned from Van Nuys, California. Not because I had heard bad things, but because I just felt like cutting to the chase. That didn't happen, and I am really glad it didn't, as I LOVED Los Abandoned. They are a punk/surf/pop (this is what they sounds like to me, no idea what they are supposed to sound like to everyone else) girl-led outfit who sing in both Spanish and English.

When Los Abandoned took the stage the energy was instant, as the lead singer, a cute woman decked out in spandex and sequins bounced, leaped, sprang around the stage and got the crowd excited. She was totally spastic and bizarre and wonderful. The contrast between her weird movements and facial expressions and the sober coolness of the other band members made for an entertaining visual. And the singer is not just a pretty face/voice. She played a three instruments during the performance, one of which was a ukelele.

Los Abandoned (I had never heard of them and have deliberately not sought information about them to write this so as to not influence this mini review) won me over with an amusing song; the chorus was "I didn't mean to stalk you" (boy, do I know that feeling) then I was 100% sold when the vocalist sang another about how she's hated all over the world...in Chile, Spain, France, etc. (boy, do I know that feeling). Original, authentic and delightful, highly recommended.

As for cutting to the chase, in the wait for Julieta to come on, I observed the varied crowd: a room full of Latino young people, white hipsters and Mexicans. Julieta's appeal is wide I guess.
I remember back when her first album came out I was living in Mexico and everyone around me despised it, calling it "fake alternative pop". Little did any of us know she'd make such a splash outside of Mexico.

Before attending this show, I kind of already knew what I was getting into. Julieta is a favorite of mine, but I can't say she has the most dynamic stage presence. So, I wasn't expecting much more than a simple standing on the stage and playing the accordion. I wasn't disappointed; that is, that's exactly what I expected and what I got. The contrast between Los Abandoned's crazy ass display and Julieta's muted perfomance was sharp, but not disappointing. That's Julieta.

She did groove it up a little as the show progressed. First she sang some older songs and there were some duller moments in which you could really only appreciate her voice. She did some very awkward hippie dances when she sang Limón y sal, and ended with a great performance of Me voy. The crowd wanted more, the cries of "otra! otra!" were heeded (of course) and then came the best part of the show. Julieta totally kicked it up and busted out with her cover of Los Rodriguez's Sin Documentos which got everyone (for the first time, really) dancing, followed by Los Tigres' Jaula de oro (which she prefaced with a message to all present that Mexicans in Mexico don't forget the Mexicans in the U.S. who have come over to have a better life -- best performance of the night) and the grand finale: Andar conmigo in which a cute little guy was offered the chance to share the stage with her in a duet, then promptly removed by the Fillmore's security team.

Conclusion: Great show, Los Abandoned rule, Julieta is Julieta is Julieta.

Fore more info on Los Abandoned, check out their site.

For Julieta Venegas tour dates, have a look at her MySpace profile.

Images via VL reader Brian's Mac photo album and LosAbandoned.com

Jennifer

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1. Maegan la Mala ~ Monday, Nov 20 2006 | 16:08H:

I am tres jealous mujer. I actually have been keeping my eye on los abandonded for a bit and love them and would have loved to see them live. As for Julieta. I like her older stuff more than her poppier new stuff although she really does seem like a sweetheart from what I could tell from the Latin Grammy Awards. And I would have loved to hear her version of Sin Documentos- it's a song I love to begin with...

2. Brian ~ Monday, Nov 20 2006 | 18:59H:

I just googled (news) Julieta looking for a review of her show last night and came upon this and only this. Not even sfgate had anything. What a pity the local press wasn't in on the Juli phenomenon. I was one of the minority gringo "hipsters" there last night and I've never felt more privileged to attend a show of this caliber. My wife and I recently discovered Julieta and rapidly fell under her spell. I think the exact moment was watching her perform on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic while touring for "Si". What an amazing talent! She's got an incredible knack for creating hooks that either Prince or Lennon & McCartney would die for all the while representing her Baja CA roots. She had us and the crowd in the palm of her hands once the first chords of the first song "Canciones de amor" chimed. Basically, it was like one long sing-along without the campfire. I believe there was only one song I didn't recognize...something about "A callarse" but I'm not certain of that title as my Spanish is rusty. Would love a set-list at some point but beggars can't be choosers. Anyway, enough gushing. Julieta was Julieta and that's just "cojonudo" in my humble opinion.

The warm-up band "Los Abandoned" rocked out. I expected to just want their act to end quickly anticipating Julieta, but their energy, especially the lead singer's, was contagious. No easy task to open a show like this where everyone's dying to see La Juli...

I've got some photos but not sure how to publish them here or even if it's possible.

3. Jennifer Woodard Maderazo ~ Monday, Nov 20 2006 | 19:56H:

Brian,

Thanks so much for your comments. I, too, was surprised that local press gave her show -- sold out and at a high-profile venue -- zero coverage.

We'd love to publish your photos; email them to press @ vivirlatino dot com.

Jennifer

4. Brian ~ Monday, Nov 20 2006 | 21:16H:

Glad to add my two cents worth. Perhaps the local press (you'd expect the Bay Guardian at the very least to have something) will publish something in the next day or so.

I just sent the photos as a link to my iWeb site http://web.mac.com/brianklockhart57 so you can decide if they are worthy. I struggled a bit with an average point & shoot Kodak. Especially difficult not being able to use the flash. Julieta (and her band) deserves better.

Brian

5. Jennifer Woodard Maderazo ~ Tuesday, Nov 21 2006 | 00:15H:

Very worthy. So worthy that I've replaced the original photo with one of yours. At least (unlike me) you weren't too chicken to sneak in a camera. I guess I wouldn't make much of a reporter...

6. Brian ~ Tuesday, Nov 21 2006 | 02:19H:

Whoa. Very cool of you to put up that photo. It was my favorite of the bunch to be sure, too. And just for your information, bringing in a camera was OK just so long as you agreed to NOT use flash or video. I saw a couple of Fillmore floor guys get nasty with an enthusiast or two breaking the rules.

I must admit to breaking the latter rule for about 30 seconds or so on a couple of songs, but the audio quality is MALO, MALO Y MAS MALO. O sea, muy malo...I'll upload a sample to my site so you can see and hear it for yourself if you'd like. It does capture some of Juli's "duende", though. The KCRW clip is the real deal in the end. Just magic stuff. There I go gushing again...

From what I just saw on your Flickr site, I'm sure you would have managed to get some great shots, lanky Latino men rushing and obstructing the stage or not. Somehow you don't strike me as "chicken"!

Thanks again for publishing my picture. I'm honored.

7. cindylu ~ Tuesday, Nov 21 2006 | 06:59H:

I missed both her LA show ('cause I was in Berkeley) and her SF show ('cause I had already returned to LA). I was super jealous when I talked to some friends who were attending the Sunday night show. I thought they'd be getting posters since the Fillmore is known for that. I'm happy they/you didn't. It makes me feel less crappy about missing both shows.

I saw her in July in a much too-short show; she opened up for Maldita Vecindad and apparently was in a bad mood because she didn't want to open for anyone.

The best song of the evening then was La Jaula de Oro. I like most of her covers, but that one is my favorite. It's such a powerful song and she sings it so beautifully.

Sigh. Still jealous I missed the show.

VivirLatino