Johnny Farina concerts in Mexico City

Jim Phelps · From: Mexico City, Mexico

Just got home from the Saturday night show and thought I'd give a little report.

Johnny played his blond '56 Fender Stringmaster to a full house on both Friday and Saturday nights at the sports auditorium in Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico.

The band consisted of keyboards, bass guitar, drums (trap set), a conga/percussionist, an electric guitarist (yours truly) and of course Johnny Farina.

Johnny sent charts down for the musicians a few weeks in advance and the band was amazingly tight even during the first rehearsal. Before the rehearsal I'd never even met the other musicians, but they were all first-rate.

Besides following the arrangements on the charts, the guys were also great at following along when Johnny would decide to add-in another verse or chorus to a song on the spur of the moment. Johnny gave us all many chances to cut loose, everyone in the band got a solo in several songs, including the conga player, who was the best I've seen yet on congas.

The event was not without a few glitches; during the rehearsal on Thursday, the Fender Twin Reverb supplied by a local equipment rental shop was D.O.A. No power, no nothing. I was going to use my old Lab Series L5 w/JBL's but in order not to lose any of our scheduled rehearsal time, we set my amp up for Johnny to use and I went direct into the board for the rehearsal while we waited for the replacement amp.

It arrived and at least the jewel light came on with the power, but then we flicked the Standby switch up and the jewel light went out, the amp was dead. They tried other fuses and of course nothing worked.

The amp "tech" even suggested maybe it was my guitar's fault, as we had my Strat plugged in to test the amp! I told him there's no WAY. Besides, they blew with Johnny's steel plugged into them, we plugged my Strat in afterwards when he asked to try it again.

We finished the rehearsal with me direct and Johnny using the Lab, which by the way he ended up liking. The amp supplier said he'd bring another Twin on Friday.

We went home and brought back my '68 Fender Bandmaster for the Friday show, just in case the next Twin was also a dud. We'll never know, because the jerk never showed up with it. We did both Friday and Saturday shows with me using the Bandmaster and Johnny using the Lab.

The crowd was enthusiastic and responsive, interupting the show several times with applause, standing ovations and shouts of "we love you Johnny!" and it's obvious they really do. He wowed them with his unique style and energetic stage presence. I can't even play guitar and move the way he does while playing his steel.

There were several Mexican celebrities and "name" bands in the audience that came to see Johnny.

The steel guitar is known in Mexico only because of two people, Santo and Johnny Farina.

Johnny will be releasing his CDs here soon and has been approached to do several more shows in Mexico in the very near future.

Who knows, maybe it could result in another hit and new popularity for the steel guitar... sure would like to see that, not just here but in the U.S. too.

The concerts were a big success, Johnny was pleased with the crowds, their reponse and with us "musicos" who backed him up and plans to use us again for any other shows. I'll be there.

Our friend and fellow forumite Kiyoshi Osawa was in attendance for both shows and was kind enough to take Johnny, his lovely wife Rosemary, myself and my wife, our friend Gonzalo Loranca and his family and others back to his studio after the show for pizzas and a little birthday party for me, as Friday night was also my birthday. I never expected all these wonderful people and Johnny and Rosemary Farina would be singing Happy Birthday to me!

Many thanks to Kiyoshi and Daniela for allowing us all into their beautiful studio, and to Gonzalo for instigating my after-show-birthday party, as well as for organizing every detail of Johnny's shows and giving me the guitarist's chair.

Here's a photo of the Friday night show, sorry it's in black and white, my sister-in-law took the photo and bumped the mode button on the digital camera. We have more photos (that should be in color) but haven't gotten them downloaded yet, will look through them soon and post anything better than this one.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 21 August 2005 at 01:19 AM.]

Jon Zimmerman · From: California, USA

Los canciones de mi Jeffe! What an ordeal to go thru w/amp fartouts, but worth every minute, I'm sure...have fun with the celebrez famosas (sp?), Jim. JZ

Lyle Clary · From: Decatur, Illinois, KC9VCB

Too bad Johnny did not have his white suit on like he did in Decatur Illinois 2 weeks ago. He would have really stood out in that picture. We really enjoyed his show being backed up by our friends including Tim Wallis,Buddy "Love" Eaton, Gary Warnick, and the bass player whose name escapes this 65 year old brain.

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1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10, 1981 Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow, custom enclosure

Lyle Clary · From: Decatur, Illinois, KC9VCB

oops
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1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10, 1981 Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow, custom enclosure

[This message was edited by Lyle Clary on 21 August 2005 at 03:44 PM.]

Kiyoshi Osawa · From: Mexico City, Mexico

Johnny, Me, Jim, and Gonzalo:

Stay tuned to the steel guitar podcast for an exclusive interview with Johnny Farina! You guys won't believe the wierd stories he shared with us friday night!
http://podcast.chinocochino.net

(he wore the white suit on saturday BTW, but I didn't take my camera that day.)

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Williams Keyless U12

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Sounds like a great show, a great time, and a great evening. Nice to see forum members in other parts of the world getting together and keeping it together.

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Jim. Great news.

I remember your struggles to get a gig and you get one like this.

Hopefully it will pave tyhe way for more.

Congrats.

EJL

Jim Phelps · From: Mexico City, Mexico

Thanks guys. Johnny is flying back to the U.S. today, but it looks like he'll be coming back here for a series of shows quite soon.

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