Upcoming weekends, January 31st thru February 8th
The music scene in Tijuana is steadily growing. Despite that the audience is not easily won and they are cheap, but playing in TJ has a certain prestige. It is almost like unlocking an achievement in a band’s career. A show south of the border means that a band has gone international and survived the insanity of the city. TJ is a great resume builder for upcoming bands, if you succeed to make the crowd rock.
All shows are free of charge unless otherwise indicated.
Friday, January 31st – Saturday, February 1st
El Tigre Bar is hosting a night of hip-hop… in Spanglish. Presenting local rappers Danee & Friends, fresh rhymes inspired by the beaches of Cali. Subheads a promising next big thing in TJ and Sikareo Achedosele who claims to be the best local beat-boxer. Sopitas con huevo (soup with egg) might be the stupidest name in history, but this is a large crew of talented freestyle flowers. DJ Tijuas and MikeOld will be spinning the records for open-mic freestyle battles. And the party does not end there, after the show everyone is invited to the store Sexy Homie with free carne asada until the sun rises.
Hip hop not your thing? TJ Art & Rock Cafe is hosting hardcore band from San Diego, Age of Collapse. The show is benefit of Areli, a friend of the bar who got diagnosed with cancer, cover charge is $4. Other hardcore bands from Tijuana will also make an appearance, BioCrisis, Fractal, Escasez, Verbal Desecration and Tijuana Suicida.
Rather just dance instead of listening to musicians attempting to freestyle or hardcore singers shouting into microphones? Mous-tache bar is the answer. Phantoms are two 23-year-olds under Sonny “Skrillex” Moore’s label, OWSLA. The pair plays catchy beats with a touch of dark chord progressions that reminiscences raves from a decade ago. usually avoid the limelight but their sound is rapidly gaining popularity which might push them out from the underground. Inspired by anime, Warm Places plays electro-pop with female vocal samples that takes you exactly where it intends, to a sunny day at the beach. DJs ReneMonkey and Hein E. Shuriken will be warming up the dance floor.
Saturday night, does not promise much excitement. Mous-tache will continue playing music to make you dance with less known DJs Modul 01, Mad Waves and Jose Luis M. YouRevolution will offer an alternative to your dance needs with more DJs Jesse Suun, Alfonso Alvarez, Red.S, and Oskar Rodrik.
February 6th-8th
Thursdays in Plaza Fiesta can get pretty wild with the variety of bars neighboring each other. A bar that resembles a prison will have a show featuring new band Represión, the popular punk rockers, DFMK and in case you missed their show at the Casbah, Bumbklaatt will be the headliner.
“Guess who we are opening for on Friday?” Edgard Collins, the bass player of San Pedro el Cortez tells me with a radiant smile. “Mother!@%ing Japanther! You know them right? They are from New York.” Of course I know who Japanther is, I saw them live in 2009 at FYF in Los Angeles. And now Mous-Tache promises a night of psychedelic rock and noise-pop with a not-so-secret special guest appearance. There’s other bands that will be crossing the border as well, from San Francisco Sweatlodge will be playing their “pow wow punk.” White Night from Los Angeles, will continue with sloppy yet tasty riffs. Los Adictos Violentos from Mexicali and San Pedro el Cortez will be in charge of showcasing local Baja talent. Cost of the show = $2.50
A very tough act to follow the next night, but local indie rock bands will show up to Mous-Tache. A show debut by Syrup… they have no recorded music yet. Los Fancy Bastards will follow before the headline, Deer Dear, who celebrate their 2nd year anniversary since their first show. El Tigre bar in Plaza Fiesta will host The Cardielles from San Diego with local bands The End, Origami Zoo and Toloache.
Tijuana Adventure 