Singer El Rubio de Pruna, Isabelita Otero, Ginette Perea and guitarist Antonio Rey just outside the stage door at Lisner. February 26, 2009 10:18pm

It's 9-something am on Friday as I type these words. I'm at a loss for words to describe the inspiring performances last night at Lisner by Los Farruco. Those of you went to the same show I did, know what I'm talking about. ;-)

As usual I went backstage to meet the artists (Why? I explain in a previous blog). Anywayz, I got a busy day ahead of me, so the commentary will be minimal. Enjoy!

El Rubio de Pruna, Milagros, Laura, Ximena and Antonio Rey. February 26, 2009 10:21pm

Usually, I'm one of the few people that always goes backstage (my self-appointed duty to represent the DC flamenco community and personally thank the artists). But this time, there were quite a few local flamencos already congregated in front of the green room. So I took pics outside for awhile until the other artists such as Farruco and Farruca came out...

Isabelita, Farruco and Ginette. February 26, 2009 10:35pm

Milagros, Laura, Farruco and Ximena. February 26, 2009 10:36pm

Farruca and Isabel Otero. February 26, 2009 10:37pm

Isabelita, singer Pedro el Granaino, Ginette and singer Mara Rey. February 26, 2009 10:39pm

El Rubio de Pruna, Ginette, guitarist El Tuto and Isabelita. February 26, 2009 10:42pm

El Tuto y Miguelito. February 26, 2009 10:42pm

After meeting the artists, we headed over to Bodega, the usual after-concert hangout for local flamencos. I was starving and unfortunately the kitchen was closed (it was already 11-something pm), so I suggested to my companions that we go to a late night eatery down the street. Later we stopped by Bodega again and discovered, not surprisingly, that a juerga was in progress. By that time, a lot of local flamencos had arrived. I was so tempted to stay but I didn't (seriously needed to catch up on sleep). In any case, I'm sure I'll see a bunch of photos from the juerga soon. Here's one pic that was taken at Bodega:

Milagros, Miguelito and Ximena at Bodega. February 27, 2009 12:32am

Saving the best for last, Los Farruco was the last concert in Lisner Auditorium's 9th Annual Flamenco Festival. Read Sarah Kaufman's review of Los Farruco in today's Washington Post. Can't wait to see what Lisner has in store for the 10th Annual Flamenco Fest!

Coming up this Saturday: Furia Flamenca at the Alden Theatre. I heard that it's nearly sold-out, so if you intend to go, buy your tickets now.

Posted by Miguelito at 8:48 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Ginette dancing soleá. February 6, 2009 8:46pm (photo by Bella)

I know...I was a tad loquacious in the previous two blog entries. So I'm gonna shut up. :-) Here's a nearly commentary-free pictorial for your viewing pleasure. Pics by Bella. Enjoy!

Miguelito, Mateo Romero and Hector Márquez. February 6, 2009 8:54pm (photo by Bella)

Solo de pies (footwork solo). February 6, 2009 8:55pm (photo by Bella)

Here are pics from the following Friday by my friend Gil Méndez.

Checkout our new stage! Thank you Cabanas! February 13, 2009 9:01pm (photo by Gil Méndez)

Ginette. February 13, 2009 9:01pm (photo by Gil Méndez)

Ginette. February 13, 2009 9:03pm (photo by Gil Méndez)

Ginette. February 13, 2009 9:06pm (photo by Gil Méndez)

My volunteer photographer for the evening, Gil Méndez and our Friday night bartender Cheryl. February 13, 2009 10:02pm

The flamenco shows at Cabanas are every Friday. And besides the flamenco, here's another reason to go: they have a new chef who's totally revamped the menu. TIP: the tacos (Michoacan style) are sooo good! Call 202-944-4242 to make a reservation.

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Behzad Habibzai, Cecilia Terrasa, Lenore and John Boulet. February 12, 2009 10:26pm

While the rest of you were watching TV as Slumdog Millionaire dominated the Oscars Sunday night, I was sitting in front of my computer writing this blog.

On Thursday February 12th, Dorantes and Arcángel performed at Lisner Auditorium as part of the 9th Annual Flamenco Festival. If you already know me by now...this is something I always do: go backstage after the show. Why?

1. It's an opportunity to personally thank them for being an inspiration to people like you and I.

In fact, if I can't think of anything else to say, I tell them just that: "Thank you for being an inspiration." (in Spanish of course!) Trust me on this, being a performer myself (of course, nowhere near the level of the Lisner flamenco festival artists!), I always love hearing a member of the audience telling me how my performance (or performances over the years) have affected them in a positive way. And I'm pretty sure the flamenco festival artists feel the same way.

A really good example of this can be found in my blog from a year ago, when my friend Cindy and I went backstage to meet Eva la Yerbabuena.

Dorantes, Miguel Ángel Cortés, Paco de Málaga, Rosario Toledo, Arcángel and Jesús Serrano. Paco and Jesús are the local artists. February 12, 2009 10:31pm

2. To represent. Tell the artists about the local flamenco community.

Shameless self-promotion: thanks to my website, many many people all over the world are aware that there is a flamenco scene in DC. But when I go backstage, I always assume that the artists don't know that we have a constantly growing community of flamenco aficionados, students and performers. Of course, I'm very proud of our local community, but I'm not showing off. My intention is to make the artists aware that here in DC there are people that know and truly appreciate flamenco. One of the benefits is that if the artists know that are serious flamenco students here, next time around, they might consider giving one-day workshops in addition to the performance! What do you think of that?

Pianists comparing hands: Dorantes and Lenore Boulet. February 12, 2009 10:35pm

3. To capture the moment and document history.

You know me: I almost always have my camera with me and take pics of everything and everyone. Years from now, you might ask yourself, "When did Dorantes make his debut in DC?" And all you'd have to do is go to my website and find the answer in my flamenco events archive and even view some backstage photos in my blog. How cool is that?

Did you know that Vicente Amigo made his USA debut in Washington DC? And if it wasn't for me and my blog and relentless pursuit of photographing everything flamenco in DC, how would you figure that out? I can go on and on, but you get the point.

4. To tag along for the after-concert party.

I realize, this is bordering on groupiness, but c'mon, admit it. Wouldn't it be cool to party with the flamenco artists? Or at the very least sit down with them for a few drinks and conversation?

I can remember one time hanging out with Farruquito and his guitarist Raúl Perla after a Lisner concert in 2000 when they were touring with Torombo.

Backstage, I introduced myself to Raúl and interestingly he asked me (sort of like a test) who my favorite guitarists were. So I said, "Vicente Amigo, Tomatito, Gerardo Núñez and Moraíto."

So he seemed convinced that I knew good flamenco and he invited me and these two girls I was with (actually he was probably interested in hanging out with the girls more than with me, haha). So we got on the tour bus and there I was with the Farruco family and Raúl handed me his guitar and told me to play something. Despite my nervousness, they were so supportive with their jaleo as I played a brief bulerías.

Long story short...Farruquito, Perla, the two girls and I ended up spending a few hours in one of the girls apartments just hanging out and enjoying some flamenco, conversation and drinks. Um, yeah, I know...I'm just name-dropping. I'm allowed to do that every now and then. :-)

Anywayz, this Wednesday and Thursday February 25-26, 2009, Lisner Auditorium will be featuring what I believe is the most anticipated concert in this year's Flamenco Festival: Los Farruco. I'll be going to the Thursday night show and you can count on me to go backstage to meet the artists. See you there!

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José Oretea and Ramin Rad. February 11, 2009 10:25pm

It's always been my thing: supporting my fellow artists. And it just so happens that Café Bonaparte is walking distance from my house so I really have no excuse not to go.

I know what you're probably thinking..."Miguelito? Why? You've heard them play many times before." True, but the only way we professional musicians can continue to do what we do is to bring in business. So that's why I'm there: to do my small part to contributing to the business by sitting down at the bar and ordering a few drinks and an appetizer or two. My fellow artists do the same for me too.

José. February 11, 2009 10:26pm

It's Economics 101. Let's face it, from the restaurant's point of view, the purpose of having live entertainment is to attract customers and increase sales. This is not to say that the restaurant doesn't also want to do its part to support the local arts community...I'm sure they do. But if business isn't good, they can't afford live music and the artists end up losing work too.

José and Ramin. February 11, 2009 10:26pm

Being that I'm a fairly well-known person in the DC flamenco community, it's especially important for me to be out there at as many local shows as I can go to (as long as I can afford it, of course). Hopefully through my efforts, I can set an example that we should all go out and support our local artists as much as we can.

Ramin's mixer of choice: PMH3000 by Behringer. February 11, 2009 11:02pm

I'm also the DC flamenco community's self-appointed offical photographer. :-) Funny thing is that I used to get annoyed sometimes when my own Dad would take pics of everything our family did as we grew up. And I probably thought at time, I'm not going to do that. Well guess what? I am just like my Dad! And it's a good thing.

Ramin. February 11, 2009 11:02pm

So yeah, it can get annoying with me showing up everywhere taking pics of everyone and everything. I know. I used to be the one on the other side of the camera growing up. But because of my relentless pursuit of photographically documenting everything flamenco in DC, you now have access to thousands of pics in this blog over the past 8 or 9 years that tells the story (from my point of view) of the DC flamenco community. And hopefully these many pics will entice those of you who don't go out to flamenco shows much.

Miguelito doing palmas with Anna and Isabella. February 11, 2009 11:15pm

So the whole point of my website is to promote the DC flamenco community as well as help that same community keep up with what everyone else is doing. And the whole point of this blog entry is to remind to go out and support your local artists. It's more than that of course. Go out, relax and enjoy yourself, shout an Olé or two. Bring along some friends who have never seen flamenco before.

Us local performers are doing more than just making a buck doing what we love. We're also the ones on the front lines, so to speak, introducing flamenco to people who might wander into Café Bonaparte (or Cafe Citron etc) checking out this curious thing called "flamingo." :-) C'mon admit it: you at one time used to say "flamingo." Don't lie! ;-)

My Armenian friends and fellow flamenco lovers: Isabella, Anna, Gayane and friend. February 11, 2009 11:19pm

We all had our first intro to the flamenco experience and not all of us can say we were in Spain when that happened. For some of us, it was in a local club or restaurant, like Café Bonaparte where they had live entertainment. Can you imagine what your life would be like if you didn't discover flamenco for yourself?

Anywayz, I know times are tough, economically, but if a struggling musician like me can manage to go out at least once a week and checkout one of the local shows, you should be able to the same. And if you are already doing your part, thank you!

PS...yes I'm finally getting backing to blogging again, yay! And psssst!!! Don't forget to come out to one of my flamenco shows at Café Citron on Mondays, Las Tapas on Tuesdays or Cabanas on Fridays!

PPS...the next "Flamenco [actually rumba] Night" at Café Bonaparte will be on Wednesday February 25, 2009 starting at 8:00pm. Call 202-333-8830 to make a reservation.

PPPS...checkout this flashback of Café Bonaparte from a year ago.

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