Thanks to Chris.
Just came back from the TOG show at the Martini
Lounge. The show went over really well after things got off to a
slooowww start. Originally, load-in was scheduled for 7.30pm -
only no soundman or club personnel showed up until after 8, and
the band was supposed to go on at 8.30 at the latest! So the
whole Tribe and a bunch of their friends got a little sidewalk
party happening right there on the spot. It's a good thing none
of the black-and-whites cruising Melrose bothered to investigate
the commotion...Delays aside, the whole set kicked serious butt
even though the guys didn't get a soundcheck or linecheck, and
the crowd absolutely loved it!
"Revolucion 13" and "Firedance" got things going
in a hurry, and a sizzling "En Mi Barrio" took it up another
notch. It was loud as hell, but the mix was actually surprisingly
good - even Ray's keys were right there when it counted. Up next
was "Landslide" - a premiere of sorts as it had never been played
live with Juan and Jorge in the band. The "Love! Hate!" crescendo
at the end was incredible and the guys managed to end in unison -
almost anyway :-) The soothing "Spanish Blue" was the perfect
counterpoint after all the madness, climaxing in one of those
soul stirring guitar journeys Roy Z is famous for. In the words
of Jim Carrey: Schmo-king! "Summer Rain" picked up the pace quite
nicely before the boys minus Gregg got down instrumentally and
delivered a wicked "Atzlan". Then it was "Party" time! A longtime
crowd pleaser, this one really got the place rockin' and gave
Elvis, Mario, Jorge, and Juan an opportunity to show off some of
their killer chops.
Just when it seemed things couldn't get any
hotter, Rey Oropeza from Downset got up on the tiny stage and
together with the Tribe delivered a shit heavy in-yer-face
version of "What's Up?", which went over BIG TIME! Needless to
say, the crowd wasn't about to let the band go without an encore
even though the soundman signalled that the time was up. Not
tonight. The place got real loud in an instant with chants of
"T-O-G! T-O-G!" filling the room, and the guys pulled out an
oldie-but-goodie, "Superstitious" (it was Friday the 13th after
all...), and brought things to a close in classic fashion.