Live Music - Javiera Parra at Liguria

I'm that jerk who goes to concerts without even knowing who the band is, I can't sing along like everyone else can but then suddenly I become a fanatic and steal all their music off torrents. It's happened way too many times, like with LCD Sound System, Built to Spill, Gogol Bordello, etc. One exception is Alvaro Henríquez, specifically Los Tres, who was kept at a safe distance a continent away from me so I had to listen to his music for two years before being able to see him live last year on a Thursday at 9PM at the Liguria Bar in Providencia, Santiago, Chile.

There's definitely an extra thrill to knowing the songs, and then seeing them performed live. But even then I couldn't sing along because the fucking lyrics were in Spanish and I had to realize then that despite "knowing" the music I didn't actually even know what the songs were saying. Still though, great show.

And despite having my cherry popped last year at Liguria, I'd have to say that program-wise this year blows last year out of the guater because this year not only did Alvaro Henríquez reappear with his band, Los Tres (last year was just him and some hired lounge musicians,
as I recall) but in doing so he kicked off a whole series of shows at the same bat place, same bat day and time every few weeks. Since then Los Bunkers - which I showed incredible restraint and didn't go to - and this Thursday night almost didn't go see Javiera Parra but at the last minute buckled: Javiera y los Imposibles y I don't regret it.

This was kinda like a discovery with a twist, a re-discovery because I'd heard one of her albums and decided I didn't like it, I'd written her off as, to borrow a Chilean term, light. I kinda suspected she was one of those blond Chileans. As the show began, I immediately realized that her music was full of, as a Chilean would say, feeling, and that she was actually delivering a very powerful performance, as one Chilean described it.

I'm not sure if you'll become a fan just by listening to an album of hers, but I'm definitely converted after seeing her live. Javiera Parra is the granddaughter of Violeta Parra, who sang "Gracias a la Vida" which was picked up by Joan Baez and Roberta Flack, among others. Unhindered by space and time, the recordings of Violeta effect a slight paralysis or loss of breath, kinda similar to the way music that brings-back-memories does, but in Violeta's case it's not so much the evocation of memories but rather the directness of that powerful feeling. I think her North American counterpart would be Johnny Cash; both wrench their songs out of folklore and the wild American landscape and pierce directly into the listeners' innate historical consciousness.

It runs in the Parra family. A few weeks ago when I saw her grandson, Ángel Parra, with Los Tres at Liguria I felt something similar as he played what's objectively a standard lick but he pulled out this feeling that borders on religious. Javiera cranks up the echo effect and belts out her lyrics, seriously blew me away.



I have no fucking clue what she's saying, but it doesn't matter. (Sidenote: I apologize for the YouTube amateurism of the video I made, and also note that I'm fully aware that, per YouTube's TOS, I'm going to Hell for helping promote a musician).

That's actually, in some ways, a nice thing about Chile, how they're generally not so anal about intellectual property rights. I will prosecute if I find anyone copying my content without my permission, but it's nice to know that when I employ fair use to the benefit of everyone, I'll only go to Hell, not jail.

In general, the live music scene in Santiago, Chile sucks dick. Which is why this series of totally Chilean, live music at Liguria is such good and extraordinary news. And if this was your special secret that you think I'm spoiling then get over it. Last night I heard a shitload of English being spoken, in both North American and European accents. The cat's outta the bag. And if you want my honest opinion it really wasn't crowded enough for my taste. I prefer a critical mass that ripples out to the other end of the room when you bump into it, not just you knocking somebody over by accident, although don't expect to get that drunk, piscola is $7 for instance. Although I forgot to mention, these shows are FREE.



Javiera Parra, again, a really great show and a great fixture on the nearly non-existent live music scene in Santiago, Chile. There were a couple nice interludes, with Alvaro Henríquez showing up for a song (there's some Chilean celebrity gossip trivia for you) as well as a cellist.



When she heaved her whole act up on stage and Javiera introduced her and someone in the balcony yelled "MINA RICA!!!" which was pretty funny although I can't quite say I agree. That said, she probably would have grown on me if she'd been given enough time but Javiera - who herself took a while to grow on me - is no fool and so she booted the cellist off the stage after only one song. Even during that song she wasn't having any of it, here she is blocking out my view of the cellist and blowing me a kiss:



Smart cookie. I'll probably buy a CD now or something.