Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan @ Chumash Casino Resort, March 11, 2010

[DwightMcCann]

Another wondrous Latin performance at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, on March 11. I didn't understand a word spoken by anyone all night but the crowd was enthusiastic and very participatory. This group has been in continuous existence for well over 100 years, passing from father to son.

#1 Obligatory Collage
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/MariachiVargas2010/fullsize/MariachiVargasCollage-1024.jpg

#2 Between the sombrero, instrument and microphone stand I found getting clean images a bit of a challenge.
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/MariachiVargas2010/fullsize/MariachiVargas003.jpg

#3 And they were so crowded on stage that it was hard to get everyone fully presented.
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/MariachiVargas2010/fullsize/MariachiVargas007.jpg

#4 This image shows most of the Samala Room with the two big screens up front.
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/MariachiVargas2010/fullsize/MariachiVargas008.jpg

#5 In this group, while there are a few "stars" who get a bit more microphone time, virtually everyone is spotlighted one or more times.
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/MariachiVargas2010/fullsize/MariachiVargas015.jpg

#6
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/MariachiVargas2010/fullsize/MariachiVargas016.jpg

#7
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/MariachiVargas2010/fullsize/MariachiVargas051.jpg

#8 And one from back stage.
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/MariachiVargas2010/fullsize/MariachiVargas058.jpg

There are several more in the gallery on my website for you listening pleasure at http://dwightmccann.com/ChumashCasinoResort/MariachiVargas2010.html.

[skifurthur]

Interesting set, Dwight. It's nice to see the wide shots that give some scope as to how many musicians are on stage at once. Of course that casino lighting is aces...even on the sides. The single shots are solid but lacking some emotion but I'm sure that is a direct result of the genre. I'm pretty sure there aren't too many screaming/thrashing mariachi bands out there.

It's a pity that the side stage shot has the one pulled back wing curtain in it. If some detail could be post processed out of the RAW I think it might work a little better. Right now the curtain is just a black blob that distracts from what I think is the most interesting shot.

[DwightMcCann]

With a fiddle pulled up to chin it's hard to get the same kind of emotion that sometimes occurs with the guitarists, no doubt. As for that curtain, it is actually there to block the view of the monitor board on stage ... I normally don't shoot from there.