Where can I find a club with Mexican music?

[caprichos7]

I'm looking for a club with Mexican music...where do locals go? I missed my Playa vacay last year, alot changes in two years.

[beam-eye]

Any particular type/style of Mexican music that you're looking for?

[caprichos7]

any kind...as long as it is not rock en espanol

[rob mackay]

Originally Posted by caprichos7

any kind...as long as it is not rock en espanol

there are a ton of places in playa,,,a ton,,id recommend bad boys and dirty martini,,,you should know where they are located,,,there is a place on 5th around 22 and it has a live band most every night kitxens i think is the name,,,but there are a ton of places

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by rob mackay

there are a ton of places in playa,,,a ton,,id recommend bad boys and dirty martini,,,you should know where they are located,,,there is a place on 5th around 22 and it has a live band most every night kitxens i think is the name,,,but there are a ton of places

Rob. She wants Mexican music.

[rob mackay]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

Rob. She wants Mexican music.

yes and its mexico and music therefore its mexican music,,,,,,right??

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by rob mackay

yes and its mexico and music therefore its mexican music,,,,,,right??

Nope.
Performing "Save a horse, ride a cowboy" in Mexico does not make it Mexican music, but I think you know that.

[rob mackay]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

Nope.
Performing "Save a horse, ride a cowboy" in Mexico does not make it Mexican music, but I think you know that.

but if crazy toy sings it at bad boys and it sounds mexican,,,thats good enuf for me....

[maya]

Originally Posted by rob mackay

but if crazy toy sings it at bad boys and it sounds mexican,,,thats good enuf for me....

is there a club in playa that only plays music in spanish? LOL!

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by rob mackay

there are a ton of places in playa,,,a ton,,id recommend bad boys and dirty martini,,,you should know where they are located,,,there is a place on 5th around 22 and it has a live band most every night kitxens i think is the name,,,but there are a ton of places

Kixten...I think.

My good friends Cindy and Paul are friends with the staff there and love it. I believe the bands there play a lot for locals and so have music with Spanish lyrics.....but I think it is still rock, mostly.


If you mean a local salsa type of place, I imagine you could find those a little farther back off Fifth...

[caprichos7]

Thanks for your responses...just trying to plan ahead. I'll ask my friends once I arrive in Playa; they're from the region and are familiar with the types of music.
Mexican Regional = ranchera, norteno, banda, cumbia, duranguense, etc.

[beam-eye]

Sounds like you know your way around Mexican music - good for you! I like those too. You might also try to find some "bachata" music from the Dominican Republic (a group called "Aventura"). But, sadly, there don't seem to be many bars with Mexican music, live or recorded. Try Las Milpas, bar/restaurant (but I haven't eaten there) on Calle 14 between Avenidas 35 & 40 (take a cab - north side, closer to the 40th Av end of the street) - they have good recorded music (jukebox) of all the types you mention, and often have live singer(s) from about 4 PM - they close at 10 PM. They're loud - you'll need earplugs (available in the watersports area of Walmart, Mega, etc).

If you like Cuban music, try Bodeguita del Medio at Calle 34 and 5th Avenue - not really a "music bar", but a sweet little place that essentially functions like one, good area, and good drinks too - try their real mojito. Strangely enough, the most requested "Mexican" song from the numerous strolling bands that play at the restaurants all along 5th Ave seems to be "Guantanamera", which is a Cuban song (it means "The girl from Guantanamo") - but there you are - what do we gringos know?

Lost among the strolling mariachi blasters along 5th Ave are several of the small 3-man local (Yucatecan) groups dressed all in white with the funny little round straw hats, usually a guitar, harp, and bass, sometimes a marimba - they're very quiet, often drowned-out by the mariachi blasters and other ambient noises, but sweet music if you can find them in a relatively quiet area (like Calle Corezon, the little triangle street at 5th Av between Calles 12 and 14) - don't forget to pay them "per song".

El Fogon across from Mega on Constituyentes often has a good Vicente Fernandez impersonator at around 8 PM (Vicente Fernandez carries a status in Mexico roughly equivalent to that of Frank Sinatra in the US - different style of music of course, but lots of ballads - if you find a jukebox try to find his "La Ultima Beso" - The Last Kiss - beautiful song, as is Cuco Sanchez' version of "Te Amaras", if you can find it - it's an oldie) - the VF impersonator is pretty good - and try Fogon's porkchop sandwich (torta de chuleta de puerco - put the nopales in the sandwich, squeeze on some lime juice - everything in Mexico tastes better with lime juice), a small bowl of their frijoles charros (cowboy beans - put a spoonfull or two of the salsa fresca in it), and a cold Corona for 70 pesos, which at today's 14 pesos to the dollar exchange rate is all of $5 USD - can't beat it with a stick!

If you like Danzon music, there's a movie called "Danzon" - good music, funny plot, good movie, a bit of an oldie - 70's maybe? - but you might be able to find it in your local (Texas) video stores (or internet - you can probably google it) before you come down, just to see if you like it- it's not really big in this area (it's Vera Cruz in origin), but the big open-air palapa on Calle 8 one block west of Walmart sometimes has danzon, maybe on a schedule (that I have yet to figure out - maybe your friends will know).

It's good that you have some Mexican amigos to point you in the right direction - we gringos seem to be missing out on Mexican music, one of the best things about Mexico. Let me know what you find. Suerte!

[JimmyMN]

Next to Hotel Hacienda Maria Bonita on 10th Avenue between Calle 10 & Calle 12 is a club offering bands on a rotational basis playing the kind of music you're asking about. It's the first building south of the hotel. Couldn't tell you the name of the club or when things get started there but I usually pop in later in the night and always find it packed.

Another place that sometimes has Mexican bands playing MX music, is located on the southeast corner of 10th Avenue and Calle 8 in the upstairs lounge. The place was remodeled in the past year and I haven't a clue of its name.

As others have mentioned, Kitxen has its share of Mexican music. Explain to the bartenders what you're looking for, and they'll hook you up with the proper night. Often times, the music is a mixture of rock and Mexican ballads. It's a great place thats stood the test of time!!

Jimmy

[beam-eye]

A pair of corrections to my previous post: "Las Milpas" should be "Las 4 Milpas" (in case you're giving directions to a cabbie), and "Te Amaras" should be "Te Amare" - so much for my Spanish spelling and comprehension (oh! - they're related?). You might also try any of the numerous kareoke bars - in fact, this may be your best best - they're very popular in Mexico (more than they are in the US), all with Mexican music, mostly ballads and "singable" music (but all with aspiring "singers", too, which may or may not be a good thing - depends on the singer) - and you'll learn the words. They can be pretty loud - you'll need ear plugs - but they have a large selection of new and old Mexican popular music, and they'll play whatever you want to play (they usually have it somewhere in the play list), but you'll also have to listen to whatever anybody else wants to play (maybe good, maybe not). Ask a taxi driver to take you to one with Mexican music rather than the English-language tourist fare music. I didn't find the club in the building "just north of Hotel Maria Bonita" that JimmyMN mentions above - the only building to the north of the hotel seems to be the Banamex bank building. Maybe it's the Mexican restaurant next to the hotel on the south side? Suerte

[JimmyMN]

Originally Posted by beam-eye

I didn't find the club in the building "just north of Hotel Maria Bonita" that JimmyMN mentions above - the only building to the north of the hotel seems to be the Banamex bank building. Maybe it's the Mexican restaurant next to the hotel on the south side?

I've corrected my post... it's the first building to the south of Hotel Hacienda Maria Bonita.

As for the karaoke bars, I like the one called La Cucaracha which is on Calle 6 between 5th & 10th Avenues. There are two in that block but it's the one on the north side of the street.

Jimmy