La Bamba, Tequila, and Tito & Tarantula! (2008)

Endless deserts, scorching sun, cacti and tequila. That’s Texas for you. It’s also the home turf of Tito & Tarantula, who are currently out on a promo tour for their latest album “Back Into The Darkness”. After a couple of not-so-great previous records, the new one looks to have a brighter future ahead, and the crowds at their shows prove it. Thursday, November 6, at Maribor’s MC Pekarna was no different.

The set from the “star” of “Desperado” and “From Dusk Till Dawn”, Tito Larrive (vocals, guitar), and his Tarantulas Steven Hufsteter (guitar), Alfredo Ortiz (drums) and Caroline “Lucy LaLoca” Rippy (bass) got pushed back a full forty-five minutes from the announced 10 p.m., but nobody minded the wait. All hundred and fifty or so heads in the crowd were sipping beer and chatting in the half-light about everything except music. Everyday stuff and gossip had to be chewed over. And even though that “activity” is mostly pinned on the fairer sex, guys are no different, not one bit. Still, the crowd showed its colors right away. With a roaring round of applause and (encouraging) whistles they welcomed the ladies and gentlemen on stage, who kicked things off with something brand new. “In My Car” is on their latest studio release, “Back Into The Darkness” (2008), the one this tour is all about. Tito’s look and his raspy voice are a dead ringer for the legendary Lemmy Kilmister, the driving force of Motörhead. The only difference is that Tito is holding up a bit better than Lemmy. Then again, rock`n`roll clearly spares no one. Next came “Strange Face Of Love”, which you all know well from the aforementioned “From Dusk Till Dawn”, directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. If you can’t place the song, think of the scene where Salma Hayek does an erotic dance with a snake. Anyone whose mind had wandered off somewhere far away was soon “sobered up” by “Clumsy Beautiful World”. That track is on the second studio album, “Hungry Sally & Other Killer Lullabies”, released in 1999, which was a real letdown compared to the successful debut “Tarantism” (1997). Regardless, the crowd was into it anyway. Things got a bit quieter during “Dust And Ashes” and “Monsters”, both from their latest studio album. One reason is probably that Tito & Tarantula just aren’t a commercial band. That changed right away with “Crime And Shame” (Little Bitch, 2000), even though that album wasn’t a huge success either. “Andalucia”, released in 2002, can’t brag about huge success either, and yet “La Flor De Mal” shakes the ground under your feet. Same goes for “Motorcycle Girl”. Then came a little bouquet of the newest stuff: “Preety Wasted”, “Murder, Money” and “Machete”, which proved to be the most applause-generating tracks from the new album. Without too much chatter, Tito & Tarantula carried on with two more songs from “From Dusk Till Dawn”. Those were “After Dark” and “Angry Cockroaches”, spiced up with “Torn To Pieces”, “End Of Everything” and “Effortless”. The first and the last are real gems on “Andalucia”, and “End Of Everything” from “Back Into The Darkness” turned out to be more than excellent too.

A short break followed, but the masters of Mexican experimental rock came back to the stage early with “Hombre Secreto”. The crowd, whose voices were spent from shouting “Tito, Tito, Tito”, got warmed back up to working temperature with “Come Out Clean”, not to mention “La Bambi”. Tito’s raspy vocals and the Mexican melody gave the evergreen a special flavor. Even though it was well past midnight, the crowd still couldn’t get enough. Tito & Tarantula took one more short break, then closed with “This House” and “Anarchia”. They wrapped up the night with the fantastic, ass-kicking “Pistolero”, mixed with “Forever Forgotten”. One more bow and see you next time …

 

Words: Lea Lesar

Photos: Aleksander O.