The End

As darkness settled over the dusty day, a huge crowd packed E9's outdoor area for the first of MUJER's most anticipated acts. The jam-packed yard drew together all types, tiny babies to mature motorcylcers with graying ponytails, people of all sizes and colors (many of whom had already donned their just-purchased MUJER t-shirts) - a pretty clear demonstration of just what Ozomatli stands for. And at just half past 9 p.m., the band finally got a myriad of technical difficulties sorted out and made a triumphant entrance through the audience itself, a shimmying, sonorous snake of percussion, horns and shouts that was met with deafening cheers. After making an interactive circuit through the appreciative fans, each band member was pulled up on stage and together launched into Ozo's percussion-heavy theme. "Quiero bailar del musica de Ozomatli!" they all sang, whipping the dense, diverse crowd into a frenzy by dancing and clapping themselves.

Despite the nighttime darkness the air was still wicked hot, but a teeny breeze would sneak in ever so often making it almost perfectly tolerable - and it was doubtful anyone noticed the heat with such a performance going on in front of them anyway. "It's a great cause here today - give it up for MUJER!" they shouted before sending the crowd into ecstasy with a cumbia/ranchera-inspired bouncy number danced to just as much by the band as the crowd. In between songs, the various members stated how they were so happy to have flown in from LA for this, and dedicated the sweet "Ya Viene El Sol" to a better future as the result of events like this one. They encouraged the crowd to get involved and help end terrorism around the world, especially of course in terms of the situation in Juarez; in response, all hands were sent up in the air making the peace sin. An epic version of "Cumbia De Los Muertos" brought Ozomatli's stunning set to a close, carrying on longer and longer to an ecstatic climax met by cheers from what had to be one of the most grateful crowds ever put before LA's Grammy-winning homeboys.

Meanwhile, Albuquerque band Jet Black Summer (in the works on their debut album for Lakeshore Records) were thrilling a sizeable crowd of their own inside Club 101, despite being on the bill opposite Ozomatli. Their power-punk stylings reflected a bit of Green Day, a bit of Sparta, and a bit of their own uniqueness, mostly via the heavy and strangely-accented (yet hypnotically appealing) vocals. The majority of the crowd inside the club at this point seemed to be there to secure a good spot for Sparta, the hometown pride and joy. Their big homecoming performance was telling of their recent successes - which included At The Drive-In for Jim Ward, Tony Hajjar and Paul Hinojos, along with the massive world tour the band as a whole were currently on with Weezer - as they appeared to be the only band with a proper rider and roadies with laminated ID tags who set out fluffy white towels, bottles of imported beer and water, and taped typed set-lists to the stage floor. Off stage left sat photographers, writers and the soundboard while gathered eagerly off stage right were performers from earlier in the day along with family and close friends of Sparta.

The cheers that greeted the five-piece as they took the stage proved without a doubt that Sparta was the clear headliner of the event; the crowd's loyalty was acknowledged as Jim took the mic and yelled over the din, "We're Sparta from El Paso, Texas!" A palpable wave of pride showered the room as the band crashed into their first number, immense with the weight of three guitars, a steady bass and the impassioned pounding of Tony's drumming. The room was wall-to-wall fans sporting enormous grins when they weren't screaming their appreciation during the set, which included most of the tracks off debut album Wiretap Scars. Thousands of hands were up in the air clapping, waving, punching and waving cameras, t-shirts and handmade signs.

A most meaningful moment occurred when Jim proudly announced that the day's events had raised over $20,000 for Casa Amiga and their work towards justice and safety for women in Juarez - an achievement which had to have felt better than all the record deals, tours and perks of being in a big band ever could.

As much as I've tried with this report, words just can't sum up the feeling of achievement on a day like today, and I know I'm not the only one who's hoping with all their heart that this was just the beginning of what El Paso has to offer musically, socially and spiritually. For years I've been talking to Joe Dorgan - club and concert promoter and purveyor of Club 101 - about the apathy that threatens to smother El Paso's nightlife, the lack of options beyond getting drunk and dancing to bad Top 40 tunes that drive so many young people out of the city, only to return for the briefest of holidays once a year but never to believe things will get better. Joe will sit for hours and complain about the lack of participation, the lack of change, the lack of hope, yet he keeps doing what he does because he can't let go. MUJER was the manifestation of this kind of civic loyalty and basic belief in the way things can be if people realize just for one day that they can do some good. "You won't hear me complaining tonight!" said Joe at the end of the night with a smile so big you couldn't help but believe things would get better.

On this day, hope reigned for men, women, Mexicans, Americans, kids and grown-ups in El Paso and Juarez alike. At midnight the bands were finished but not gone; they swarmed outside, drinking, dancing, laughing and talking with very tired organizers and completely ecstatic fans. Kanetic Source of Ozomatli strolled happily in the midst of things and commented, "I have nothing to complain about. People should really look at what they have, the little things that they have, because a lot of people around the world don't have shit right now. They're being bombed as we speak, as we laugh and smoke our weed and drink and cigarettes and all of that." When asked how it feels for Ozomatli to be considered representative of a whole musical culture, he replied, "I don't know about that... There's still a massive amount of people that we have to get involved because we're trying to spread it out and not have people just look at us as Ozomatli but look at the fact that we're bringing out different music. The whole century was just starting to get monotonous and repetitive and it's just getting worse and worse, and when people see Ozo, they see a change, they see that there can be different music." He added, "This was a great cause - I had a ball."

The MUJER Festival website is http://mujerfestival.com/.

Featured band websites:

Androide - http://www.androide.com.mx/
Egon - http://artists.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Egon/
Fuga - http://www.elpasotimes.com/openmic/fuga.html
Jet Black Summer - http://www.jetblacksummer.com/
Sparta - http://www.spartamusic.com
Mafalda - http://geocities.com/mafaldamusic/
Ozomatli - http://www.ozomatli.com
"Senorita Extraviada"/Lourdes Portillo - http://www.lourdesportillo.com/
Siva - http://soiledsun.com/soiledsun/bios/siva/siva.htm
Ultra Tolidos Sonicos - http://www.geocities.com/tolidos/