Angeloo at LCC; Mister Lady Zen at The Palm
Angeloo is a twelve-year-old wunderkind, a winner of the So, You Think You Can Rise? talent contest a bit over a year ago. He started out singing at Open Mic at Incanto and can be found around town singing where and when he can. He does have school. His dad Oscar is with him always, taking care of him, of course, but letting him do his thing without parental interference. Angeloo can seemingly sing any song in any language. His awkwardness on stage has dropped away with time and budding maturity. His personality is bubbling to the surface, and I wonder which way he will lean as he grows up. He has Mozart down pat and follows a Magic Flute aria with Metallica, and it’s okay! Without question, Angeloo is adored in Vallarta; there is nothing not to love!
From La Catrina Cantina, where we feasted on french fries and popcorn, Patrice and I walked over to The Palm Cabaret for Mister Lady Zen’s last show in Vallarta for the season. Zen is constantly reinventing itself. Their poetry rivals those brilliant poets of our past and sometimes blows by, slipping into heavy rap, sometimes in the same poem. One must listen. Zen never wastes words when she writes or when she speaks – all of them count in equal measure; nothing is extraneous.
Last night for Don’t Stop the Music, Zen’s band had bassist Jared García González as Musical Director alongside Edgar Bernache on keys and Hamlet, percussion – three of Vallarta’s finest musicians.
At the beginning of the show, we were treated to a music video made by DuChateau Films with cameos of Kevin Anthony, Kimberly LaRue, Cassandra Shaw, Richard Carnegie, and other Vallarta VIPs. A lot of fun was had making it; that was clear!
A standing ovation was in order, bestowing the respect and love our community has for Lady Zen in all their fascinating aspects. The horizon is shiny and bright with great expectations – a new side business, a new album debuting, and so much more. Don’t stay away long, Zen, please!
Patrice and I were at Garbo’s minutes after Sargento Dan had launched into his first Broadway number. We literally pushed our way through the standing-room-only crowd that started at the entrance to the bar, found Rob Burton and Jan Dorland, with whom we are having dinner this evening, said our goodbyes and congratulations for the sellout crowd, and made our way home. Who knew Sargento had the star power to create such a fuss late on a Wednesday night during Semana Santa in Vallarta? As my dear and worthy Scrabble opponent, Sharon Gerber Scherer would undoubtedly say to that: “Mazeltov!”