Surprise After Surprise from Mau at Springsteen Tribute

I didn’t go to the Bruce Springsteen Tribute because I am a fan of the music; not at all. I barely recognized four songs. I knew of “The Boss’s” appeal in an abstract way, a singer for the midline workers, especially guys. I am thinking truckers, janitors, etc. Not my style. But I had heard Mau Jimenez sing at a Vallarta Girls School fundraiser at Los Mangos Library a couple of months back, and something in his voice caught my ear, and I commented on it with singer Kevin Anthony. We both agreed there was something special we had not heard before from him. I don’t recall what Mau sang, but I jumped at the chance to hear him in concert to listen again to see if that specialness was still there. It was. It is. It’s called Bruce Springsteen.

Mau looked the part – tight white tee shirt, headband, and blue jeans -calm, sexy, and in control. Except when he lost the microphone – you had to have been there.

Mau’s exceptional band – Edgar Bernache, piano (who uncharacteristically grinned with joy from ear to ear throughout much of the concert); Paul Lions Sellerier, guitar, rocked and smiled alongside Edgar; Gabriel Morelio on drums – wowza; and Jared Garcia González, the busiest bass guitarist in Vallarta, were all superb and looked like they were having a blast.

Mau pulled surprise after surprise – I had no idea he played the piano, and I had no idea Bruce Springsteen wrote such tender, sweet ballads that Mau relayed to us gently and straight from his heart.

Born in Puebla, Mau joined his sister Eva here in Vallarta five or so years ago. The two of them played at Incanto often and convinced their mom and oldest brother Alejandro to join them on this side of Mexico. We are so glad they did. We enjoyed Art Convention a hilarious one-man show presented by Alejandro, the eldest; Pink: ‘Get the Party Started’ Concert Experience currently playing at Coco Cabaret and starring Eva, the baby in the family. Now we have Mau, the middle child, coming into his own with the Bruce Springsteen kick-ass, rock ‘n’ roll Tribute.

A very justifiably proud mother sat in the audience.

I went into the show as a Mau fan and came out cheerfully humming, “Born in the USA!” Get to his final performance this Thursday at The Palm Cabaret at 5 pm. You can thank me later.