Mexican actress and jazzy pop singer-songwriter Ximena Sarinana played Club 101 on Sunday. Times staff reporter Adriana Gomez Licon was there and talked to the artist. Here's her report:
Ximena Sariñana came out on stage wearing a simple cotton strap dress and big glasses. She wore little to no makeup and her hair was gathered into a bun. But once she pressed the keys of her piano and unleashed that voice, the Mexican singer is everything but mediocre.
That, of course, is the title of her only album, released in 2008. She attracted a fairly large crowd, between 300 and 400, for her first El Paso show. Serinana performed in Juárez last year, and 101 co-owner Joe Dorgan said many fans came Juarez and as far away as Chihuahua City and from Juárez to hear the artist sing.
When she talks, Sariñana’s voice sounds so sweet and innocent. No wonder she was chosen to play the voice of “Coraline” in the animated movie’s Spanish version. But her singing would be the equivalent of pleading in speech. She feels her own lyrics and asks her listeners to join her as she recalls her love
failures. Some of her songs are in English, but most of her material is in Spanish.
It sounds like somebody planted a microphone in her throat. Sariñana is clearly 100 percent in control of her flawless voice for a young 24-year-old woman. Sometimes her voice hoarsens or grows weaker when she wants to sound heartbroken.
After every song, Sariñana thanks her audience and offers them a sincere smile. In some songs, Sariñana moves across stage quasi-dancing, with no prepared choreography. Who cares? She probably thinks. I enjoy my music and dance to it if I want to. It is quite an experience to hear Sariñana play live. She adds many “La La La’s” and “Ooh Ooh Ooh’s” to her favorite songs.
Sariñana, for some reason, chose not to sing one of her most famous songs “No vuelvo más,” but the concert was still filled with her clever lyrics and her blend of jazz and pop, and one or two psychedelic-like songs.
Music is just one of Sariñana’s talents. She has been in three telenovelas, starting with “Luz Clarita” when she was only a little girl. Sariñana has also played roles in important Mexican films such as “Amar te Duele” and “Niñas Mal.”
Sariñana is an artist who has not yet gained international attention. But her El Paso audience may be a sign that she can conquer a new market with her bittersweet lyrics and her damsel-in-distress look. Her relationship with Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the guitarist from Mars Volta who was raised in
El Paso, may bring her back to the Sun City sooner than later.
I didn't go see Ximena, in large part to the experience of the Enanitos concert. The band was amazing, however 101 is a terrible venue. The lack of parking is a serious issue, we ended up parking in the street behind the club in front of some apartments and had to walk to the club. Then you get inside and if your lucky you can beat the rush, if not hopefully you don't get an obstructed view. They didn't turn on the AC until after the show, and there's only 1 bathroom. I feel sorry for the ladies who had to go, they ended up missing at least half the show. All that said we were still having a good time, until the end of the show. When approximately 1,000 people tried to exit 1 set of doors. This is a nightmare waiting to happen. We suddenly didn't feel safe, I saw a young man get elbowed and had his eye split open. Blood trickled from his eyebrow onto his white shirt. The first thing that came to mind was the tragic story of the fire at a Great White concert in Rhode Island. It was probably the last show I will ever attend at 101.
Posted by: Chuck | May 26, 2010 at 01:54 PM
Check Out This Concert Review Of Ximena's Concert in Austin By Austin Vida...
http://austinvida.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=425:concert-review-ximena-sari%C3%B1ana-at-stubb%27s
Posted by: Winston Rivas | May 26, 2010 at 09:06 PM