Danielle Belton Online

Now with more drama for your mama

Monday, June 27, 2005

FAKE FAMOUS: AZUL

Blue Cool at Azul


Azul, 1514 Wall St. Alley
* * * * out of five stars

Last Tuesday my homey AJ called me up and invited me out to Azul to check out the new bar (the former Paco's Tacos.) Needless to say the place looked gorgeous. It's owned and operated by two married couples, Rocio Diaz her husband, her brother and his wife. It's a family affair.

Diaz said so far the bar has been getting by on word of the mouth (perhaps they haven't meet "Word on the Street" yet. She's like word-of-mouth on crack.) But they were working on building a clientele. Personally, with a lighted stage, moderately priced drinks and nice folks, I can see it getting just as crowded as Paco's used to on a Friday night.

Diaz feels they're in prime location. You've got the Alley Cat, Alley Dogs, Jerry's, Riley's, Downtown Records, The Spotlight, Kosmos, Naked Al's Tattoo, The Syndicate coffee and cigar lounge and a new Caribbean restaurant preparing to open on the corner of Eye and the Wall Street Alley all in the same hot spot.

"Business brings business. We're excited," Diaz said.

With Stars, Dagny's, Xander's, Fishlips and Gumbeaux's not so far away, the whole area around Chester and 18th is getting funky in a good way. All we need is that priest to bless the old Downtown Joe's/Bullpen, exorcise those demons and we've got ourselves a funky town going. (And ownership is changing on what remains of Downtown Joe's. Pray for a place where people can party and not become mortally wounded.)

Right now any kid with an amp and a dream can get a gig playing Azul's. Diaz said they want the bar to be local music friendly. For now they're searching for local independent acts to play the bar, as well as local DJs.


It's the rock stylings of Dante Esperanza, doing psychedelic country/folk about Oildale.

The night I was there AJ, who invited me and bears a passing resemblance to Daryl Hall from late 70s Hall & Oates. AJ was formerly the DJ of Xander's, but he had some issues with the all-80s all the time policy there. Also at Azul's was my vintage record, soul music loving amigo Joe (we bonded over Marcus Garvey and how crappy pop rap music is ruining America) and bands Dante Esperanza and Friends with Robots.

Dante was all the way live. I love hearing good music about Bakersfield. People really don't appreciate the art of lyric writing, but Dante kept it pure and entertaining. I chatted with the band and apparently the lead singer and I bonded once in Gigantic Vintage's old spot on 19th Street about anti-depressants and my disgusting ex-husband. I completely forgot I'd told him about this and asked if I were drunk. He insisted that I was completely sober that evening, just chatty.

Me and my big mouth.

But to get on Azul's stage, Diaz said a band just needs to contact them. They like all kinds of music. "Everything's good," Diaz said.


Friends with Robots really like their computer love.

Friends with Robots, an electronic two piece got digital and provided some fascinating beats, but the show stopper was when one half of the duo, Nuñez (Jose Alejandro -- the one in the striped shirt) got all romantico with his ballad "Dios Mio." Which was, for lack of a better word — friggin' awesome. All ballads sound better in Spanish, French and Italian. English, love the language, is nice, but doesn't always lend well to music. You could sing the dictionary in Spanish and it would sound good to me. Plus, you can say things in Spanish, Italian and French that would just sound dumb in English or German (which English is quite similar to). For instance, Jose told me he song was about a love for a woman so beautiful the moon and the rivers were jealous of her. You can't sing that in English. You'd get laughed off the stage. Moan it in Spanish and you've got babymaking music. Go, Alejandro. Make those babies.

That said. Azul has three alternative music nights a week starting with Tuesdays where you can get your beer for about $2 (depending on what beer you order.) It's all alternative featuring indie, punk, soul, psychedelic, nu-wave, no-wave, garage and more.

Wednesday is $1 draft night with the open-mic action. (But you need to dial 634-9400 if you want to take the stage.)

Thursday is "Electric" night, featuring "Adventures in Modern Music" with house, funk, tech, dub, electronica, downtempo, drum&bass and more, featuring the DJ-stylings of Pat Solo (yeah) and Sabrina Sabertooth (whoo-hoo), that dude Phil from Dagny's.

RULING: Azul's has a back patio for smokers, a blue themed decor, several large TV screens for music videos, sporting events, whatever. It's sparkly clean. It also has lots of beer and supports the indie rock scene (although they admitted that some Britney Spears crap might show up on the weekends with the drunk and half-nekkid crowd shows up on Saturday night.) That aside, they get the seal of approval!

5 Comments:

  • At 3:03 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    hey is there and email contact for azul's? I want a gig!

     
  • At 3:07 PM, Blogger Danielle Belton said…

    I don't have an e-mail addy but here's a phone number -- 634-9400.

    Good luck, buddy!

     
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