“Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!” Maracas shake and the guitarrón strums a tune. This might have been Jarabe Mexicano’s first time in North Carolina, but it got the crowd dancing Sept. 18 in McCrary Theatre.
“Ay!” is a grito — or “rallying cry” — that originated in Mexican culture. It is often an interjection singers will say while singing and could be heard Wednesday night at Jarabe Mexicano’s performance.
The Mexican-American band brought their experience of living on the border as first generation Americans to life through their performance. They began the show singing a classic Mexican folk song called “Cielito Lindo” to commemorate Mexico’s Independence Day on Sept. 16, 1810. Throughout the show, the band played a wide range of music including cumbia, rock en español and even reggae. Notable artists such as Selena, Vicente Fernández and Bob Marley were also on the set list tonight, but the band added their own spin.
Mexican-American Border band Jarabe Mexicano performs singles and covers on Sept. 18 in McCrary Theater. This was their first-ever show in North Carolina.
Jeff Clark, executive director of Cultural and Special Programs, was in charge of bringing the band to campus and said he was looking for more than just a mariachi band.
“For some of our Latino audience, it brings the taste of their home to where they are, and I think it educates other audience members to the culture and the music from various other places,” Clark said.
Wednesday, Gustavo Alcoser led the band for most songs and brought the stage to life with his dance moves. Kevin Lomes played vihuela and also sang some of the songs. Eduardo Valencia was in the back playing the guitarrón and singing as well. Daniel Brito led most of the border life stories and anecdotes while playing the snare drums. Esteban Morales-Smith played the guitar.
Jarabe Mexicano performs a few extra songs after the show outside McCrary Theater on Sept. 18 as everyone dances.
"Oftentimes people misunderstand what the border culture and life is like, and so we like to talk about our experiences at the border,” Alcoser said.
One story Brito spoke about was how Valencia’s father was forced to speak English in school. When he didn’t, his teacher would force him to eat chiltepin, a spicy pepper. But Brito said that never stopped him from speaking Spanish and emphasized the importance of telling these stories.
Jarabe Mexicano started in 2016 at San Diego University and has been on the road ever since with some membership changes over the years. Alcoser said what they really enjoy is the educational outreach aspect of the band’s job.
Jarabe Mexicano offers CDs of their 2019 album "Jarabe Mexicano" for sale after the show on Sept. 18 outside McCrary Theater.
“We did educational outreach from the get-go with this band,” Alcoser said. “But that's one of the things that really fulfills us spiritually. It fulfills us emotionally, that we feel like we're making a difference in people's lives that way.”
Jarabe Mexicano has performed all across the country — even in Mexico — for conferences, schools and festivals.
Some songs, such as “Get Up, Stand Up” by Bob Marley, are dedicated to anyone listening who is struggling with their identity or adversity. Alcoser said once at a music festival, a random woman approached the band after hearing them perform this song.
“She just said, ‘I have just been diagnosed with cancer, and it's very difficult for me to get going some days and I haven't told anybody,’” Alcoser said. “‘I haven't told anybody in my family, other than my husband, that I've been diagnosed. But just listening to you guys, your version of that song really motivated me and inspired me to, tell my family and to just fight for my life.’”
Lead singer Gustavo "Tavo" Alcoser Jr., of Jarabe Mexicano performs with the band on Sept. 18 in McCrary Theater.
Alcoser said the woman is now cancer free.
Freshman Samantha Hagopian said she loved the event and how the audience was so engaged.
“It went above and beyond my expectations,” Hagopian said. “I thought it was really eye-opening, especially because it was music that was in a different language and culture and being exposed to that was a fun time.”
Sophomore Omar Castañeda said he was listening to his playlist before this of Mexican music and was excited for the event.
“It’s great to get immersed in my culture in somewhere that I didn’t expect to,” Castañeda said.
According to Alcoser, all he wanted to do as a kid was sing and dance. Though the pandemic put his dreams on pause, Jarabe Mexicano was able to continue performing by the end of 2021. He said he and the band just feel lucky.
He said he will continue to dream big and to be grateful for being able to sing about border life.
“At any given moment it can go away, so you've got to embrace what's right in front of you and do it to the best ability and love it as much as you can,” Alcoser said.