Santa Fe Theater's House Band · 20 Years, Family Legacy & Fundraising to Stay Alive | Denver

0:00Yeah, yeah, what’s up? I um I was taking video. I don’t even know you all were like trying to fundraise and Tomato. Yeah, this is your Tomato. He’s always friendly. Oh, I already interviewed him. While you guys were playing, I was interviewing him. It’s like loud in the background. I got He’s like this. But, you know, that’s how he’s That’s how you know it’s important. Um but, I just wanted to let you guys introduce yourselves as well. I got some footage of you all performing and like that. Anything you want to say about the venue? I definitely would love uh Mr. Wayland. First Fridays uh of every month. You

0:32guys have been going here what, 15 years, 20 years? Yeah, almost 20. Long time. TBO, this lovely lady owns this place. Oh, yeah. And uh this lineup here, we just get together the first Friday of the month. So, we all play with different bands. We got Cheeky Ayala on the bass. Okay. We got Dave Miller on the drums. Anthony Allemond Medicine on the harmonica and the vocals. Yeah, I was like, “Wait, harmonica? I never seen one quite like this.” I said, “Oh, it’s a horn.” I said, “Wait, no. It is a Yeah. It got me. contraption Oh, you made that?

1:10Yeah, it’s like a 1910 amplifier. Okay, sick. I like that. Madness. Yeah. Walnut wood and a cornet, the Pops. Louis Armstrong. Okay, okay. The Pops. I like that. I like that. And what what what inspired you to make this? I was playing at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and they don’t want you to amplify.

1:31Uh-huh. And so, playing over like 30 banjos, mandolins with a harmonica. So, I had a I got this from a music store. They had a busted cornet. They were like, you know, they talked about my idea. And so, I just had the horn bell. Mhm. And then, a woodworker right around the corner. I gave him some drawings and some harmonicas. There it is. Boom, okay. Okay. It just slides right in there. Yeah. I can change everything. I like that. I like that. Unbound. And so what can you say about the venue? I heard you all are fundraising and he’s fundraising and stuff like that.

2:08playing here Man, I’ve been playing here almost 20 years. Sister uh Chiqui’s here and I uh So when I first started it was the Alex Anaya experience. He’s since passed. And and our other drummer over here, Raul like it’s just been a whole family thing. Oh hell yeah. I was welcomed in. Oh, that’s beautiful. And when uh he passed away, he had always set a microphone up for me and I just kind of kept it going. Yeah, yeah. Family, so Yeah. It’s quite a history. Yeah, so I’m hearing. That’s what I’m hearing. I was like, oh, let me let me let me do my due diligence and ask the right

2:53questions at least. This is this is going to be like a blink of my Oh, I was just at First Friday in Denver. I said, oh, I was somewhere historic and they’re trying to fundraise. I said, let me go out and let people really know. He uh Yeah, they’ve owned it since ’72. Back in the day it was all Mexican movies. You know, like total like neighborhood was all Mexican neighborhood. But they just kept it going and had like the Red Hot Chili Peppers play here when they were in their socks like before they were That’s crazy.

3:28original, so yeah, man. You’re in a historic spot, man, so welcome. Yeah, thank you. And tell tell everybody welcome. It’s not just me. Welcome, man. Feel at home up at the Aztlan Theater, man. Aztlan. So this is a you said all Mexican area? It used to. I mean, well, now it’s you know, now it’s just Denver. But like if you look at the posters, it geared toward Mexican movies. Like the theater would just play all the new hits. You know, like when I was a kid I saw La Bamba. In a Mexican theater where they I spoke English so I totally understood the movie but it had

4:08Spanish Subtitles? Subtitles. Everybody else had Subtitles, okay. So, that’s just that their history. Okay, sick. Well, I appreciate it. Yeah, you too, man. Can I can I can I get you on camera? Hell yeah. So, what do you know about this place? Not much. Okay. Well, how’s your night been tonight? It was good. Okay, what’s what’s what’s your review? They’re fantastic. I love them. Okay, what do you know about First Fridays in general? Anything? Are you from Denver? Yeah, but I had I went to First Friday like 10 years ago. Okay, so what brought you back out tonight? I’m dating the drummer. Okay, okay. They did a good job.

4:58I like that. I like that. Shout out to them. You got a good one. Talented. I I was on the street and I said what’s going on over there? And I’m still here. Yeah, they’re fun to watch, too. They’ve got good vibes. No, definitely. What’s your name? Stephanie. Stephanie, hell yeah. If you could ask people around the world one question, what would you ask them? Oh god. I can’t I can’t be on the spot like that. Stream of consciousness. Stream of consciousness. Put me on the spot I go blank, man. I get that. I get that. I get that. I’ll come back. Come back. I like that.

5:40I like that. It’s a recipe. What do they put Can I ask you some questions for my video? Absolutely. Okay, sick. So, I I’m just here kind of documenting my trip to Denver and I’ve learned I’m at a very historic place. Can you tell me who you are and tell me what you know about this place and just like Chicano and I’ve been here in Denver for for 40 years. I’ve been performing here in in Aztlan bar for about 20 years. And we uh experimenting in excellent music. Not just me, but it’s been so for so many throughout the years. Too many Latinos. There’s been a lot of

6:30hip-hop musicians. A lot of rock musicians. So, it’s been a very traditional establishment Aztlan bar. And as a matter of fact, we were talking just about with the owners that they want somebody to to buy it and to keep it as a historical place. But, I don’t know if it’s going to happen or not. And but anyway, yeah, it’s been a it’s been a great great time here in Aztlan bar. Why should someone buy it? Why? No, but I’m actually asking that. Make the make the sales pitch, you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can be biased. Absolutely. You got to be. Yeah, it’s it’s just

7:14I mean nowadays the developers want just a place. Just a a lot to build apartments. What they want is somebody to keep the tradition, to keep Aztlan. It’s been since 19 I believe 1909, 1921 or so or or so. But, I mean this place is is a jewel. You know, it’s it’s been for so many years. As a matter of fact, it was right here La Causa, what is what means when uh, the Mexican-American uh, um, it was Cesar Chavez, there was uh, Maria Huerta, they’ve been here in this establishment for for uh, to equal uh, you know, back in the day Hispanics, they’re not allowed in in in

8:08universities and nothing like that. But Azatlan Bar was one of the places where a lot of Mexican-Americans, Mexicans, they uh, um, they what they call La Causa, they want rights, they want um, so many things for for the Hispanic community and that’s why it was here. So, yes, it is amazing uh, even a historical events that have been happening here. And uh, that’s what they want, they want to somebody to buy it, but to keep the tradition, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. Um, How much is the building? Uh, uh, for what I hear, they want apparently about 3 million. But again, I don’t know.

8:54Yeah, yeah, yeah. But uh, Yeah, I hear that. It’s an investment in culture, yeah. Absolutely. I mean, uh, this has been uh, you know, like Habla en español. So, it’s español. Sí. Seguro. Este, no, este establecimiento fue fue hecho en el en el 19, 1919. Y este, hubo muchas uh, muchas este causas que fueron aquí hechas. Este, Cesar Chavez, uh, Maria Huerta, este, uh, Corky Gonzalez, todos esos grandes este uh, gentes que que quisieron hacer lo mejor para la la ciudadanía de Mexicano, Americano, Mexicanos, Latinos, este hicieron muchas muchas You said Eres una cantante. Pues háblame sobre eso. Este el flamenco música traídas de los españoles y los

10:11gypsies fueron inventados allá en Europa. Este y fue traído para acá para Estados Unidos, para México, se fue para muchos diferentes áreas latinoamericana. Entonces todo lo que hicimos aquí fue este establecer una comunidad de de de flamenco. Este por cierto este hay hay bastantes flamenco este músicos de flamenco que tocan este inclusive ahorita tenemos tres buenos músicos, guitarristas flamencos en Casa Bonita. Pueden ir a escucharlos ahí. Y este también hay algunos conciertos de de flamenco que vienen más adelante este para el verano. Okay. Y usted naciste para acá. No, yo soy de Juárez, Chihuahua. Juárez, Chihuahua. Okay. Y vine aquí como músico, me trajeron este

11:10un un un un dueño de unas cantinas que me trajeron para acá desde México este para establecer este música latinoamericana, mexicana y este salsa este y y en general todo lo latino. Pues puedes pedir unas preguntas ah this Timo Yeah. Timo Yeah, I I mean I’ve lived in St. Thomas. I’ve lived seven See. Yeah, I would like to come back. Yeah. Um Uh I didn’t know that you all are trying to get this place purchased and stuff like that when I talked to you earlier. Um I was told outside before I left, so I came back in so I could have more contacts for my video and hopefully you

12:32can use this in what you’re up to. So anything you want to say to people out in the world? I I know before you were competing with the music, which was wonderful. Well, the theater’s for sale. I get it. And anybody wants to buy it have them call me. Yeah.