El Retorno del Maestro  

por Edgar Nicasio  

León, Guanajuato - Seldom are the times that the fan and the reporter in me can agree on covering an event. And tonight we had no less than Alejandro Marcovich on the stage with his Tribute to Caifanes.

This show is a perfectly planned spectacle and the musicians who comprise it have had long careers in other bands such as: Alex from Los Amantes de Lola and Calaco, who is part of Botas Negras. The quality of the event was first class and didn't disappoint in the least. A few minutes had passed after midnight when the show began, the house was full, with not an empty seat in sight, and even fewer tables to rest my Tequila.

The band commenced without Marcovich, and everyone realized immediately that the guitarist playing was not him, except for the girl next to me who screamed and sung taking photographs in complete ecstasy until the third song, when he she asked me if the "bald guy" was Marchovich.

Around the sixth song, Marcovich came out, looking identical to the last time I saw him thirteen years ago, which was the last time Caifanes would ever play this city. His long curly hair, his pale face and his inseparable lead-colored Ibáñez guitar were on the stage.

And all of the sudden the music was born: the songs of Caifanes stirred up all those memories that rejuvenated and resuscitated the heart, song after song ended with the chorus of the crowd; all of my friends from junior high were with me although none of them were present; all those moments in which Caifanes accompanied me through junior and later high school passed before my eyes with each chord that was struck.

The crowd could do nothing but sing along to the songs and surrender to Marcovich's glory. The cellular phones and digital cameras attempted to snatch an instant of the party which was lived that night, to the cries of "Maaaaeeeestro!" Those present were happy to see him again and made their gratitude and happiness known. And Marcovich executed his creations in such an inspired way, it was much like any other Caifan tour.

Some classics, and some not-so-classics, were played and appreciated, including: "¿Será por eso?", "El Elefante", "El Negro Cósmico", "Piedras" and "El Comunicador". It goes without saying that they played more than thirty songs and that the last ones were "La Célula que Explota", "No dejes que" y "Afuera".

I left very happy, seeing how I was sorely lacking in hearing these songs, remembering things, I freed myself from all the new music that I have accumulated in these recent days, which is also exceptional and which tours the world over. But the Caifanes tour around my heart and I know that is something I will never forget.

Friday, May 5th 2006