It’s been  a few days since my last post, but I’m back with a little of this and a little of that. In my last post I mentioned that there are rumblings of a Tejano film which will include the likes of Little Joe. A couple of Fridays ago, actors, musicians and movie industry people had a meeting on South Padre Island to discuss the film. The movie will be called “Broken Promises,” and should boast an impressive lineup of Tejano icons. Heck, I’ve been told that I might even play bass for one of the bands that will be featured in the film! Hollywood awaits!

I just got word that there will be a meeting tonight on South Padre Island to discuss the possibility of filming a movie on Tejano music. I’ve been told that the film would feature Tejano legends like Little Joe and Ruben Ramos among many others. I should know more tomorrow morning and will keep you posted.

Give thanks for Graham’s, becuase it’s one of the few places that books Tejano bands. Need proof of it? Tonight, Jimmy Gonzalez and Grupo Mazz will headline the Thanksgiving night dance, and Jay Perez will play on Friday. There you have it, a Tejano Thanksgiving.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well, if that is the case, than Intocable is the most flattered band in the history of Conjunto, Norteño and Tejano combined. Take a listen to many of the bands out there today and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Anyway, the real deal will be in concert Wednesday at the Convention Center in McAllen. Tickets are $41 per person in general admission and $107 for those wishing to the VIP treatment.

I’ve ranting a little about the lack of Tejano music on the radio, so I thought it would be fitting to tell you about some Web sites where you can get a healthy dose of tunes. Tejanovibes.com many links to mixes and Web casts, and one of those notable links is tejanofm.com, a site with a good repertoire. Another good site is haciendaradio.com, which features a lot of the old-school favorites like Jesse Serrata, Josefa, Los Chachos, Ruben Vela and mucho mas. The site allows you to request songs from their play list, and the requests are played immediately - no need to wait half an hour to hear your tune.

I just got word that Marlissa Vela, daughter of the great Ruben Vela, is looking to restart her musical career. She released a few records under the Hacienda label before taking a hiatus. It’ll be a treat to see her back on the stage. 

There once was a time… when Afros were Chicano chic.

Los Garcia Brothers and Los Bad Boys will go toe to toe Friday at Graham’s Central Station in Pharr. The show should be good, since there is nothing like watching two bands trying to outperform each other. Admission is $5 before 8 and $8 thereafter.

A couple of weeks ago, the front man of a new conjunto asked me to do some recording sessions for his album. The invitation was very appealing, especially since it’s been a while since the last time I laid bass lines for a record. The excitement, however, lasted very little. After rehearsing with the band a few times, only one of which was with a drummer, the bandleader decided it was time to hit the studio. I was unnerved by the singer’s anything-goes attitude and his belief that mastering a record will turn off-key passes and out-of-tempo tunes and turn them into Grammy material. I guess what bothered me more was the realization that this is the approach many bands are taking when it comes recording new material. It is that “it’s-good-enough” notion that has turned off most major record labels when it comes to dealing with some Tejano and Conjunto artists. Where did our sense of pride go? Mediocrity hurts the music we love so much. It wouldn’t hurt if some of these up-and-coming acts realized that.

The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center is hosting Oscar “Bullet” Villa at 7 p.m. today during the “El Second Weensdee” – Tejano Conjunto oral history series. It’s only $5 to get in and you should get a good dose of traditional conjunto knowledge. The center is at 225 E. Stenger Road in San Benito.