Bounce

Thanks to local drummer José Luis, Los Hombres del Norte get an invitation to play at Joe’s Garage, 90 minutes from Todos Santos, in the tiny hamlet of La Ventana, on the Sea of Cortez.

They pile into the Dodge and head off to the north, then east through the Sierra de la Laguna.

Stopping for a quick snack, they run into a truckload of huge music fans, but they’re kinda cranky and all they say is “baaaa!”

Regrettably, there’s no time today for the music museum in El Triunfo and its noteworthy collection of 18th-century pianos.

They gotta make it through the cactus forest and on up to the pueblo.

The Hombres are greeted by Biff, who urges them to check out the last of the action on this fabulous afternoon. “La Ventana,” he says, “is a magnet for kite surfers; wind surfers, too.”

It’s late in the day, but sure enough, a small number of the kitegensia are on the move.

They travel fast and far, warranting the use of huge lenses by their onshore associates.

Next comes setup on the beautiful outdoor stage, which faces back into this dreamy club.

The managers, Mary and Mark, reveal that today was first good wind since Saturday, so the kite crowd is totally stoked to party down with Los Hombres.

Of course before the show can start, the sun has to light up the clouds over the cactus forest like there’s no tomorrow.

And it doesn’t hurt at all when the nearly full luna forces herself onto the scene.

Around the fire pit, le gente está lista para rodar!

And Los Hombres are off on what will turn out to be their greatest show ever!

Lefty!

Biggo Wiggo!

El Punqo!

José Luis!

Kiters swarm the floor, shaking it out to the grupo’s unfamiliar but compelling original song offerings. Meanwhile, Javier and his equipo maintain the crowd’s energy with an endless supply of righteous tacos.

During intermission, La Paz-based singer-songwriter Sara Benassi entertains with her original repertoire of Samba-flavored ballads and Mexicana tunesmithings…

…aided by the tireless rhythm machine that is José Luis Morales, who also resides in La Paz.

And then it’s time for a final hour of heart-thumping, foot-stomping, ass-kicking Hombres music.

By closing time, the crowd has thinned out a little, but those that remain get down to the encore, “Gimme Better,” performed here for the first time.

When this day started, Los Hombres had no idea they’d be falling in love. But in La Ventana, todo es posible y los sueños se hacen realidad! (Anything is possible and dreams really do come true!)