The fun continues! Come see us at Railroad Blues.

That juggernaut of assorted tunes known as The Resonators/Mariachi Santa Cruz ends November with four wildly different gigs:

• Monday, November 19th at El Mirador Rodeo Arena in Ojinaga. Mariachi Santa Cruz will entertain with charreada music. Could be interesting! Call 432-661-0600 for more details regarding time and how to get there.
• Tuesday, November 20th at the 20 de noviembre desfile in Ojinaga. Mariachi Santa Cruz will be on a float with our new addition, Jesus "Chente" Martinez singing on horseback. Only in Mexico! Ajuua!
• Thursday, November 22nd at Nuestro Padre Jesus Church. Mariachi Mass for Santa Cecilia's Day (patron saint of music). 7:00 AM. Music in the zocalo afterwards.
• Friday, November 23rd at Railroad Blues--the home of the best live music anywhere. A privilege to be on their calendar, and we'll give it all we have.

Not bad for living out in the middle of nowhere!

Many thanks to Dora and everyone else who organized the benfit dance last Friday. Yet another awesome rug-cutting gathering! It was very cool sharing the stage with Los Nortenos. Good guys!

Thanks for stopping by. Hopefully we'll see you real soon!

Several new dates added for November

Let me begin by saying the gig in Ojinaga was a whole lot of fun. It was a freebie all the way around, but the good vibes going around Parque Manuel Ojinaga were priceless!

We hope to see you this coming Saturday night, November 10th in Presidio at La Riviera Bar. The show begins at 9:00 PM and ends at 1:00 AM. Not enough can good can be said of Rafael Carrera's efforts to bring live music to Presidio, so we are delighted to have been asked to play.

Dora Lopez, of Mariachi Santa Cruz fame, has organized a dance to benefit Sonia Sanchez of Presidio. Sonia is a lifelong resident of Presidio and is known and loved by all of us. Currently she is receiving treatment for cancer, and maintaining her job at the post office at the same time. To help with her expenses, Los Norteños and The Resonators will play a benefit dance at Benito Hall in Presidio on Friday, November 16th. Please make plans to attend! The cause is very worthy and the music will be second-to-none.

Mariachi Santa Cruz will enter as a parade float in Ojinaga's 20 de noviembre parade, this year on Tuesday. There absolutely will be no other live music in the parade, so get yourself there pronto! It's a wonderful parade, well worth your time.

And finally, mix a little music into your Thanksgiving starting the day off with a mariachi mass in Ojinaga. The occasion is the celebration of Santa Cecilia, the patron saint of music. Who else would expect to be playing other than Mariachi Santa Cruz? The exact time will be posted at a later date, but we're excited to be a part of this celebration.

Come see us this Saturday!

Get ready for Sabado En El Parque; new gig on November 10th

The Resonators will close out Ojinaga's weekly "Sabado En El Parque" performance series for 2007 this coming November 3rd. It's already cooling down in these parts, so bring a sweater or jacket. The show will begin at 7:00 PM and will feature music Resonators fans keep coming back for. Because OJ is the "capital" of Norteno music, a group like The Resonators is a striking change of pace, playing lots of rock, soul, country, as well as many great Spanish-language hits. The show will last two hours, leaving everyone time to go grab a burrito afterwards.

New gig! Rafael Carrera, owner of La Riviera Bar in Presidio, Texas has booked The Resonators for November 10th. If you haven't seen a Resonators show in Presidio, specifically at La Riviera, you need to make a road trip down. La Riviera is a really cool dance hall and always plays host to a friendly, party-loving crowd. The show will begin at 9:00 PM.

We hope to see you soon!

A couple of great November gigs coming up

First off, a big "thanks" to the organizing committee at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Alpine for having us play on October 6th. From the band, we can truthfully say that the show was one of our best ever, plus it was a blast to see everyone out on the dance floor enjoying themselves so much. Good times!

We'll be playing a couple of private parties coming up during October, and then return to the general public for a couple of gigs worth catching in November.

On Saturday, November 3rd we will be at Parque Manuel Ojinaga in Ojinaga. If you've never been to OJ (the local nickname for Ojinaga), this gig will be a good enough reason to venture across the border. It is free and will surely be lots of fun. To get there, cross the bridge and go straight ahead to the first stop sign (cross street is Gustavo Dominguez). Turn right at the stop sign and then go straight until you reach Parque Manuel Ojinaga. It'll be at the top of the hill.

On November 23rd The Resonators will perform at Railroad Blues in Alpine. 'Nuff said about that. We all know that if you want to catch the best in live music--especially this side of Austin--you head to Railroad Blues.

We hope to see you soon!

Another great outdoor dance in the Big Bend: Alpine

Come join The Resonators on October 6th at the Our Lady of Peace 2007 Church Bazaar Dance in Alpine, Texas. The location is on south 5th Street, "up on the hill."

Once again "Mariachi Santa Cruz with Dora Lopez" will get things started with a 45 minute set of boleros, valses, and sones. For the first time Lucio Medina will take center stage, singing "De Que Manera Te Olvido" and "Que De Raro Tienes." If you haven't heard "Mariachi Santa Cruz with Dora Lopez" yet, you're in for a real treat! The group will begin playing at 8:30 PM.

Once The Resonators take the stage, it'll be a non-stop dance party until 1:00 AM! For this show, expect the band to pull out it's best dance tunes ranging from cumbias, polkas, country, and some fun rock-n-roll oldies! Thanks to the committee for asking us to play; we're ready to party with y'all!

Ojinaga, September 15th...Mariachi Santa Cruz!

The gig is on! Come see Mariachi Santa Cruz play at the zocalo (town square) in Ojinaga on Saturday, September 15, 2007. This event is basically Mexico's equivalent to our July 4th. There will be LOTS of people, food booths, the Presidente Municipal reciting the "Grito de Independencia" (Viva Mexico!), fireworks, plus entertainment. Mariachi Santa Cruz will perform at 9:00 PM, but expect that time to be subject to fluctuations in the event schedule (The party will basically get going at sundown.).

If you've never been to this event, you might want to make this year's celebration a first. Ojinaga is relatively easy to navigate. After crossing the border, drive straight ahead several blocks to Trasvina y Retes. At this intersection turn right and head north until you get close to the zocalo (square). It will be crowded and congested so be prepared to park about two or three blocks away. OJ time is one hour behind Presidio, but as long as you're there by sundown you'll see practically everything.

We hope you can make it!

Thanks Marfa! Maybe an OJ gig on September 15th?

Thanks Blackwell School Alliance for everything. You guys are numero uno with The Resonators! And many thanks to everyone who came out to Vizcaino Park on September 2nd. We sure hope you liked the show. It was a pleasure and a privilege being there with you. Hopefully we'll see everyone on New Year's Even at the Marfa Activity Center.

On Friday John and Taro will meet with members of the organizing committee of the September 16th festivities in Ojinaga. We're hopeful that Mariachi Santa Cruz (alias "The Resonators") will be able to perform for all the folks of Ojinaga on Saturday, September 15th during the activities leading to the traditional "grito". If you've never been to OJ during this event, maybe you have a reason now... It's Mexico, and it'll be a Saturday night. You can sleep it off on Sunday!

See you soon.

Marfa Lights and Blackwell Alliance

Labor Day weekend in Marfa means Marfa Lights Festival, and The Resonators are grateful to Blackwell School Alliance to be a part of it all once again. Come see us at Vizcaino Park on Sunday, September 2nd starting at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the gate.

Opening the show is Mariachi Santa Cruz with Dora Lopez.

Come enjoy some great dance music along with what promises to be a picture-perfect evening in Marfa, Texas!

A great, great summer.

As the summer of 2007 gradually winds down, we want to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who has been a part of The Resonators' musical world the past few months. Whether it be the folks who placed their trust in us and gave us a chance to play, or the many people who responded so favorably to our performances, we thank you.

Not coincidentally, many aspects of our recent success are reflected in the hard work of everyone in the band. The collection of talent in the band spans a geographic area stretching more than 300 miles, plus an international border. There is no Resonator performance in which at least one member must put the gig ahead of financial gain. Regardless, the desire to make music makes it worth the pain.

Thanks to Railroad Blues for having us on August 4th. That evening was what it's all about.

We'll hopefully see you on September 2nd in Marfa. Included in that show will be our alter-ego Mariachi Santa Cruz con Dora Lopez.

Nos vemos!

Railroad Blues!

The Resonators take the stage at Railroad Blues on Saturday, August 4th at 10:00 PM. It's been a while since we've played a gig there, but you can expect some major league dancing to happen with all the music we have in store. Let's see: Cumbias; check. Polkas; check. Mambos; check! Rock; check. Country; what the?...check!

Come see us!

Great times in Presidio and Alpine; site changes coming soon!

Thanks to everybody during our most recent performances in Presidio and Alpine. First and foremost, our gratitude to the City of Presidio, Presidio Chamber of Commerce and DCOP, as well as the Alpine Kiwanis Club for asking us to play at both celebrations. None of this would have happened without you guys, so a BIG thanks to all of you. In addition, everyone who came out truly inspired us. We heard some nice compliments about both shows, allowing the band to "exhale" a bit regarding our musical presentation.

Within the next several days our site will undergo some changes that will allow you to see some of the new developments in the band, as well as some new dates where you can catch us next. Until then, thanks for visiting and we'll see you soon.

Join us in Alpine on July 4th

Come have a blast on July 4th in Alpine, Texas. Catch the Independence Day Parade at 5:00 PM, followed by Resonators music, the Alpine Community Band, and fireworks. The Parade will proceed down 5th Street and the rest of the celebration will be held at Kokernot Park. This is always a great community event, so don't miss it!

We played a gig in OJ!

Sorry we didn't get to publicize it, but The Resonators and Mariachi Santa Cruz played a set for festival-goers at the 2007 Ferias de Ojinaga on June 3rd. It was a last-minute decision to play, but we'll hardly pass up a chance to perform if offered! So I guess we can say we're internationally known now!

Anyway, the audience was very appreciative and really wanted to rock! Since OJ is one of the Norteno music hot-spots of the world, we were really surprised to hear "otra, otra" after playing a tune like Oye Como Va. But we gladly obliged.

Hope to see you on June 30th in Presidio or July 4th in Alpine!

Summer's here!

The Resonators finished off May with a fun evening at La Escondida Restaurant/Bar on May 18th. Dora Lopez joined us onstage and belted out an hour's worth of mariachi tunes to kick the evening off. Yes, you read correctly---mariachi! The Resonators now have an alter-ego named Mariachi Santa Cruz (named for Sierrita Santa Cruz just outside Ojinaga). We'll be taking engagements in the area, with Lucy joining John on trumpet, Taro on keyboard/accordion, Marty and Chino on vihuela, and Mario and Tony on guitars, and a fabulous young guitarron player, Jose Guevara. Dora will be featured singer, but expect the guys to chime in from time to time, as well.

Back to The Resonators. Our goal for the summer is to shore up our tunes we've featured over the past years, plus continue to add new music. You'll get a chance to hear us in Presidio (June 30th) and Alpine on July 4th. Like never before, you will be impressed! This band is throwing everything we have at putting together a great act, all for you, our listener.

Can't wait to see you again!

On the border!

Come see us this Friday, May 18th at La Escondida Restaurant/Bar in Presidio. We're putting on a free show for the employees of our school, but everyone is welcome. The music starts at 8:00 PM, out on the patio, weather permitting. The music is scheduled to go until 10:00 PM, but we'll gladly play into the night if we get a good turnout. Remember, it's FREE!

If you haven't been to La Escondida before, turn onto Utopia Road, just north of the Cibolo Creek bridge (US 67), then follow the signs. Owner Ellis Villalobos runs the most soulful establishment around, and the food is outstanding.

See you there!

New shows and other band news

Several new shows have been added to our calendar, so we're excited to be appearing at the following:

May 5, Private party in Terlingua
May 18, Free show at La Escondida Restaurant/Bar (9-11PM), Presidio
June 24, Private party in Terlingua
June 30, Independence Celebration, Presidio downtown (music and fireworks)
July 4, Independence Celebration, Alpine's Kokernot Park
July 21, Party in Alpine (more details to follow)
July 28, Private party in Ojinaga, Mexico
October 13, Biker Rally in Terlingua

If you're planning on making any of these shows, get ready for some fun. Very recently we began performing some new material arranged by our keyboardist, Taro Gutierrez. He has added several charts to our repertoire, including mambos, cha-cha-cha, as well as some classic Santana. It's all great fun to play, and we feel you'll like, too.

Bye, for now.

Upcoming shows

Greetings from The Resonators! We are really looking forward to playing for our friends and fans in the very near future. Right now we are putting in some serious practice on new material, much of which has been been recently very well-received.

Our webmaster (John Ferguson, the elder) is gone on vacation for a few days, so until the site is updated, here are a few new dates:

June 30th, Independence Day Celebration in Presidio
July 4th, Independence Day Celebration in Alpine (Tentative)

See you soon!

Thank you Blackwell Reunion Committee!

The Mardi Gras Dance in Marfa was a lot of fun. It was a privilege to have been asked to play, and we look forward to the next time!

As of right now our calendar is way too empty to suit our tastes, so check back often or read the local newsapapers for updates on our next public gig. We're hoping to play at Ray's Bar in Marfa in the near future, as well as return to Railroad Blues sometime before June. In addition, there's the Presidio Honey Festival, various Cinco de Mayo celebrations around the area, and upcoming summer events.

Meanwhile, The Resonators will be busy working on new material, preparing for the next time we see everybody.

Take care!

Railroad Blues was a blast! Next show is February 17th in Marfa.

I have a confession. I was getting really nervous a couple of weeks before we played Railroad Blues, mainly because we had to break in a brand new drummer with no experience playing with us at all. It certainly didn't help that we (the band) physically couldn't get together due to inclement weather for almost two weeks. Then finally we got a chance to "ensayar" as Taro puts it. Three "ensayos" later, it was time to unveil the newest incarnation of The Resonators at Railroad Blues. At the drumset was our new pal Fefe, and Huevo on Latin percussion. I guess it's OK to worry about having things ready; the final product definitely was worth it!

Sure hope everyone had a fun time Friday at Railroad Blues. The chemistry on stage couldn't have been better. And the really cool part is that this new lineup is committed to continuing our tradition of keeping the music fresh. We'll have some Mardi Gras fun in store when we play in Marfa on February 17th. Maybe a little New Orleans jazz is in order for far west Texas? Well whatever the case, we're excited to have the chance to play for the good folks in Marfa. More info on that gig real soon.

Thanks again for coming to see us last Friday. The Blues is such a driving force behind a flourishing live music scene out here in the Big Bend, and they appreciate your patronage. Hope to play there again real soon! Take care, everyone.

Welcome Huevo and FeFe!

Front (left to right): Jose "Taro" Gutierrez, Tony Lujan, Carlos "Fe-Fe" Ramirez
Back (left to right): John Ferguson, Lucy Ferguson, Jesus "El Huevo" Hernandez

See you at Railroad Blues on Friday, February 2nd!

Happy 2007! See you on February 2nd at Railroad Blues.

Where did 2006 go? Wow! It definitely was a year of change as we said 'adios' to Terry Davidson and Jerry Castellano. But it's funny how things go; Jerry will soon be back, replacing Frank Rodriguez, who moved to San Antonio. In addition, our good friend Carlos Franco has enrolled at UT San Antonio, but assures us he'll be glad to sit in on our gigs this summer. Also look for Fe-Fe to join us onstage at the Blues on February 2nd. Fe-Fe is an awesome latin percussionist who plays with Las Meras Cuerdas.

If you made it this far into the blog, you're definitely a fan! Please spread the word about our February 2nd gig. It's on a Friday and if we bring in a good crowd, you'll see us more often at The Blues. There is nowhere else in a 250 mile radius that supports live music like Railroad Blues, and The Resonators might not even exist if we didn't have it to play at. So you bring yourself and some friends, and we'll have our usual four hours crammed with as much great music as we can play! Nos vemos en Alpine!