[Dixielandjazz] Hazards of Gigging in Mexico

Stephen G Barbone barbonestreet at earthlink.net
Thu Jan 20 13:04:11 PST 2011


 From The NY Daily News:

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband

Leaving the audience wanting more is the goal of every musician,  
unless you're a musician in violence-torn Mexico.
Two members of local group La Excelencia were murdered in a  
Guadalajara bar early Monday morning after refusing to play more songs  
past closing time, El Occidental of Mexico reported.
Jonathan Martinez, 22, and Gustavo Alejandro, 35, were pronounced dead  
outside the Vida Divina nightclub, gunned down by unidentified  
assailants with suspected ties to the country's notorious drug gangs.
A third victim, identified as bar patron Leslie Soltero, 26, was taken  
to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to her ankle.
When La Excelencia's performance came to an end around 4 a.m. local  
time, four reportedly intoxicated and aggressive audience members  
demanded the musicians continue playing. Sensing trouble, the group  
extended its set by two songs, but was eventually forced to pull the  
plug by the bar's owner, according to El Occidental.
Out of nowhere, one of the instigators threw a grenade at the stage.  
The explosion injured one person and had panicked customers running  
for the exits.
Martinez and Alejandro were among those who fled the bar, but they  
were met at the front door by a hail of bullets, presumably from the  
same four men who had harassed them earlier.
By the time police arrived at the scene, the killers had already  
escaped by car. No witnesses were able to identify the getaway vehicle.





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