During June and July of 2007, Ethan Azarian and Melissa Knight treated residents and visitors to Real de Catorce to wonderful performances at Abundancia, Eucalipto and Tolentino on several occasions. Ethan's rich lyrics and wonderful guitar arrangements were accentuated by the richness of Melissa's cello in a perfect match of instrument and voice.

The couple live in Austin, Texas when they are not touring in the United States and Mexico. Originally from Vermont, Ethan has lived in Austin for the past fifteen years. He was formerly with the Hollywood Indians in the late eighties and then later he founded the group Orange Mother who have released four albums of music. While Ethan was a mainstay in the Austin music scene, he is almost as well known for his paintings. In 2002, he was voted Best Painter in the Austin Chronicle's annual reader survey.

They arrived in Real with a good quanity of their latest album, but it sold out quickly. You can purchase a copy at the link given below. Described as "prophetic," truly original, and non-commercial, Ethan's style is an eclectic mix of folk, pop, and rock. In addition to Ethan's new solo release Cross'n Over, the recording label is proud to be home to the Orange Mothers Greatest Hits.

It should come as no surprise to those that have heard Ethan's wonderful guitar stylings that he grew up with music. His father is the folk legend Tom Bango, whose band was Ethan's first musical gig. His father and other family members have joined him on his past albums.

When Ethan and Melissa left Real de Catorce to continue their tour in San Miguel the silence was a reminder of the their wonderful music. Hopefully, they will return soon and grace our village with more of their eclectic mix of music.

For more on Ethan Azarian and Melissa Knight visit the links below:

Listen and purchase Music by Ethan and Melissa

Video on Ethan Azarian

Article in the Austin Chronicle

Ethan's Paintings

Article in the Austinist

Fantasmas del Real consists of Beto on guitar and Isreal on the melodica. Beto is from Monclova, Mexico and Isreal is from Torreon. Pictured from left to right are Beto, Barbara Wilson, Isreal, and Bill Hood.

Beto and Isreal played several venues around town, most at Abundancia and Tolentino, but they also performed for a wedding that was held in Real de Catorce. The performances were always met not only with approval, but many people sang along with the popular Mexican songs about the revolution.

A CD was produced by Wilson and Hood from a live recording at Abundancia on one of the evenings. The CD has 12 songs and was an instant sell-out. Plans are being made to reproduce the CD and sell it on Viva Real de Catorce. Keep an eye out for this wonderful album.

For those not familiar with the melodica, it is a free-reed instrument that sounds very similar to the accordion or perhaps a harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole, allowing air to flow through a reed. The keyboard is usually two or three octaves long. Previously used primarily to teach music fundamentals to children, the melodica was probably first used as a serious musical instrument by jazz musician Phil Moore Jr. on his Atlantic Records album Right On, 1969 (SD-1530). It is most often associated with Jamaican dub and reggae musicians in the 1970s.