It was straight out of a George Lopez comedy skit. It was Vatos with their ironed Pendleton's and bushy moustaches, Rucas on their arms sporting painted eyebrows and short skirts which some would say weren't "age appropriate." It was a tough looking crowd, to say the least. We waited in line outside The Montebello Inn to see the legendary Joe Bataan, The Afro-Filipino Latin King. In the 60's and 70's he released some of the best Boogaloo and Latin Soul albums on the infamous record labels Fania and Salsoul. Although Joe is from New York, he has been supplying the soundtrack to the slow and low culture of East L.A. since before I was an embryo.

 The Montebello Inn is a straight-up dive. The kind of dive you only see on the outskirts of Los Angeles. All the cleaning in the world couldn't wash away the stains and memories this place has seen. My friends and I quickly got a table in the back. We didn't want to dish out the extra thirty bucks to sit in the V.I.P. area, located a mere 15 feet away from us. So, we ordered a round of the strongest Margaritas I have ever had, in fact it's a good thing smoking is banned in clubs otherwise we would have been lit on fire every time we took a sip.

 After a mediocre opening band, Joe Bataan quickly came onstage. A fifteen-piece band backed him up and I prayed they would retain that old school flavor. He and the band did not disappoint. They started off with I Wish You Love Part 2 and launched into hit after hit. He played Ordinary Guy, Subway Joe, Gypsy Women, Latin Strut and his version of Shaft. Joe sounded pristine. He hadn't suffered any deterioration in his voice that usually comes with age.

 Quite buzzed, I continued to yell out my request for a recent Joe Bataan song entitled, Call My Name. I don't think that the oldies crowd was familiar with this gem, released on the Vampisoul label in 2004. My guess is that they were thinking, "Why does this guy want Joe to call out his name?"

I went to a baptism the other day for one Mateo Gareza in the city of Montebello. Montebello, for those not in the know, is situated between the more interesting East Los Angeles, Monterey Park and Rosemead. They used to have a Puerto Rican parade, the only one west of Chicago but was deemed too much fun and moved to the Pomona Fairgrounds. It still has a lot of Mexican restaurants, chain stores and bakeries.

Mateo wore a white Ralph Lauren with popped collar and white trousers. Several other boys wore similar outfits although some sported white dress shirts and vests and the girls all dressed like child brides.

  13 year old child bride with 37 year old husband in Maine
 


Judi Evans, from "Days of Our Lives" is from Montebello ...

You figured it would be in the South, hanh? Racialist.

                              Young Master Gareza                                            Glamorous Montebello Town Center Mall

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