RSVP
"L.A. David spent 11 days in the hospital last month, the doctors mentioned it might have been fatal and diagnosed him with complicated diverticulitis.
Salute International Bar's Mera Mera Chingona *Azeneth* will be sponsoring a fundraiser for L.A.
A silent art auction will be held with contributing artists:Jesse Trevino, Liz Rodriguez, Joe Lopez, Robert Tatum, Juan Miguel Ramos, Ed Saavedra, Victor Tello, Jim Haught, and Nephtali De Leon. Featuring the work of L.A. David
Guero Polkas:
Master of Ceremonies
Music starts at 6pm with a solo performance by El Julio.
Line-up includes Dawn Of Stereo, Dickie Briganza, Snowbyrd, Ghost Tracks, ManEaters Of Tsavo, and D.J. Refried Cheto [Agosto Cuellar].
Fire spinning ritual el la calle by Mari Chingas.
Event coordinators are Mari Chingas and El G.
This will be the final and last ''BURRO FEST'' C/S"
"Finality loves company, apparently.
But even with Saluté's impending closure, music and left-of-center fun continues at the corner of North St. Mary's Street and East Russell Place.
Azeneth Dominguez's Saluté International Bar celebrated its 25th anniversary last weekend, but the St. Mary's Strip landmark is set to shutter its doors at the end of July.
Sunday, Saluté will mark the end of another era — the last of L.A. David's rock, punk and Chicano art/poetry gatherings known as Burro Fest.
The flamboyant artist and beloved, longtime music-scene fashion fixture is dealing with painful complications from diverticulitis. A flare-up in May landed him in the hospital “for a horrible 11 days.”
Sunday's gig — with exhibit contributions from artists Jesse Treviño, Liz Rodriguez, Joe Lopez, Robert Tatum, Juan Miguel Ramos, Ed Saavedra, Nephtali De Leon, and David — features music by El Julio, ManEaters of Tsavo, Dawn Of Stereo, Dickie Bragonzo, Snowbyrd, Ghost Tracks, D.J. Refried and DJ Cheto. Ricky “Güero Polkas” Davila is master of ceremonies.
The fundraising event begins at 6 p.m. and aims to assist with David's recent medical bills.
Sadly, the artist (who not so secretly always wanted to play drums in a rock band) says he doesn't have the stamina to attend Sunday's party.
David developed his distinctive rock 'n' roll rebel image in the early '80s at Joe Lopez's Gallista Gallery and became “a working canvas.”
“I wanted to try something different in my style,” said David, who came up with his moniker at Taco Land because “there were three other Davids” that hung out at the punk club.
David began by pairing red shirts with green pants. He added shades, leather jackets and stylish, if outrageous, shoes — usually turquoise blue, peach-yellow or pink.
“You name it, I've got it,” he said.
The Keith Richards sunglasses had been a signature since his mid-'60s days at Fox Tech High School.
“From there, it developed into a higher form of fashion art,” he explained.
The outcome, which came to include applying shades of colored paint on his face and incorporating glitter, he deemed as “South Side-rageous!”
His transformation, though gradual, yielded instant results. People loved it.
“I'm so glad,” admitted David, who recounted the day some tattooed hipster kids came into Gallista Gallery and told owner Lopez, “Hey, we look like L.A.”
Lopez lightheartedly answered, “You know what, you'll never reach that point. L.A. is the one and only.”
One fashion rival on the local music scene comes to mind — the late Esteban “Steve” Jordan in his prime. But David says “El Parche” wasn't a factor.
“I don't think so, I was too busy doing my own thing here, to get to that high level,” said the artist. “People would come (to art exhibits) just to see what I was wearing.”
David's Burro Fest 3 promises to be as experimental, fun, haphazard and loud as past Taco Land gigs, informed by his Chicano Movement activism, love of pop art and rock 'n' roll.
“Taco Land closed. Now, here comes Saluté,” said David. “This is the last of Burro Fest. It's time to close.”
hsaldana@express-news.net
