www.CostaRicaTicas.com

There was a thread on this in mid-'06 (locked and so couldn't revive it). If you want a real Latin music experience, get yourself to El Tobagon dance hall in SJ on weekends. Dance floor about football-field size, reasonable food, and most importantly, the bring in 10-13 piece bands from DR, Colombia, all over Latin America. Not especially gringo-friendly but if you reassure the doorman and staff you're just there for the music, should be no problem. Directions, etc. available from your hotelier or other sources (Frommer's mentions it.).

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I believe I was the person who started the old thread about the 'live' music at the Key Largo. Just to refresh memories and reopen wounds (yeah right) I'll say that 90% of the bands that play there use pre-programmed keyboards as the basis of their performances. The 'live' music you hear is usually little more than the percussion, vocals and bass guitar, which is pre-programmed quite often as well. I have seen bass guitar 'players' whose fingers go nowhere near the notes that are coming out of the speakers, not to mention keyboard players whose fingers are coming nowhere near the keys that I hear being played. I am guessing that the 'musicians' are sharing these preprogrammed sequences, since the song selection of these bands is so uniform.

I realize that nearly all of the people in the Key Largo are there for reasons that have little to do with the music there. The men are there for the women, who are there for the men. But to those of us who are cursed with a musical ear or have tried to make a living playing honest music (guilty on both counts, your honor) it's irksome.

I have never been to El Tobagon, but I did hear a great Latin band at Castro's one night. But JazzboCR is right, if you want real music, forget the Key Largo. They are just background props for the working chicas and their potential customers.

_________________
"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

Bilko...I see that here in Panama too. Many of these casino bands are just programmed music shit and pretend instrumentalists. Then you have some hot female vocalists that are usually legit. I remember a couple hottie singers in those KL bands from years gone by...made the rest of the KL girls look fugly .

_________________
All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts...

So I wasn't as drunk as I thought. I witnessed it but I just assumed in my Pilsen addled brain that I was confused.

_________________
[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]

El Tobagon is just past Cinco Esquinas on the highway to Limon, very close to Motel Eden but on your right as you are going East. It's set back behind a commercial building on the highway. If you get to the first gas station on your right you have gone too far.

Sunday matinees are my favorite. Sometimes there are professional couples who are great to watch. Hubby owns a dance school and wifey sometimes travels to South America for Tango competitions and demos.

I used to take my "novia." She was always shocked to see so many happily married Tico couples. She didn't know there were any.

You're braver than me if you get up and dance. Do a double date and let the girls dance with each other.

I have always felt very welcome. Terrific salsa, merengue, bachata, bolero etc.

Rancho Garibaldi between Desemparados and Asseri is similar but the crowd much older and the music about the same.

1. Keyboardists are now required to have six hands.

2. Most keyboardists have recorded (i.e. programmed) their MIDI files themselves.


I can't speak for bass players who appear not to touch their strings, but...
Even excellent keyboard players will not be able to coordinate all the horns, strings, pianos and organs that many songs require...even I (a lousy keyboard player in my own right) have resorted to MIDI sequences and samples. Don't be so hard on the KL bands, guys.

And Bilko... at least a lot of the lead singers are cuter than your roomate. Sing better, too. And stay more sober.

_________________
Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

El C,

I agree about the singers being cuter than mine, and more sober. Better singers... you caught him on a very lousy night, but I won't totally argue with you. But as far as needing six hands to play that stuff that you hear in the Key Largo... I don't buy that. I buy that they aren't good enough to play anything of moderate difficulty. There are exceptions, naturally, but the only real musicianship I hear in these bands are in the percussion sections and a few of the singers. They are well choreographed, though. I give them that. Oh, and their outfits match. Usually.

_________________
"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

Well, I'm certain that no musician's highest aspiration involves playing in a whorehouse...surprising though, how many of us end up there.

One of the male singers at the KL...I forget the band name...actually blew me away with his vocal performance. There is musicinaship there quite often. BTW, don't take my comments about your singer too hard...I'm just having fun with you. He seemed to be a great guy.


So, can anyone tell me where this Tabacon dance hall is? I would certainly welcome the chance to hear a big latin band.

_________________
Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

As y'all are aware, jazz was born and fostered in the bordellos of New Orleans. I go to KL when I'm in San Jose hoping against hope that the Latin equivalent will break out. So far no luck...

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

EC , luck gave good directions to Tobogon in a previous post on this thread.

Tobogon is gringo friendly I do not know why anyone would think otherwise. You do not have to tell anyone what you are there for. It is at least a middle class place and the potential for trouble there is very very low.

They have a house band Tropicana which plays there. On occasion they will get a bigger name there but hardly ever. They do not get bands from DR, Colombia, etc....

Tobogon has the reputation of having the best dancers in CR. They say if you can dance in Tobogon you can dance anywhere in CR.


Wallace is the black singer lots of gringos like who plays in KL. I do not like him as he plays too much gringo music.

Kl gets no name bands although some of them are good.

El Trapiche in La Uruca is also a good music dance place. Smaller dance floor and an older lower middle class crowd. You do not have to tell the doorman or the staff that you are there for the music only either.