In Between Coffees.
“This is best weather” stated Mercedes Oller about the sunny, however windy, day when I met her for this interview.
The 24-yr-aged had not too long ago arrived from the US, wherever she’d been touring for the past month with her band Las Robertas. This all-girl (and guy in drag) band, arrived in the songs scene significantly less than two a long time ago and has reached the sort of success you see about in sepia-toned independent documentaries.
After enjoying in modest venues all around their property nation, they exploded in the indie blogosphere, with a fuzzy melancholy that has made them 1 of those rare bands whose audio breaks your heart whilst generating you shake your hips.
Meche, as she’s known as by her close friends, is your normal youthful woman, or perhaps not so significantly. A latest university graduate in interior design and style, her down-to-earth vibe and passion for nearly anything that has to do with the arts is as infectious as Las Robertas’ tunes. Keeping up with all the references she makes will take a slight work, but she does this unintentionally, in a totally innocent way. You know how there are so a lot of artists out there who bask in their information and talk like Tarantino characters nicely Mercedes is just not like that and her humbleness makes her a sort of rock band oxymoron.
Coming from a really musical household (her brother plays in 424, but we’ll get to that later…) as a kid she studied ballet and learned to play the guitar. She’s been in other Costa Rican bands but as she’ll tell you, the finest audio in the region is typically obscured by the larger bands that have been taking part in the identical issue for decades and have designed a kind of blind allegiance that encourages compelled traditionalism more than friendly coexistence.
More than getting a profitable musician, Mercedes is also a “hardcore Josefina”, who loves her hometown so considerably, that any afternoon with her can turn into a personalized guide of “dos and don’ts” in the Costa Rican funds. She drives, but feels just at home in the city’s public transportation exactly where she generally pops out because of her easy but stylish style.
Sitting down for coffee, I inquire her why is it that visitors have no notion that Costa Rica has these kinds of a wealthy cultural surroundings and specifically why is it that visitors have no idea about what San José is all about. The funds generally serves as a hub for the thousands of foreign visitors who keep in San José overnight just before leaving for the volcanoes and seashores.
If you inquire any of them why they do not keep in San José extended, or really basically not depart it at all, they will inform you it’s due to the fact there is nothing at all to do in city.
Mercedes might be the particular person to prove them wrong. As a musician, she knows all the best evening spots exactly where you might be astonished by a neo jazz quartet or a moody punk band. As a designer, she can position out all the architectural riches and galleries that generally get lost amid the serial-made structures in town.
With this in mind, I asked her to support me occur up with some lists of music and areas that you can’t skip in San José.
Top five Bands
If you inquire everyone what they know about Costa Rican new music, they’ll probably occur up with some standard instrumental tunes or one thing like Malpais. When I asked Mercedes she selected this,
Zopilot
”They have great power!” she says of the band in which her fellow Las Robertas’ drummer Franco Valenciano, serves as percussionist. Mercedes thinks their “spontaneous rock captivates the audience and makes them dance”.
Niño Koi
”Their songs is so emotional, it is a total psychological trip” but really don't assume them to be all mellow and boring, Meche adds that Koi is aware “how to place on an brilliant live show!”
The Great Wilderness
Las Robertas’ Monserrat Vargas is also a member of this band, which Meche praises for their “intense sounds”.
424
“They’re almost certainly the most well-liked band and they reunite the greatest musicians in town”, one particular of them being her more youthful brother Felipe. 424 lately became only the 2nd band in heritage to have reached the number a single spot in Latin MTV’s Top 10. Their “great charisma and presence” tends to make them the best selection for a “great stay show”.
Monte
This project just not long ago manufactured its very first appearance in the Costa Rican music scene and Mercedes calls them her “new favorite”. She raves, “they have the greatest of the greatest! Best songs, finest songs, very best performances!”.
Now that we know the bands, in which can we discover them?
Best 5 Venues in San José
Lobo Estepario
This little venue is located right across from the Nationwide Museum and has turn out to be the go-to spot to see up and coming bands from all around city. There is not considerably of an “ambiance” but its down to earth performance tends to make it fairly an experience.
Jazz Café is maybe the most intriguing venue in city, they have a excellent meals and drinks menu, often feature astounding bands, by the way it is the San Pedro one particular, not the 1 in Escazú!
El Steinvorth, this hip lounge is found in a historical creating in the heart of downtown San José. They normally have a distinct event every single night time of the week, their dancefloor sessions are specially common.
El Cuartel de la Boca del Monte
The place to be on a Monday evening has turn into as chameleonic as the men and women who show up at it. Weekends can attribute bands that play every genre, from ballads to surf rock.
Sala Calle fifteen, this intimate venue is best for “unplugged” sessions and artsy events. Its place tends to make it a great spot to transfer on for right after events in hip bars and lounges.
I asked her how individuals had been meant to find out about all these concerts and impromptu gigs, provided that San José is often plastered with fliers for metal bands, metaphysical occasions and this kind of, but seldom showcases indie bands.
She suggested men and women checked out the bands’ sites and followed them by way of the most well-liked social networks or 89 Decibeles.
Preserve in mind that most of these bands play just for the adore of it, they are rarely sponsored and the ones that get signed with file labels are even less.
Of course, new music is not every thing, and Mercedes also is aware the very best non-songs, spots to pay a visit to in city. From thrift stores to classic diners, she gives us a look at her individual personal San José, the final results may well shock you.
Chelles
This diner is located in San José’s central avenue wherever it’s stood for decades. Mercedes thinks the meals there is excellent, specially since of its handy 24/7 agenda. Even though “gallo pinto” is the Costa Rican dish by default, you have to check out the rice with squid from Chelles, which is also “great [spot to go to] right after a show”.
Kalu
This gourmet café serves what Meche calls “the greatest food in town”, its available costs, wonderful ambiance and all above substantial good quality make it a great spot for an afternoon coffee or an early drink. Mercedes is also fond of their gallery and store exactly where you can acquire distinctive pieces manufactured by regional and worldwide artists. You can get Las Robertas’ debut album Cry Out Loud here as well.
Parque España
This minor park sits correct across from the Casa Amarilla and the INS in downtown San José and it is very shut to Barrio Amón, a single of Meche’s favourite neighborhoods. She revealed being a fan of the park’s tranquility and its greenness. The park is also subsequent to the Modern Art Museum which delivers some incredible free concerts in the course of the summer time.
Location City
This is one of these areas you would never ever find out about if it wasn’t for some regional advice. Meche says “this garage variety of bar [in Barrio La California] has the finest new music for partying”, they play bands like The Smiths, Jesus and Mary Chain and more recent things. This would be a bar where you would locate Las Robertas’ blasting out of the stereo all evening lengthy, also “they have low cost beer and drinks”.
Romantica Venezia
As you might know, or not, the indie scene is best acknowledged for its Diy-ness, dressing up in vintage and retro design is the thing to do and thrift outlets have gone from meh to cool with them.
Meche’s favourite thrift spot is this enormous shop in San Jose, in which she says you will discover “great items, reduced rates and [wait for this…] great Latino music”.
Hmmm, perhaps it is all about the audio in the stop.
Check out Las Robertas’ debut album in retailers now! Also, be certain to examine out some of the finest hotels in San José, who is aware, you may even be lucky sufficient to catch an amazing concert close by.