GIGS
Wednesday July 27TH @ Someday Lounge
More of a loose collective of artists and musicians than a “band”, the idea behind Puertotierra Soundsystem came to John Henry while watching Edna and Joaquin playing Mexican folk tunes to a rapt audience at a particularly lively house party. Raised on electronic music as well as acoustic folk and dance music from all corners of the globe, John Henry’s musical career has essentially revolved around combining the two. He immediately began to envision acoustic guitars and synths, 808 drums mixed with congas, Edna’s powerful voice with some heavy dub delay and electronic effects, Joaquin’s rhythm-heavy Mexican troubador style mixed with some modern digital funk. Some room for improvisation exists in the PSS sound, but the songs are essentially dubbed out, electronic-flavored full-band versions of Edna and Joaquin’s arsenal of original and classic Mexican folk songs. Sing alongs by the crowd are encouraged, as is drinking, dancing and generally creating a fiesta-like environment.
Edna Vazquez is a poet, trovadora, dreamer, composer and songwriter. She was born in Colima, Mexico and spent half her life in Tonila, Jalisco. The other half of her life she has lived in Portland, Oregon. She has been a finalist on “Tengo Talento Mucho Talento”, (Spanish language American Idol) for Estrella TV, most recently, she won a singing competition on the internationally acclaimed Univision show, Sabado Gigante. Edna loves writing songs and poems about love, deception, happiness and life memories. She is currently working on a solo CD that will be released this fall.
Joaquin Lopez is a poet, musician and songwriter. His other passion is producing creative events; past work includes: Taste of Mexico, Mexican Food Exposition at the Jupiter Hotel, Voz Alta: An Evening of Music and Poetry for Portland Latino Gay Pride, and Planeta de los Dinosaurios with Filmusik at the Hollywood Theater. Joaquin is also a partner in the catering company Mayahuel featuring chef inspired cuisine. As an actor he has worked with The Miracle Theatre, Oregon Children’s Theater, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival and DanceGatherere Dance Company.