03-03-2018 / Cuéntame Tu Vida 89.5 FM
Richi Bebe and Guerrero Sixx hosting "Cuéntame Tu Vida"
Jim Morrison and Marilyn Manson used to say that "rock is dead" but I never truly understood what they meant by that because in my experience, rock doesn't die, it transforms.
One of its transformations is how the genre acquires different and unique nuances to it depending on the geographical region where it is produced. The Tuareg band Tinariwen has nothing to do with the style used by the Russian band Mumiy Troll, yet both are considered bands that perform rock music.
That variety is what makes me write this time about one of the most important radio shows about Mexican rock out there, and that's in part due to the kind of labor they do, which is give an open forum to that rock music made by Mexicans which we won't necessarily will end up hearing on the radio or maybe we will when that Spotify setlist we're playing just doesn't hit the right tone and we'll never know how that song is named because we took forever to open Shazam.
That radio show it's called Cuéntame Tu Vida (Talk To Me About Your Life).
Hosted by Guerrero Sixx and Richi Bebé, this show is a platform dedicated to that Mexican rock that is considered underground or that isn't that popular, but that it's made by Mexicans for the world, because for the surprise of many (including myself), there is a substantial offer for all tastes.
Guerrero Sixx and Richi Bebé on air
The show is broadcasted on the 89.5 FM frequency, through the signal of Radio UAC, the official radio station of the Autonomous University of Coahuila, which is known for giving a platform to this kind of radio shows that focus on music that won't be heard on commercial stations.
The live broadcasts are transmitted every Saturday from 4 to 6:00 P.M., and despite the initial impression, time does fly away when discovering so many new songs; from the surf rock made in Mexico during the 60s to the heavy rock made by women which doesn't kowtow to the heavy metal made by men-only bands. From the progressive rock that evokes Emerson, Lake & Palmer or Rush to the protest rock that it's hard not to come by in a country like this one. The Mexican people can endure a lot but they are not quiet about it.
Laura operating the controls during the live broadcasts
One important aspect I do want to underscore it's the show's production. Contrary to what you would expect, the work done by Guerrero and Richi is quite exhausting; they don't select just anyone. While it's true that the show is open to almost anything, the exception being commercial music, the selected bands must meet a certain standard to be chosen and aired.
That means that both of them must search, listen to and pick among thousands of songs each week in order to produce the broadcast. There's also the fact that it isn't just an issue of playing the songs and be done with it, they thoroughly research the bands they've selected to give context and increase the overall music knowledge of their fanbase.
That is not something you see in today's commercial stations where music is background noise to adorn forced personalities rather than the main subject.
That's why I dedicate this entry to Richi, Guerrero and Laura, because they work in the trenches giving a chance to those who saw doors close in the way because they dared to be different.
I'm posting several links on which you'll be able to listen to the live broadcasts through the Internet (it works in PC as well as mobile), the show's Facebook page and to the photo albums I've posted when I had the pleasure of being invited to one of the broadcasts.
(The player is right in the middle of the page)
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