11.09

So, it's long overdue, but I'm going to complain about the social phenomenon of the “Botellon”. If u don'y know what that is, well it's those crowds of people you see overflowing onto the road in Paseo Maritimo every weekend, standing at the boot of a car listening to crap music, and consuming large amounts of alchohol. Well it's not that I have anything against these people, I mean, I know they just want a cheap night out, and a bottle of rum from Carrefour plus some coca cola is a cheaper way to get blitzed than paying for overpriced and often poor quality Ron Colas in your typical Palma nightery, but when I can't drive my car for fear of being cut up by some pissed up “botellero” that should be driving, or getting harrassed by the same as myself and my woman walk along the street, or finding my motorbike has been pissed on, or knocked over, or it's wing mirrors damaged... ok, you get the point, I'm sure. I think I have the right to be able to decide how EMAYA spends my taxes, and every Sunday morning they spend it on cleaning up after the Botellon, or in Son Dureta casualty ward where binge drinking “botelleros” finish there evening having their stomachs pumped, or worse in the operating theatre after slamming their car into tree on the way home to Sa Pobla. I understand that people may find it fun to stand in the cold getting drunk and talking behind the boot of a Seat Ibiza, but, let's be honest here, it's niether cool nor elegant is it? It's just cheap. And it's the only alternative some of these people have left in a country that is economically on it's arse. So for that reason I propose that if the Botellon must continue, and Palma council seems happy to let it, then it should be moved to a Poligona somehwere out of Palma, and that it should be controlled, with toilets, and sanitary facilities, and most importantly, making sure that everyone who leaves the poligono in a car is stopped and breathalised too. I can't see it happening though; Palma council is happy to cream the taxes off the massive amount of take away alcohol sold every weekend to the Botelleros, but not to deal with it's fallout. Only a new approach would avoid some of the many problems.

And as usual, we change the subject and move ontowhat's happening here at Garito; the kitchen has had some new features added to it, and so too has the menu. Without trying to be a restaurant, we are introducing new dishes to the menu. This includes special deals for Christmas party groups, with different options and interesting prices. You'll find all the info on the Garito blog page.

This month we have to important guests here at Garito; The first to visit will be Roland Appel, on t Saturday 14th. When Roland began to make music in clubs at the beginning of 90s, the concept of electronic music was not the same as it is now. In recent years, and in particuarly around 2000 to 2004, nU jazz style strongly influenced the house mucic scene and theis all originated in Germany with artists like Fauna Flash and Trüby Trio. Roland worked as a major player in both of these projetcs, and in 2002, he formed Boom a new project with Peter Kruder. After living in Paris for a while he released, " Dark Soldier", as a solo affair, culminating in the realease of his first lp “Talk To Your Angel", mixing styles such as, Detroit tecno with folk, disco, soul and of course house. He will be followed by the one and only Mr. Chez Damier, on Saturday 21st. It's difficult to imagine house music without the name Chez Damier. His contributions and work and influence has spread over nearly tow decades, from early work on his hometown Chicago labels like Prescription, KMS, Serious Grooves, ect, ect, the namechecks are endless. Chez is one of House music's most legendary players, alongside Derrick May, Kevin Suanderson, Ron Trent, Alton Miller and of course the NY crowd; MAW, Todd Terry et al. I can't remember a time when I didn't have a 12” or two by the man in my box. My copy of 1992's “Can you Feel it?” was a staple of my set for nearly 15 years! Enough said Come down and check him out!

That's all for now, see you soon in Garito. Cheers!! Nacho Velasco