By Mark Bowman

JOE KING CARRASCO

“BEER BARS & GUITARS” – NEW CD – 2021

ALBUM COVER AND PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK BOWMAN IMAGES

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – MARK BOWMAN

The STORY OF BEER BARS & GUITARS

by Joe King Carrasco

Back in the fall of 2020-

Luis Murillo and I started recording a new batch of songs at our studio up in San Sebastián del Oeste -Jalisco-5000 feet up🌲

For the next release after “Mariachi Blues” which came out around Christmas 2020- thanks to Mark Bowman – the executive producer.

But back in February of 2020 before the pandemic became “full blown over the top loco” I happened to be watching Narcos Mexico which was directed and shot by Diego Luna-one of my favorite actors- and filmed near San Sebastián –

One of the actors when asked where he was headed in an episode- told the border guard – “Mexico-Beer Bars & Guitars”

When I heard that- I said to myself-

“That’s gotta be a song”-

I already had the boogie blues riff- so it all fell into place-

After Luis and I had about 18 songs- we would give them to Rick del Castillo to sprinkle his magic on them- maybe – bass- guitar or organ where needed – And mix them with his “del Castillo ears” 🎸

I then gave the 18 tracks to Mark Bowman-who has been a close friend since the 1980s and was the Executive Producer for “Mariachi Blues” to see if he could find a cd with all these songs-and he said yes – and after several suggestions from Mark with mixing levels and a fresh enthusiastic ear — he came up with the 10 tracks for BEER BARS & GUITARS-

He became the motor of BB&G – he made it happen – pandemic or not…

Mark is sort of like the “Wolf” character in Pulp Fiction-

in that he gets things done fast when no else can seem to make it happen-

So Mark put together the cd package of photos and graphics taken at Rancho No Tengo in Texas- and Rachel Wade -the daughter of Bob Daddy o Wade came up with the logo design-

And it was ready by Sept 3-

WOW!

So there it is-

BEER BARS & GUITARS

PRODUCED

by Luis Murillo and Rick del Castillo

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Mark Bowman

Go grab a copy !!🎸🎸🎸

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THIS NOTE IS FROM JOE KING CARRASCO IN FRANCE – NOVEMBER 25, 2021

This last year while hiding up in the mountains of the Sierra Madre -below – La Bufa-the highest peak in Jalisco – Mexico-Riding out the pandemic loco -Luis Murillo – who comes from Chihuahua and who has worked with me for 10 years and more-and myself and amigos- built a studio in the Adobe house- and started recording a new batch of songs-For BEER BARS & GUITARS-The title – is referenced from a line out of the Diego Luna Netflix Series-Narcos Mexico-In a description of Mexico 🌵

The house where we recorded is located in the middle of a sharp curve that used to be part of the old Guadalajara Road built around 1600-that ran to San Sebastián del Oeste- hauling silver from the mines-in horse drawn wagons-So maybe we caught the spirit of that 400 year old road and maybe the souls that flew off that deadly curve – into infinity-It is called HIGHWAY 544

For a while – it was thought that the telecaster that produced these magical sounds had gone missing -We even had posters of it and a reward going around Jalisco-I started really missing this wonderful guitar-and it’s mystical sounds-I went into shock 😳😳 But then alas – it was found buried under cardboard boxes in an office – of the Vancouver Consulate in Nayarit-Mexico…….Long story-😳But it all ended well 🙏🙏🙏

We took the tracks to Rick Del Castillo-Who put his magic to the music-Mixing- playing bass and keyboards- guitar-and mastering-With his production skills-And ZING!!We then gave 18 tracks to Mark Bowman – who was the executive producer – and the CD designer-Photographer-Along with help from Rachel Wade-who is the daughter of the late Texas artist-Bob Daddy O Wade-To pick out the songs -And he came up with the running order- For —BEER BARS & GUITARS-So Grab some San Sebastián -544 -rockin Tex Mex Blues- from Colectivo Chihuahua and Joe King Carrasco-guaranteed to get you shakin !!🎸🎸🎸🎸

LINKS:

Joe King Carrasco y Colectivo Chihuahua Album Review: Beers Bars & Guitars – Music – The Austin Chronicle

Austin music: New record releases out from Joe King Carrasco and more (austin360.com)