Cinco De Mayo 1998ish

I used to be the sound guy at a great honkey tonk in Signal Hill, ca. called The Foothill. Family owned since the '50's, during it's heyday The Foothill hosted the likes of Hank Sr., Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley, catering mostly to a rowdy crowd of oil workers, longshoremen and sailors.

By the time I got there, the place was populated by the likes of Alex Hernandez (Alex's Bar- he was a bouncer and part time talent buyer), promoter Steve Zepeda and The Worlds Angriest Bartender Hal Durham . By this time The Foothill was doing great punk rock, americana, and hip hop shows (X, The Donnas, Long Beach Dub Allstars, Link Wray, Dialated Peoples).

The venue also did a regular Cinco De Mayo show with local punk rock parody legends Manic Hispanic (Mijo Goes To Junior College). During one of those shows, the band, fronted by charismatic lead singer Gabby Gaborno (RIP), managed to get themselves arrested (on stage)! Apparently, Gaborno had gotten into an altercation prior to the band's set and may or may not have flashed a gun (possibly a fake). At any rate, Signal Hill's finest were called and dispatched and I was persuaded to cut the sound and lights when they stormed the venue (weapons drawn!). They soon had the band in handcuffs, on stage, with their instruments still hanging from their necks. I sure hope someone got a picture, it would have made a great album cover-Viva La Raza!