Below is a fun clip bringing back memories of the 2000 European Merry Mex-Mas tour by El Vez with his Memphis Mariachis and lovely Elvettes.

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Tags: El Vez, Elvettes, Feliz Navidad, Memphis Mariachis, Merry Mex-Mas, Poptones, Public Image, Robert Lopez

I first met artist/curator Robert Gordon McHarg III two decades ago, when he was developing a sadly unrealised television project based around the annual Christmas extravaganza conducted by our mutual friend, Robert Lopez, aka El Vez The Mexican Elvis.

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Tags: Alessandra Travagliati, Asgar Jorn, El Vez, Guy Debord, Joe Strummer, Maria McKee, Mémoires, Mescaleros, Robert Gordon McHarg III, Robert Lopez, Sandpaper Blues, Subway Gallery, The Return Of The Durutti Column, Vini Reilly, Wayne Kramer, Wilko Johnson

Here’s an old and new Christmas favourite; hope they spread holiday cheer.

Feliz Navidad’s blending of the Mexican Christmas carol as popularised by José Feliciano with PiL’s Public Image never fails to please, bringing back happy memories of the UK leg of the Merry Mex-Mas dates in 2000 I helped organise for my dear friend Robert Lopez, aka El Vez, who wowed audiences with his Elvettes and the Memphis Mariachis. This footage is from that tour.

Alan McGee’s Poptones released the accompanying album and the song on a limited edition 7in.

Meanwhile I’m adding Nick Lowe’s Christmas At The Airport to my list of hardy perennials; the video’s great and it was fabulous to see Nick at our Christmas drinks a couple of weeks back, fresh from yet another hit American tour.

It’s from his new album Quality Street which is as off-the-wall as you like.

Hope you enjoy both songs. Thanks for following my blog and Happy Holidays to you.

PG

Tags: Alan McGee, Christmas At The Airport, Elvettes, Feliz Navidad, José Feliciano, Memphis Mariachis, Nick Lowe, Poptones, Robert Lopez