Meanwhile, Back at the Ranchera

Olga and Federico Galindo have corralled the regional-Mexican concert market, the sounds of home.

A A A Comments By Harrison Fletcher Thursday, Oct 24 2002

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"This music is about romance and love and pain and anything you go through in life, except it's in Spanish," she says. "These concerts are really mellow, too. Not like people think. At the end of the night, this place isn't trashed. People are really respectful. All this used to be underground, but now it's out in the open. And it's about time, too."

Laura Herrera arrived here from Chihuahua three years ago. "These bands are from my country," she says. "I feel like I'm still there when I hear them."

Anthony Camera

Los Terribles del Norte rock the Denver Coliseum.

Anthony Camera

Federico and Olga Galindo

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In the box office, Olga stands at a counter, stacking twenties and chatting with VIPs. Federico hovers backstage with his cell phone, making sure everything runs smoothly. And it has. More than 7,000 people have come to the show. For a few hours on a Saturday night, they've brought the men and women from Mexico a little closer to home.

"To us," Olga says, "that's a good feeling."

The arena lights dim. Fog drifts over the dance floor, strobe lights flicker, and Los Temerarios take the stage.

Delia Flores scurries toward the stands with her broom and dustpan just as the band begins one of its signature songs: "Una Lágrima Más" -- one more teardrop.

Delia stands on her tiptoes, bites her lip, places a hand on the shoulder of a bystander. And then, as thousands join in around her, she begins to sing.