To celebrate Cinco de Mayo — the unlikely victory the Mexican army had over their French oppressors at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 — Mad Mex have unveiled The Big Burrito Challenge.
Available throughout May and made with twice the amount of fresh ingredients as a regular burrito, The Big Burrito weighs in at over one kilo.
That's a 1kg burrito!!Last Friday (May 2) Brisbane band the Bertie Page Clinic participated in The Big Burrito Challenge alongside Scene’s editor, Gareth Bryant, at the Queens Plaza Mad Mex in Brisbane. The video will be uploaded shortly to the web for all to enjoy, but to keep the juices flowing, Bertie Page sat down and answered the following, Mexican flavoured questions.
Bertie PageCinco de Mayo is a celebration of the underdog, of the Mexican army that took on their French oppressors with the odds stacked against them. Do you feel like underdogs in the music industry? Well nobody has ever tried to steal our land, but we have been refused by many bookers and venues because we are considered too shocking. It's a sign of the times we live in, this oppressive wave of neo-conservatism has not only fouled our politics, it has also made mainstream consumers very boring. I'd rather be an underdog than a bland-dog.
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How hard is it to get your music noticed, as an independent band? What really makes things hard is being a band with a female frontwoman and the fact that the glam factor and theatrical costuming (and lack of costuming) leads people to think that the music is somehow not ‘valid’. I am constantly being questioned about what the music ‘is all about’, which is bizarre as the lyrics are very narrative, presenting abundant meaning through social/ political themes and storylines. If people think it is more ‘valid’ for guys in black shirts to mumble about how shit life is while they stare at their Cons then fuck 'em, there are plenty of other gigs they can go to.
Do you feel like underdogs compared to the power of the 1kg burrito you munched? The burrito defeated me but I am not ashamed, I enjoyed that one burrito which John [Meyer, guitarist Bertie Page Clinic] and I shared for breakfast lunch and dinner that day. I'm not an advocate of gluttony, but there are people out there who need to burn a lot of burrito power during the day, like tradies, they can polish off 1kg with no trouble and work it off on the roads and roofs. Leave it to the professional trades people, I say.
Mexican wrestling — a great thing, or the GREATEST thing? Mexican wrestling is the greatest in my eyes because I can indulge in my animal side with the knowledge that nobody will be brain damaged at the end of the night. I cannot stand to watch boxing, it disturbs me; give me theatrical conflict bound in lycra and a little pair of dick togs any day!
What would your Mexican wrestling name be? ‘Frida Will Fuck You Up’. My middle name is Frida and Frida Kahlo was a great fan of shocking people with her feminine appearance teamed with a helping of sailor mouth — a good combo.
What would your outfit look like? Have you seen the female Bolivian wrestlers who go hard in full, traditional folk dress? I'd get me one of those rig outs, just a swish of my skirts... they'd never see me coming!
What’s your relationship like with tequila? Revolting. I am a non-drinker. Alcohol tastes like poison to me, especially tequila.
What’s the difference between performing burlesque and fronting a band? Burlesque shows typically last between three to six minutes; bands play a minimum of forty minutes to three hours or longer. In burlesque you can struggle with big props, in a band you have to load guitars, a drum kit and amps and turn up at least three hours for sound check. In burlesque you have to find just the right music. In an an originals band you have to write, arrange rehearse and record your own music. I have seen both sides and continue to work in both but being in a band is by far a greater commitment for me, personally.
The Big Burrito Challenge is available nationally from Mad Mex until May 31.
