Rodrigo y Gabriela banned in America
March 21, 2007 at 12:58 pm by Mosi Reeves in Randomly Noted
If you read my Short List pick on Rodrigo y Gabriela in Creative Loafing’s March 15 issue, and subsequently decided to check out the Mexico-to-Ireland guitar duo at the Five Spot Cafe, then you know that the March 17 show was abruptly canceled. The reason? Rodrigo Sanchez, according to a news item on Jambase.com, can’t get a visa from the U.S. Embassy:
A renowned Mexican guitarist, member of the ATO Recording artists Rodrigo Y Gabriela, has been hold up here for over two weeks since the United States Embassy declined to renew his P-1 Entertainer Visa. This unexpected situation has led to the cancellation of half a dozen U.S. shows on Rodrigo Y Gabriela’s current tour, and put in jeopardy many other major concerts and promotional appearances.
Rodrigo y Gabriela have already played in the country this year, and have logged appearances on Jay Leno, David Letterman and Craig Ferguson’s late-night talk shows. Unfortunately, according to the Jambase story, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City says that Sanchez is “an individual with a similar name who is barred from receiving a visa.” That’s bureaucracy for you.
Rodrigo Sanchez photo by Enda Casey.
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