"The lines that connects Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull, BB King, Jimi Hendrix and many more is the raw roots and sincerity in this form of music where a single note can say more than words."

Carlos Medina Mendoza: State of Flux

Mexican bass player Carlos Medina Mendoza, lives in Playa del Carmen (Mexico) and performs in La Riviera Maya with his different musical projects: The Harharhar - State of Flux. The album "State of Flux" is a collection of some of them. Venturing into the Heraldic Holy of Holies, among the Banners of Bluesmen, Rockers and even Punks...Absurd, Intolerable, and an Outrage! This is "THE HARHARHAR" Blues & Boogie Band from La Riviera Maya!!         Carlos Medina Mendoza, 2013 / Photo by Vincenzo Guerault/All rights reserved

The band are: Carlos Medina Mendozappa (bass, contrabass & vocals), Frank Marciano (drums), Nacho Boogie (piano & vocals), Karmen Guy (vocal), Ynez Tulsen (vocals & wild dancing), Guillermo "mamooth" Dueñas (guitar, slide guitar & vocals), Mauro Montero (guitar & slide guitar), Juan Carlos "YOM YOM" (tenor sax), and Rainer Cabrera (trumpet).

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the Rock n’ Roll culture and what does the blues mean to you?

I learn that the human soul got no limits in time and space and the blues is my favorite way to express it.

How do you describe The Harharhar State of Flux sound and songbook? What characterize your philosophy?

The Harharhar blues & boogie band is an old classic blues cover band. A song book would be great and our philosophy is not to be worried with troubles with solution and with troubles without solutions as well.

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

My best memories was playing and sharing the stage with Vince Welnick (The Tubes, Grateful Dead) In Akumal Down in La Riviera Maya.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I miss the great riffs and licks. My hopes is to stop the MEDIOCRE DJ'S TECNO-SHIT CULTURE and my fear is that the MEDIOCRE POP MUSIC keeps wearing its ugly head for another 40 years!

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

I'll change the pitiful budgets the musicians are subjected to and pay them what the politicians earn.

"The impact is the force of music that can get people together better than any political party." (Photo: Carlos Medina Mendoza and The Harharhar State of Flux, Mexico 2014)

Make an account of the case of Blues Rock in Mexico.  What touched (emotionally) you from the local circuits?

The Mexican blues scene always has been so pathetic but I'm touched by the great response from audiences from all over the world.

Are there any similarities between the blues and the genres of local folk music and traditional forms?

The similarities are the sincerity from the musicians' souls.

What are the lines that connect the legacy of Blues from Frank Zappa and Jethro Tull to BB King and Jimi Hendrix?

The lines that connects Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull, BB King, Jimi Hendrix and many more is the raw roots and sincerity in this form of music where a single note can say more than words.

What is the impact of Rock n’ Blues music and culture to the racial, political and socio-cultural implications?

The impact is the force of music that can get people together better than any political party.

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really want to go for a whole day?

Way back to Woodstock '69 for 3 days for obvious reasons.

Carlos Medina Mendoza / Photo by Vincenzo Guerault