I have been in the Vera Cruz region of Mexico the last few weeks playing congas with my uncle's band. His conga player got pretty badly injured in a soccer game, so I'm filling in for him for the next month. Now is the very busy seasons with end of Mexican school year celebrations and graduations. Also the band has done several 27 and 52 year wedding anniversary that we're postponed due to COVID.

People love to celebrate down here. and the bands work their back sides off! The parties often go until dawn. The band does a 3 hour set takes an hour break and then another 1-3 hour set, hardly ever stops between songs. If they do stop, it's part of the act, with some funny jokes or audience participation type stuff.

Here's a cell phone video of yours truly on congas, playing an elementary school end of the year party. Interesting to note that in this day and age people still actually get dressed up, and kids, teens, adults (even elderly ones) all have fun together and get down to the same music. Sadly that's a very strange concept for us "gringos"