The Santa Cruz Carnival groups have started rehearsing after more than a year of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the case of the murga Crazy devils, who has returned to his rehearsal room, in the central and well-known La Noria street, in Santa Cruz, to get his voices ready for the return to the stage, in a party inspired by science fiction, which will take place between the January 28 and March 6, 2022.
This murga, with half a century of history and with more than 90 members, meets, for the moment, twice a week, in several batches, and by voices, to be able to rehearse without risk of contagion. The group received NOTICE JOURNAL last Thursday, in which it was his first test and after the pertinent municipal authorization. “We can sing in groups of 20, but we are doing it in groups of 10. Then it will be time to assemble the voices.” For this, the Consistory will temporarily grant them large spaces so that they can all sing together, as if they were in the contest, in which in this edition only 85 people will be able to take the stage, without the possibility of making changes of components between song and song. “This is what we have to do this year. We have to be responsible for the good of all ”, they comment.
They are very sorry that some groups have had “significant casualties” after the pandemic and that child murgas have had to lower the quota “to not disappear.” Before nine o’clock at night, which is the time at which the rehearsal of the first group of Diablos Locos begins, there are already members of the murga at the door of the premises. The reunions between the components are special. You can see the affection they have for each other, the trust that unites them and the desire for Carnival.
Everyone agrees that the wait has been long. And it is that they recognize that they are “very familiar, very friends” and are always in contact. They say that “although some members have decided to stop, especially for work,” most continue, because Carnival is in their blood and because they have “more desire than ever.”
“If this year we didn’t go out, he gave us something. We were already climbing the walls. If it is not for the groups, the Carnival is dying, and you have to continue with the traditions. In addition, we come, disconnect and have a great time ”.
Their first sensations “have been wonderful”, but the worst thing they have is singing with a mask. “If it is difficult to speak, imagine yourself to sing. It is not easy, above all, to vocalize so that it is heard well, but we will achieve it, little by little ”, says one of the members.
The director arrives, Maxi, which points out that for now they only have one letter, which is the one they are rehearsing. “There will be some mention of the pandemic, the Tenerife Sports Club, political criticism and a lot of hesitation. Now the fastest thing is the suits. It seems like there is a long time left, but it flies by ”.
The bells of the La Concepción church ring. It’s nine o’clock. The rehearsal begins and for this they stand in a circle. They are separated and they all wear the mask. It is the moment of the parade. The musical base is heard and they begin to sing. It is impossible not to get excited. Sounds like Carnival. The time has come to leave the premises. And it is already known that the letters of the murgas are a secret until the day of the contest.
This year, Diablos Locos will take the stage with more enthusiasm than ever. Maxi confesses that “the motto of the murga has always been to go to win”, but that, on this occasion, “the prize is to be able to go out, hesitate and make people enjoy themselves. We are prepared to fight and we are going to give everything, because people are waiting to see us. The award is the least of it ”.
