I was in New York last week for a brief work trip. On the #2 train between midtown and Harlem, this trio norteño entered and played a spirited version of La bamba (which is actually a canción jarocha from Veracruz. Still, they have to cater to the crowd: La bamba is probably the best-known Mexican tune among gringos after Cielito lindo). I told the bass player that I live in Mexico City and that there are a lot of itinerant musicians on the metro there. “I know,” he said. “There are too many of us. That’s why we’re here.”