Saturday marked the four year anniversary of Pachanga Latino Music Festival. Despite the looming storms (which never came, of course), it was a beautiful day at Fiesta Gardens, full of wonderful music and good food. If you have yet to explore Fiesta Gardens, get to the soonest event you can! The grounds are grassy and peaceful, with a lot of places to sit and enjoy the beautiful calm water.
The first act I saw was Chingo Bling on the Hierbia stage. Chingo Bling has lots of ridiculous videos with ladies in booty shorts serving up tacos and shakin’ it and such. Many of Chingo Bling’s songs are parodies of other songs, including “Still Mexican” to the tune of the Big Tymers’ “Still Fly” or “Taco Shop” to tune of 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop”. I think if I were a high school boy I would have liked Chingo Bling better. I do give him props, though, for his signature rooster dance. Although he had recorded backup instrumentation playing behind his words, there was a live band playing along with the tracks. The drummer and guitarist tore it up--best part of the whole set.
Next I saw Mariachi Las Alteñas on the main stage. This is an all-female mariachi band. The women looked so beautiful in their matching dresses and had amazing stage presence... not to mention talented musicianship! They played violins, trumpets, vihuela, guitar and guitarron. The crowd went wild for the band. Mariachi is so much fun not only to listen to, but the show is so entertaining and upbeat that you can’t help but smile and dance.
In addition to the main stage and Hierba stage, there was a tent with DJ music and the patio stage. Chico Mann, a electro/freestylist, played the patio stage to a dancing crowd. He sang over hypnotic beats and worked up a sweat over his computer in the sun. Pachanga represented a large, luscious range of Latino music--Chico Mann is so vastly different Mariachi Las Alteñas, but shares a common thread. And supporting all kinds of music and cultures in Austin is what it’s all about.
Los Skarnales brought the energy up bounced around the stage with copious amounts of energy and catchy Spanish and English anthems. This band, dressed to the nines, played unique but oddly familiar Latin/Ska music. They played to a crowd filled with adults and children, but gave a special shout out to kids and their parents, giving them props for coming out and experiencing music and culture from a young age.
Lastly I was delighted to immerse myself if the musical stylings of the Echocentrics on the main stage. The band was formed by Grammy award winner Adrian Quesada, and fronted by two famous Latina singers, Tita Lima and Natalia Clavier. Lima was dressed in gold and spandex, while Clavier looked classic in a sundress. Although their wardrobes were so opposing, their voices sounded wonderful together in front of the complex yet dancey music.
If you missed Pachanga this year, make sure to treat yourself to the experience next year! There are so many great bands to check out and festivals to attend here in Austin... but you must add one more to the list!
The first act I saw was Chingo Bling on the Hierbia stage. Chingo Bling has lots of ridiculous videos with ladies in booty shorts serving up tacos and shakin’ it and such. Many of Chingo Bling’s songs are parodies of other songs, including “Still Mexican” to the tune of the Big Tymers’ “Still Fly” or “Taco Shop” to tune of 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop”. I think if I were a high school boy I would have liked Chingo Bling better. I do give him props, though, for his signature rooster dance. Although he had recorded backup instrumentation playing behind his words, there was a live band playing along with the tracks. The drummer and guitarist tore it up--best part of the whole set.
Next I saw Mariachi Las Alteñas on the main stage. This is an all-female mariachi band. The women looked so beautiful in their matching dresses and had amazing stage presence... not to mention talented musicianship! They played violins, trumpets, vihuela, guitar and guitarron. The crowd went wild for the band. Mariachi is so much fun not only to listen to, but the show is so entertaining and upbeat that you can’t help but smile and dance.
In addition to the main stage and Hierba stage, there was a tent with DJ music and the patio stage. Chico Mann, a electro/freestylist, played the patio stage to a dancing crowd. He sang over hypnotic beats and worked up a sweat over his computer in the sun. Pachanga represented a large, luscious range of Latino music--Chico Mann is so vastly different Mariachi Las Alteñas, but shares a common thread. And supporting all kinds of music and cultures in Austin is what it’s all about.
Los Skarnales brought the energy up bounced around the stage with copious amounts of energy and catchy Spanish and English anthems. This band, dressed to the nines, played unique but oddly familiar Latin/Ska music. They played to a crowd filled with adults and children, but gave a special shout out to kids and their parents, giving them props for coming out and experiencing music and culture from a young age.
Lastly I was delighted to immerse myself if the musical stylings of the Echocentrics on the main stage. The band was formed by Grammy award winner Adrian Quesada, and fronted by two famous Latina singers, Tita Lima and Natalia Clavier. Lima was dressed in gold and spandex, while Clavier looked classic in a sundress. Although their wardrobes were so opposing, their voices sounded wonderful together in front of the complex yet dancey music.
If you missed Pachanga this year, make sure to treat yourself to the experience next year! There are so many great bands to check out and festivals to attend here in Austin... but you must add one more to the list!
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