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Gonzo Report: Tequila & Taco Fest starts damp and gets wet
Shaking off the rain at the Del Mar Fairgrounds
Adelaide brought Latin jams from Texas by way of LA.
Over the past 50 years, there have been just six instances of measurable rainfall in San Diego on April 26. So you would think the decision to stage an outdoor festival in Del Mar on that date would be a pretty safe bet. But if you've ever experienced a ski trip with zero snow, a tennis tournament suffering gale force winds, or a soccer match buffeted by a hurricane, you know that the weather gods have a knack for serving as the ultimate disruptors. So I wasn't too shocked or upset by the pesky rainfall that delayed my visit to the Tequila and Taco Music Festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for a couple of hours.
Apparently, other folks felt the same way, because there was still plenty of parking when I arrived at close to 4 pm and joined the steady trickle of people making their way inside. I was lucky to have scored VIP tickets, and happily accepted my free drink ticket and novelty foam taco hat at the gate. Once inside, I took a walk around and soaked in the atmosphere; the event has become an annual tradition, but this was my first time. In past years, the Tequila and Taco Music Festival has been held at Snapdragon's Thrive Park and Petco's Gallagher Square. This was its first outing at the Fairgrounds, and it seemed like a fine fit. According to festival founder Vincenzo Giammanco, “The festival is all about celebrating the fun, high-energy atmosphere that tacos, tequila, and great music create.” As I cruised the fairgrounds early, I found myself agreeing that this was the general vibe, and it only continued to build as more attendees poured in — and as more tequila was consumed.
The first musical act I took in was Adelaide, a project anchored by Los Angeles (by way of Texas) artist Adelaide Pilar. For this afternoon set, she presented her “Latin Divas Tribute” which was a mix of more traditional Latin flavored music alongside some '80s-era U.S. pop radio hits that featured heavy Latino vibes. The six-piece band’s take on Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine’s 1987 dance floor hit “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” was a fine example of the latter. Adelaide took center stage as a vocalist and proved to be one hell of a trumpet player as well. The latter element gives her performances a fun and unique vibe: when was the last time you saw Charli XCX or Katy Perry rip out a raging brass solo on a cornet? Early on, I felt bad for the band, as the crowd in front of them was thin. But as more attendees flowed into the venue, the empty space filled with peeps eager to get their dance on.
Seriously good.
And, my gawd, was this festival overflowing with attendees intent on shaking their moneymakers. Said shaking filled up into the evening hours. After Adelaide’s performance on the main stage, I stumbled upon a DJ near the festival’s entrance who had hundreds in attendance, all dancing their asses off. Instead of joining in, I opted to potentially increase the size of my own ass by sampling some of the festival’s cuisine. I selected Loli’s Bites, as their traditional Mexican offerings looked both familiar and appetizing. I ended up chowing down on rolled tacos with salsa verde and a massive fish taco that was seriously delicious. Owner Ivonne Jimenez told me that this was the fourth time they had a booth at the festival, and that he was also aiming to open a physical location in Oceanside.
Timbaland, tequila, and taco hats made for a potent combination.
After a lengthy DJ break (cue even more dancing), the time came for Timbaland’s set on the main stage. The rapper is best known for producing mega-hits for the likes of Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, and Aaliyah, but on this evening, he and his DJ would be taking on the performing duties. However, that performance still featured tracks he had worked on for other artists as well as his own material. It felt like a hybrid between a celebrity DJ set and an actual performance, because so many of the vocals were simply backing tracks. Regardless, the crowd loved the hits, and as long as there was something great to dance to, they were game. My favorite selection was Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On” which has a beat so infectious that even my (now slightly fatter) ass was shaking.
Video:
Missy Elliott: "Get Ur Freak On"
Here's something you might be interested in.
Gonzo Report: Tequila & Taco Fest starts damp and gets wet
Shaking off the rain at the Del Mar Fairgrounds
Gonzo Report: Tequila & Taco Fest starts damp and gets wet
Shaking off the rain at the Del Mar Fairgrounds
Adelaide brought Latin jams from Texas by way of LA.
Over the past 50 years, there have been just six instances of measurable rainfall in San Diego on April 26. So you would think the decision to stage an outdoor festival in Del Mar on that date would be a pretty safe bet. But if you've ever experienced a ski trip with zero snow, a tennis tournament suffering gale force winds, or a soccer match buffeted by a hurricane, you know that the weather gods have a knack for serving as the ultimate disruptors. So I wasn't too shocked or upset by the pesky rainfall that delayed my visit to the Tequila and Taco Music Festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for a couple of hours.
Apparently, other folks felt the same way, because there was still plenty of parking when I arrived at close to 4 pm and joined the steady trickle of people making their way inside. I was lucky to have scored VIP tickets, and happily accepted my free drink ticket and novelty foam taco hat at the gate. Once inside, I took a walk around and soaked in the atmosphere; the event has become an annual tradition, but this was my first time. In past years, the Tequila and Taco Music Festival has been held at Snapdragon's Thrive Park and Petco's Gallagher Square. This was its first outing at the Fairgrounds, and it seemed like a fine fit. According to festival founder Vincenzo Giammanco, “The festival is all about celebrating the fun, high-energy atmosphere that tacos, tequila, and great music create.” As I cruised the fairgrounds early, I found myself agreeing that this was the general vibe, and it only continued to build as more attendees poured in — and as more tequila was consumed.
The first musical act I took in was Adelaide, a project anchored by Los Angeles (by way of Texas) artist Adelaide Pilar. For this afternoon set, she presented her “Latin Divas Tribute” which was a mix of more traditional Latin flavored music alongside some '80s-era U.S. pop radio hits that featured heavy Latino vibes. The six-piece band’s take on Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine’s 1987 dance floor hit “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” was a fine example of the latter. Adelaide took center stage as a vocalist and proved to be one hell of a trumpet player as well. The latter element gives her performances a fun and unique vibe: when was the last time you saw Charli XCX or Katy Perry rip out a raging brass solo on a cornet? Early on, I felt bad for the band, as the crowd in front of them was thin. But as more attendees flowed into the venue, the empty space filled with peeps eager to get their dance on.
Seriously good.
And, my gawd, was this festival overflowing with attendees intent on shaking their moneymakers. Said shaking filled up into the evening hours. After Adelaide’s performance on the main stage, I stumbled upon a DJ near the festival’s entrance who had hundreds in attendance, all dancing their asses off. Instead of joining in, I opted to potentially increase the size of my own ass by sampling some of the festival’s cuisine. I selected Loli’s Bites, as their traditional Mexican offerings looked both familiar and appetizing. I ended up chowing down on rolled tacos with salsa verde and a massive fish taco that was seriously delicious. Owner Ivonne Jimenez told me that this was the fourth time they had a booth at the festival, and that he was also aiming to open a physical location in Oceanside.
Timbaland, tequila, and taco hats made for a potent combination.
After a lengthy DJ break (cue even more dancing), the time came for Timbaland’s set on the main stage. The rapper is best known for producing mega-hits for the likes of Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, and Aaliyah, but on this evening, he and his DJ would be taking on the performing duties. However, that performance still featured tracks he had worked on for other artists as well as his own material. It felt like a hybrid between a celebrity DJ set and an actual performance, because so many of the vocals were simply backing tracks. Regardless, the crowd loved the hits, and as long as there was something great to dance to, they were game. My favorite selection was Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On” which has a beat so infectious that even my (now slightly fatter) ass was shaking.
Video:
Missy Elliott: "Get Ur Freak On"