Lila Downs en Concierto
How do you mix traditional with contemporary, rock con cumbia, bolero con jazz, mariachi con electronic? You bring in Lila Downs to weave it together and make it look seamlessly easy. On April 9th she performed to a sold out venue in LA which was packed with all races, generations, and styles. She opened the show with “Black Magic Woman”, which Santana made famous in the 60s and she made it her own. She performed for almost two hours and included new songs from her most recent album “Shake Away/Ojo De Culebra”. To the delight of all, she sang her own hits such as “Cumbia Del Mole” y “Corrido de Tacha” and classic songs such as “Paloma Negra” y “La Llorona”. Between songs, she engaged the crowd with stories in SPANGLISH in some instances educating many on the backstory behind some of her songs. My one criticism of the concert was the location…UCLA Royce Hall is a great venue, small and cozy but with restrictiones. I felt many around us wanting to jump, dance, and celebrate the music but we were restricted by the seats and environment. This type of performer is better enjoyed with a drink in one hand, a standing room venue and people singing along to every song. Suggestion for next time…House of Blues, Club Nokia, or Wiltern Theatre! Enjoy the Lila Downs vids below.
Saw her perform in Mexico City — WOW. She’s a fantastic performer, I love the Aztec dancers.