CONCERT PICKS
The most exciting music day at the Houston rodeo? It's this Sunday
El Trono brings its style to RodeoHouston Sunday.
Pesado is part of a duel act Sunday at RodeoHouston.
Having a Go Tejano Day celebration at RodeoHouston and then inviting El Trono de Mexico and Pesado as the double-bill is a bit like having a "Nothing But Rock n' Roll Festival" headlined by Culture Club and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
It's definitely a show you don't want to miss (and believe me, you would not want to miss that show), but you're not quite sure who's going to be doing the actual rockin'.
To the untrained ear (and if "gringo" is a Spanish word that describes you, then I'm probably looking your way as I write this), both El Trono de Mexico and Pesado might sound like they are playing straight tejano, a mixture of Cajun folk, rock and border mariachi that defines Texas culture every bit as much as country music.
In truth, both play a slight hybrid of the form.
El Trono de Mexico is a six-piece Mexican act from Santo Tomás de los Plátanos, Mexico that specialize in duranguense, a genre of Mexican music. It's really an offshoot of banda music that combines traditional brass fusion and bass beats with modern synthesizer melodies for an electro-pop spin on traditional folk. The group has become a duranguense sensation over the last six years and comes to the rodeo in support of its latest album, "Cruzando Fronteras."
By contrast, Pesado is pure norteno, which utilizes the button accordion and bajo sexto (a 12-string guitar) to create a polka beat and drums, horns and keyboards to add percussion and hooks.
Few do it as well as this Nuevo Leon, Mexico five-piece. Pesado have won a Grammy for best norteno album in the past and are currently showcasing their 21st studio recording, "Solo Contigo."
But forget music genre semantics. It's Go Tejano Day, arguably the most exciting day at RodeoHouston each year.
Go. Eat. Dance. Enjoy.
6:45 p.m. Sunday at RodeoHouston (Reliant Stadium)
Tickets $16-$30
