Come Along

Follow Houston's 'taco journalist' for a memorable night at Austin's Moody Center

On May 17, musician Pepe Aguilar performed his Jaripeo "Hasta Los Huesos" tour with family members Ángela Aguilar, Leonardo Aguilar, and Antonio Aguilar at Austin's Moody Center.

And Marco Torres was there for it. The Houston-based "taco journalist" known as @marcofromhouston on Instagram reflects below on his 24-hour stop in ATX enjoying food, music, and family.

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Growing up in Texas, a quick road trip to Austin was always full of excitement. From the live music to the fancy hotels, bustling nightlife, and amazing food, a night in Austin will forever be a remarkable experience.

After a long and stormy evening in Houston last week, I packed a bag and headed west. With my father as my co-pilot, we were off on yet another adventure. We made a mandatory pit stop at Buc-ee’s, and then it was time for lunch.

Truth BBQ in Brenham is one of the premier barbecue joints in the state, conveniently situated along Highway 290 en route to Austin. We ordered a two-meat plate of brisket and turkey, with tater-tot casserole and baked beans as our sides. What a perfect way to start this road trip!

The new Thompson Hotel in downtown Austin was our choice for a relaxing evening. This beautiful boutique hotel is right in the middle of the action, located on San Jacinto between 5th and 6th Streets. Our room was modern yet cozy, with friendly staff that made our check-in smooth and hassle-free. They even offered us a complimentary beer and wine during the lobby happy hour, which was delightful.

After a much-needed afternoon nap, we got ready for a night out at Moody Center, Austin’s newest and coolest music venue.

The entertainment that evening was Jaripeo Hasta Los Huesos presented by Pepe Aguilar and his talented family. The event is a mix of traditional Mexican music with a Las Vegas-style variety show.

My dad and I were really impressed by this new venue. We parked at the Manor Garage next to the event and were inside in a manner of minutes. We were fortunate to score seats within the Indeed Club level, which provided an excellent view and access to a large private lounge. After eating pulled pork nachos and drinking a couple of cocktails, we ventured to our seats.

A “jaripero” is a traditional form of bull riding in Mexico with origins in the state of Michoacan, and has evolved to include other spectacles such as music performances and carnival acts. For this show, the basketball court was filled with a base of sand, flanked by a large stage at the north end and a smaller stage at center court.

Each artist, starting with Leonardo Aguilar, made their appearance while riding a horse, which was trained to prance, side step, and trot along with the music. Leonardo’s horse was named El Rio Grande, and was gorgeous white color with black accents.

This evening was a special day, as it was Don Antonio Aguilar’s birthday. This legendary Mexican icon passed away in 2007, and his legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren. His son Antonio Aguilar-Hijo was next to perform, paying tribute to his father by singing classic Ranchera songs like “Gabino Barrera” and “Tristes Recuerdos.”

After a bull riding showcase, it was Ángela Aguilar’s turn. She rode onto the arena floor on an absolutely beautiful black horse while wearing a gown covered in Mexican marigold flowers. She sang an inspired rendition of “La Gata Bajo La Lluvia” by Rocio Dúrcal, along with many more of her hits.

The headliner of the show was Pepe Aguilar, who calls himself a “Zacatecas Texan” since he was born in San Antonio and raised in Mexico. His voice is robust and refined, almost operatic. His set included crowd favorites such as “Aca Entre Nos,” “Hermoso Cariño,” and “Por Mujeres Como Tu.”

Near the end of the show, he dedicated “Las Mañanitas” to his father, and was accompanied by the entire audience. It was a super emotional moment for him and the crowd alike. He sang looking up toward the heavens, and tears rolled down his cheeks. A special tribute to a true legend of Mexican music.

I leave Austin with my heart full once again, happy to have shared this quick trip with my father. We were welcomed as visitors and left as family. “Y’all come back now!”

Yes, we definitely will!

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See what's coming up at Moody Center here.

Photo courtesy of Moody Center

Pepe Aguilar performed May 17 at Moody Center.

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Music feature

Texas country star Cody Johnson's new album goes to 'Banks of Trinity'

Photo by Cameron Powell

Cody Johnson.

There's a moment at every Cody Johnson show where the Texas-born-and-bred country star asks the crowd, “How many of you tonight are watching me and this band live for the very first time?” he told The Associated Press. “And every night, I would say at least 80% of the crowd raises their hands.”

It's not the kind of reaction most veteran artists receive. “And I’m thinking, you know, 20 years is a long time to work for something. But when you see that … What’s the next 20 years look like?” he asks.

The rancher, rodeo competitor, and onetime prison guard started his two-decade career playing honky tonks and dive bars. That led to slow and steady growth for the country traditionalist, but in the last few years, something has shifted. He landed his fifth career No. 1 song with “The Fall.” He was named Entertainer of the Year at the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, the show's highest honor. That was a month after he headlined Stagecoach Music Festival. For an artist with legions of fans, it looked like he was accessing new heights.

“I feel like I’m closing a book and I’m opening another one and it’s all blank pages,” he says of this period. “Let's get to the next chapter." On June 26, that new era began with the release of his latest album, Banks of the Trinity.

Traveling to the Banks of the Trinity
It hasn't been an easy road. Last fall, Johnson had to cancel a bunch of tour dates after upper respiratory and sinus infections caused a burst eardrum that required surgery — an intimidating medical procedure for anyone, but especially nerve-wracking for a musician. “I was scared,” he said simply. But “in a roundabout way, it’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”

It forced him to take three months off, which allowed him to be home during the birth of his son. It also rejuvenated his approach in the studio. Before the incident, he thought the album was complete. It was not. The additional time resulted in the inclusion of a few songs that now feel inextricable from the record: “Thank Somebody Country,” “Take Me Back (Leave Me There),” “Cricket on a Hook,” and the resilient “I Have” among them.

“What a blessing to have that kind of song fall in your lap when you’re kind of up against the ropes,” he says of the latter. “I mean, we thought we had the record done. It wasn’t done.”

A title track with real resonance
At the heart of Banks of the Trinity is its title track, which recalls Eagles' cover of “Seven Bridges Road” meets bluegrass and Southern gospel.

Lyrically, it's an ode to Johnson's childhood. “I grew up on the banks of the Trinity [River.] Fishing for catfish, not so much out of pleasure or sport but for necessity to put food in the freezer. Deer season for me was not a trophy thing,” he said.

And while that track inspires a feeling of nostalgia within the listener, he doesn't consider this album a throwback collection. He says it's about showcasing his evolving sonic diversity.

"The rest of the album for me is a musical journey from track one to track 16,” he said. “There’s a little bit of a flavor for everybody. It does kind of hit Motown. It does kind of hit bluegrass. It does hit progressive country. It does it old country. It does a little rock here and there.”

It's the result of a new kind of freedom, one that is at least partially due to his recent accomplishments, including taking home the top prize at the ACM Awards.

“I just did the thing that I’ve aspired to do in my career my entire life,” he says. “A really good place is a really good way to describe where I am.”

And now that the album is out, he's ready to take a breather.

“I will be shirtless with no shoes on a beach at an undisclosed location,” he jokes about the days after record release. “'Cause I have already done all the prep work. I've been working on this album for two years. I’ve done all of the interviews. I’ve shook all the hands. Me and my wife and kids are gonna disappear for 10 days and I’m gonna become, I guess, every Kenny Chesney song ever.”

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