I never imagined so many people waiting in line for the Ximena Sariñana show at Stubb’s Monday, but there they were, some even an hour before doors opened, ready to watch the Grammy-nominated artist live.
The restless crowd had to wait through two opening acts before Sariñana. Starting off the night was La Royale, a Mexican DJ baring a wolf mask who provided dark, nightly sounds of haunted ragers. I think it was my skeptic father whom I first heard say that DJs were this generation’s new go-to career for the free-spirited (I cleaned it up a bit; he really said “slackers”), but in spite of La Royale’s howls and moans that unfortunately accompanied his otherwise great beats, the crowd showed good response.
Gustavo Galindo followed, promoting his debut album Entre La Ciudad y El Mar. Galindo proved to be what would result if you cross Springsteen with Juanes, a pop/rock en Español with pretty decent voice and solid guitar talent. He was appreciative of the crowd, who patiently waited for Sariñana. There are some artists who, no matter their star status (or lack thereof) have the ability to connect with a crowd—Galindo isn’t one of these artists. The performer-audience conversation during his set seemed forced, but his beautiful songs, such as “Barco de Papel” and “La Ciudad” showed his musical potential, anyway.
Having only been familiar with Ximena Sariñana through her movies and just a bit of her music, I was in shock with how much people love her. The crowd went nuts when the singer came on stage, and the older songs she presented were met with gasping, clapping and excited singing. She introduced some songs, such as “Tu y Yo” produced by Mexican artist Natalia Lafourcade and other new tracks that got unbelievable response, such as “Bringing us Down” and “Love Again.”
There were so many people yelling out, whistling, cellphones and cameras out, that from time to time I was more attentive of the crowd than the singer. The thing about a small show is that certain people can actually ruin it for everybody, and this was the case when a gang of hecklers just, well, they just wouldn’t shut up. People turned, heavily annoyed, to look at the group of girls yelling out incessantly, and I just gotta say here and now, I think my favorite part of Sariñana’s performance was when she told them to be quiet, mockingly whining, “Ay ya, guarda silencio un momento, no?”
Sariñana announced her setlist got lost, but she succeeded in presenting songs such as the first she ever uploaded online, “I’m Through With Love,” which, with its musky funky beats, showed me a more sensual Ximena than I ever expected to see. To be honest, for me Ximena lacks the talent and luster that apparently most of my country seems to be enamored of, but in every one of her gestures and shutting of her eyes it was undeniable to see that she has an immense passion and love for her music. And in the end, that’s what wins a crowd.
The artist had everybody eating out of the palm of her hand. They were so enchanted by the tiny—holy crap, she looks 13—charming girl on stage, that there’s no way to truly dislike her. She showed the most strength in the final songs of the set, ending with the popular “Mediocre” and “Vidas Paralelas,” as well as a song she wrote for an “hijo de puta” (said jokingly, of course) who left us all without saying goodbye. It was in those songs that she slowly won me over, because she showed great strength, and even though her voice could use some work, she was unbreakable. She owned the stage.
Despite a lot of complaining from the crowd saying she didn’t perform some old-time favorites, it was a very successful show. And although she is a charming singer who’s a pleasure to watch, for me, the excitement people had for her only confirmed what I already suspected: We’re in dire need of true Mexican talent, real Mexican superstars. The hunger to see one of our own succeed was palpable last night, and I think sometimes that’s confused with honest-to-God talent. But hey, I’m just a writer.
All photos by Hanlly Sam for Austin Vida.
{becssg}music-1005-ximena{/becssg}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena01.JPG|Ximena at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena02.JPG|Ximena at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena03.JPG|Ximena at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena04.JPG|Ximena at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena05.JPG|Ximena at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena06.JPG|Ximena at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena07.JPG|Ximena at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena08.JPG|Ximena at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena09.JPG|La Royale at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena10.JPG|La Royale at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena11.JPG|La Royale at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}
{becssg_c}0|av-100524-stu-ximena12.JPG|La Royale at Stubb’s|Photo by Hanlly Sam{/becssg_c}