ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) 鈥 Pepe Aguilar feels like a superhero when he puts on his charro suit. But unlike Superman, 础驳耻颈濒补谤鈥檚 power isn鈥檛 supernatural or otherworldly; it鈥檚 his love for his culture and his determination to celebrate Mexico through his art.
The Grammy-award winning artist says and wants others to 鈥渇eel proud of something so great.鈥 His latest tour is a testament to this, celebrating his family and the fans who watched him grow into a household legend across the Mexican diaspora.
Last Friday night, the Texas-born, Mexico-raised 55-year-old swooped into the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on top of a majestic white horse. Fans across generations waved Mexican flags, threw up their cowboy hats and let out thunderous applause as Aguilar rode throughout the concert arena and began to sing 鈥100% Mexicano,鈥 his first performance on the 鈥淛aripeo: Hasta Los Huesos鈥 tour.
The tour is a blend of both Mexican rodeo and Fans can enjoy set lists from Leonardo Aguilar and Latin Grammy nominee 脕ngela Aguilar, along with Antonio Aguilar Jr., 础驳耻颈濒补谤鈥檚 older brother.
In between each performance, audience members cheered at bull riding competitions, circus acts, folkl贸rico dancers, and lasso throwers.
鈥淛aripeo: Hasta Los Huesos鈥 continues , but takes on a new twist focusing on
鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of everything Mexico. The food, the colors, the traditions, the culture, the family, charrer铆a, mariachi, tequila, don't get me started," Aguilar told The Associated Press, laughing, before the show. 鈥淎nd one of the most admirable traditions for me is the Day of the Dead.鈥
But don鈥檛 you dare compare it to
鈥溾楥oco鈥 would be a little afraid of this Day of the Dead,鈥 he says.
础驳耻颈濒补谤鈥檚 included an altar, marigolds, plenty of skulls, papel picado, and even a few heartfelt moments remembering his late parents, legendary musicians and actors Antonio Aguilar and Aguilar and his brother grew up performing alongside their parents.
鈥淲hat my father and mother started, back in the '60s, even before I was born, inspired what I鈥檓 doing here, but it's still very different,鈥 he says.
脕ngela Aguilar amped up the crowd right before her father's performance, riding in at full speed on top of a black horse, wearing a long black gown covered in marigolds and performing some fan-favorite hits including her cover of 鈥淟a Llorona.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty cool to work with your family, whether it鈥檚 an older generation or a younger one,鈥 Aguilar says. 鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 a privilege to be close to the people you love the most.鈥
For Aguilar, his work always goes back to culture and family. It鈥檚 not about him. It鈥檚 about amplifying the sounds that define his community.
鈥淚 mean, how can I ever compare my stupid, little irrelevant life to a bigger than anything culture and tradition as Mexican music?鈥 he asks.
Fans of what's commonly referred to as the Aguilar Dynasty have loved Pepe since before he was born, proving it time and time again with sold-out shows and album sales. Aguilar says that looking into the audience 鈥 feeling their energy and watching people sing his lyrics 鈥 never gets old.
鈥淪ometimes I got to think about something else in order not to cry,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 have to concentrate many, many, many times. I have to just go and focus on what I鈥檓 doing, otherwise the feelings kick in, and I wouldn鈥檛 be able to sing.鈥
On opening night, Aguilar repeatedly thanked the crowd and even took the time to announce that, with the next day's performance, he would become the artist who has played the most shows at the Honda Center.
鈥淚t fills me with a lot of pride that Mexican music is the genre that has presented itself the most at the Honda Center,鈥 he said in Spanish as fans erupted in a loud cheer.
鈥淚t is for real that I鈥檓 proud. It鈥檚 for real that I know what I鈥檓 talking about,鈥 Aguilar told the AP. 鈥淚鈥檓 a national charro champion, for Christ鈥檚 sake. I was born on a tour out of Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre. So, yeah, I guess I am really Mexican. I鈥檓 very proud of what I show, and I want to show it more and more and more and more and more so people understand why I鈥檓 so proud.鈥
