Flor de Toloache at Mameromantic, October 19th 2019

I didn’t know what toloache was until it was explained during the show by Julie Acosta, trumpet player and occasional lead vocalist of the band. She said it was a type of herb that’s considered for some as a love potion in Mexico, and that’s why in Mexico the phrase “it looks like someone gave you toloache” is used to tease people that look in love. Just the name of the band, the amount of thought put into it, tells you that they’re in the business of pushing the envelope and stretching conventional boundaries. They stay away from preconceptions and deliver a fresh approach that it was definitely welcomed with open arms at their first show in Tokyo.

I grew up listening to mariachi music and saw mariachi groups perform at parties several times. As an adult and concertgoer never had the chance to see one perform on stage. I saw this show announced and didn’t know about the band, so I checked their NPR Tiny Desk concert and liked it a lot. I was impressed by the way they fusion modern songwriting, the vocal stylings of the harmony groups of the swing era with mariachi music. Also by how they incorporate other styles of latin music like cumbia and bachata. The last song they played on NPR was a nod to tradition, an impeccable version of Guadalajara that I was really looking forward to hear on this show to no avail. I know, beggars can’t be choosers, and the band proved that they’re firing on all cylinders at this show.

After a thirty minute delay that was filled by some truly OG chicano tunes selected by DJ Holiday, Trasmundo DJs and Shin Miyata, the video screen blocking the view of the main stage was lifted revealing the band already on it, they were welcomed with thunderous applause. The place was packed, even though there were less latinos than I was expecting, to be honest. I forgot to mention that for the evening they were selling tacos al pastor and that this was a standing show with no tatami floor, unlike my previous experiences at this venue. Flor de Toloache’s lineup included two trumpet players, a violinist and lead vocalist, a vihuela player and lead vocalist, and a guitarrón player. I stood in front of the latter and can say that her ever-present smile was contagious, I grinned from ear to ear during the whole show.

In the first half of the show they played mostly tunes fro their latest album Indestructible, including a couple of duets they recorded with R&B stars Miguel and John Legend, as well as their cover of No Doubt’s nineties hit Don’t Speak. Their musical prowess is undeniable, each one shined on their instrument. Both Mireya Ramos and Shae Fiol are amazing vocalists, their skills were displayed throughout the set. For me things started cooking when they played their cover of Las Caras Lindas, a song originally recorded by Ismael Rivera on the Fania label and written by Tite Curet Alonso (talking about a time when giants walked the earth, my goodness). Ramos’ heartfelt introduction explaining the importance of this tune for us Afrolatinos was moving. The way they used a huapango style with the vihuela strumming as the leading instrument was brilliant. It was also an eloquent way of integrating  Mexican and Caribbean cultures into one mix. On top of that they added one of the best riffs in salsa music, the strings and brass bridge of another Curet Alonso tune immortalized by Hector Lavoe and Willie Colón: Periódico de Ayer.

For the second half of the show they offered a cappella tunes, cumbias and even a cover blending two of the biggest Nirvana hits, Come As You Are and Smells Like Teen Spirit, with another instrumental interlude based on Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir pounding riff that closed with a take on Bésame Mucho. They got the audience going to the point that upfront the Japanese version of a famous internet meme came to life. You know, the one with the old gentleman kicking out his cane to the side in order to strut his stuff on his own in the middle of a dance floor. Literally the exact same thing happen at this show’s front row.

The energy of the band’s members was infectious as well as their musical skills. Both Rachel Therrien on trumpet and Mireya Ramos on violin, laid down truly staggering solos as Yesenia Reyes kept a steady groove on the guitarrón. At this showcase of musical styles from the Latin diaspora the only thing I missed was a throwback to traditional mariachi. I understand that at this point into their career Flor de Toloache is venturing into a more mainstream sound to capture a wider audience, but I think it would’ve been fun to go back to the roots of the mariachi sound in a couple of tunes. Having said that I’m all for it and look forward to see where their explorations will take them next. 

In Japan Latin music concerts are truly rare. I was lucky to see a band that is at the forefront of the reinvention of the Latin spirit and image, that proves the stereotype wrongs elevating the culture. The atmosphere at the place was electrifying when they came back for an encore. Besos de Mezcal, an original from their latest album, was the tune they chose to close a fun and inspiring night of live acoustic music.
  
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