Review: Peso Pluma Delivers Breathtaking Performance at Toyota Center

According to Billboard Magazine, the fastest-growing genre in the United States is Latin music. And while much of that growth is due to reggaeton artists like Bad Bunny and Karol G, the driving forces behind that growth are regional Mexican and corrido artists like Peso Pluma and Fuerza Regida. So it’s no surprise that Peso’s concert at the Toyota Center on Friday night drew a capacity crowd eager to see one of music’s hottest young stars in action.

Classical music filled the arena as the lights went down. This scene would be recreated several times before the end of the evening, creating a dark and brooding atmosphere as the concert was divided into four acts plus a finale. The familiar strings and vocals of “O Fortuna” echoed across the stage, along with a voiceover proclaiming that “an antihero is among us.”

The songs “La Patrulla” and “La Durango” kicked off the setlist, with Peso elevated from beneath the stage onto a black and gold throne, surrounded by his bandHe injured his foot at a concert last month and continued his tour wearing a boot, walking on crutches and dancing by hopping on one leg. His throne would serve as his main support throughout the night, never far from him.

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Billboard Magazine says the fastest growing music genre in the United States is Latin music, driven by regional Mexican artists such as Peso Pluma.

Photography by Sean Thomas

It wasn’t long before we heard one of Peso’s most viral hits, the horn section of “AMG” eliciting a thunderous cheer throughout the Toyota Center. Accompanied by the shark of the low sextoPeso spits his lyrics with brevity and assurance. His voice is not that of a crooner or a ballad singer, but rather that of a punchy lyricist who resonates above the bold musical compositions.

Black was the tone of everyone on stage, from Peso to his band and dancers. The first few songs were performed while he wore a black, sequined ski mask. When he finally took it off, Peso smiled broadly and made sure the audience felt seen. It’s a beautiful, slightly sly smile that suits a tall, thin man. healer from Zapopan, Jalisco. “Rubicon” marked the end of Act 1.

Act 2 was more relaxed than the intro, with tracks like “Luna,” “Reloj,” and “Bye” that completely immersed Peso in his sad boy days. Singing about racing through the streets of Jalisco and Sinaloa in a Jeep or Mercedes, then transitioning into a song about heartbreak is part of Peso’s mystique, and is certainly one of the reasons his fans love him. The stage was lit from below and sparkled as Peso and his crew moved in unison with the mood of the tracks. The audience showed their appreciation by chanting “Peso! Peso! Peso!” The popular track “Ella Baila Sola” marked the end of this section of the show.

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Singing about racing through the streets of Jalisco and Sinaloa, then switching to a song of heartbreak, is part of Peso Pluma’s mystique, which was on full display at the Toyota Center.

Photography by Sean Thomas

Act 3 was club-only, with “QLONA” and “La Bebe – Remix” leaning more on Peso Pluma’s dembo and reggaeton, which suited his fans who were busy dancing in the aisles of the arena. Peso was surrounded by a talented troupe of dancers, both male and female, who worked hard to keep the energy up while Peso limped on one leg. If the show was this good with Peso in a boot, imagine how crazy his act must be when he’s back to 100 percent?!

Act 4 featured some crowd-pleasing numbers, with “Hollywood” showcasing Peso’s acoustic guitar skills, followed by “PRC,” “La People 1 & 2,” “El Gavilan 1 & 2,” and “Rosa Pastel.” It was during this section that Peso made it clear that he was the evolution of Mexico’s corrido legacy, featuring artists such as Chalino Sanchez, Ramon Ayala, Los Cadetes de Linares, Joan Sebastian, Jenni Rivera, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, and Valentin Elizalde on the video panel before showing off the new generation of Gerardo Ortiz, Natanael Cano, Eslabon Armado, Luis R. Conriquez, Junior H, and himself.

The final act featured some of my favorite songs, with “El Azul” and “Lady Gaga” blaring before the night was over. “Muchas gracias, Houston!” Peso shouted as he asked everyone to turn on their cell phone lights. The dancers surrounded Peso with red flares in their hands, and two dancers waved flamethrowers back and forth to the music. “Vino Tinto” and “TEKA” closed out the night, and I left the arena feeling excited about the future of Latin music.

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Peso Pluma is the evolution of Mexico’s corrido heritage, performed to a sold-out crowd at the Toyota Center on Friday night.

Photography by Sean Thomas