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Review: Fuerza Regida at Toyota Center

Regida Force
But I won’t love you
Toyota Center
July 13, 2024

Like any Houstonian, cruising around town to a killer soundtrack is one of my favorite things to do. In 2018, my buddy Julian Estrada was driving, and in between listening to Young Dolph and Future, the song “Radicamos En South Central” by a band called Fuerza Regida was next on the playlist. We must have listened to the song a thousand times, inspired by its lyrics about working the streets, flying on private jets, and popping champagne bottles.

THE low sexto and the sousaphone serves as the basis for the fallen path genre, blending traditional Mexican storytelling with elements of urban hip-hop and trap rap. Fuerza Regida leans heavily on these motifs, creating wildly popular tunes with stories from the hood, from the cartel-ridden states of Mexico to the wild and dangerous neighborhoods of San Bernardino to H-Town and beyond.

On Saturday night, every seat at Toyota Center was filled with Fuerza fans eager to get the party started. DJ Malechin warmed up the crowd with a set that ranged from trap to mariachi to regional Mexican music. As the lights in the venue dimmed, Fuerza Regida appeared on the other side of the stage, which extended past the center of the basketball arena.

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Fuerza Regida is one of the most popular groups in the regional Mexican and corrido tumbados genre, which combines traditional Mexican music with elements of urban hip-hop and trap rap.

Photography by Marco Torres

The band is led by Jesus Ortiz Paz, known to his fans by his initials JOP, a charismatic character with an affable demeanor and a very cool demeanor. The band wore all-black designer outfits, but JOP was dressed all in red, with a puffy Gucci vest, trendy ripped jeans, a backwards baseball cap, and dark designer sunglasses. He’s a true rock star and acts like it.

The setlist started strong with Igualito To My Apa, They say the Iba can’t connectAnd CH and PizzaThe band consists of a sexto bass guitar, a traditional acoustic guitar, a double bass and a sousaphone. They are accompanied by the Banda Otro Pedo, which includes members playing the clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn and the “banda tambora” – a bass drum and cymbal combo that keeps the beat in place of a traditional drum kit.

The big stage was lit from below, with spotlights and lasers accentuating JOP’s moves as he danced from one end to the other, dodging pyrotechnics and CO2 cannons along the way. The setlist officially consisted of 35 songs, though Fuerza included a few surprises, including a cover of Unveiled by Bobby Pulido, Hi Delilah by The Plain White T’s, and Exonerate yourself by Los Humildes.

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Fuerza Regida’s lead singer, JOP, is a true rock star and he acts like it.

Photography by Marco Torres

The band’s 2023 album Pa Las Baby’s and Belikeada offered several audience favorites, including the songs MAD, HARLEY QUINN, FRESH FLAVORAnd BARBIEZE. Each song is about falling in love with beautiful women, suffering from broken hearts and all the actions leading to these actions. JOP and his team have a natural talent for composing songs with catchy choruses and party tendencies. The songs Total Quality Management And A beer were two of my personal favorites from the series.

Of course, the night would be incomplete without hearing Bebe Dame, the songs they made famous with the tejano cumbia group Grupo Frontera. It started normally, but JOP stopped mid-song to ask for help from a fan in the front row who had apparently fainted or passed out.Dale water, Dale air” ordered JOP (give him air and water). Fortunately, the gentleman was fine and the show went on.

The only song missing from the set was “Calles De Houston”, which is a tribute to the Cité de l’Espace. Maybe they’ll add it to their set next time.

In the meantime, Julian and I will continue to play Fuerza Regida at full volume in his Raptor all around El Northside.

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Listening to Fuerza Regida on the streets of H-Town is one of my favorite things to do.

Photography by Marco Torres

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JOP and his team Fuerza Regida have a natural talent for composing songs with catchy choruses and festive tendencies.

Photography by Marco Torres