Los Acosta, “El Grupo Consentido de México…De América” (“Mexico and America’s favorite group” in English), took the stage on Feb. 28 at La Boom nightclub in NY as they carried on the U.S. leg of their headlining tour, “Una Explosión Más Grande” (“A Bigger Explosion” in English).
Los Acosta is a Mexican cumbia band formed in 1979, mostly made up of brothers—Ricardo Acosta as lead singer, Ernesto Acosta on bass, Carlos Acosta on drums, and Sergio Acosta on the keyboard. Their newest addition is Tato Acosta on guitar, following the death of previous guitarist Héctor Ojeda.
Sonido Magia NY served as the MC and first opener for the night, hyping up the crowd and encouraging them to find dance partners while playing cumbia classics such as “Cosas Bonitas” by Grupo Maravilla, “Todo Me Gusta De Ti” by Aaron Y Su Grupo Illusion, and “Por Que Te Vas?” by Jeanette and SABDI CUEVAS.
At 10:30 p.m., La Sonora Dinamita, a Colombian cumbia band, took the stage as the second opener. They continued to contribute to the cumbia atmosphere by playing their classics, including “Se Me Perdió La Cadenita,” “Mi Cucu,” “A Mover La Colita,” and “Amor De Mis Amores (Que Nadie Sepa Mi Sufrir).” Around 11:30 p.m., La Sonora Dinamita left the stage, and Sonido Magia NY kept the energy alive with more music until Los Acosta finally took the stage.
At 12:20 a.m., the lights dimmed, and the band’s logo appeared onscreen. The band members came out, and lead singer Ricardo started a call and response, saying, “Como están? Un aplauso para todos los hermanos Mexicanos” (“How are you? A round of applause for the Mexicans here tonight” in English). As the crowd started clapping and cheering, he continued, “¿Tienen ganas de cantar hoy?” (“Do you feel like singing today?” in English). More clapping and cheering followed.
The crowd, made up of multiple generations with beers in hand, cheered as the concert began with “Como Duele Un Adios.” Other classics soon followed, such as “Como Una Novela,” “Tonto Corazón,” “Voy a Pintar un Corazón,” “Como Un Pajarillo,” and “Contra El Dragón.”
It was hard to keep track of how many songs they played because it was a continuous stream of catchy hits. There were technical difficulties with the audio throughout the night, but the band persevered. Even when issues arose, the crowd cheered even louder in support.
The band made subtle commentary on the political climate, saying, “Esta canción ha traspasado los corazones y las fronteras y mentes de muchas gentes” (“This song has trespassed the hearts, borders, and minds of many people” in English). The band reiterated throughout the night that Mexicans have always been united and must continue to be united, encouraging fans to show pride in that unity.
