Amidst tequila chugs, slinging bras (“whoever it was, thank you, baby girl”), and even a bloody brawl among a couple of seemingly-intoxicated audience members, Fuerza Regida invigorated Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., for over two hours on Friday night (Sep. 22).
The band of five are midway through their U.S. leg at the 16,700-capacity venue as part of their Otra Peda tour, which launched July 7 at the Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas, followed by a dozen sold-out shows, according to the band’s Instagram, including iconic BMO Stadium. The group’s upcoming dates include Chicago (Sep. 23), Nashville (Sep. 28), Las Vegas (Oct. 21) and Anaheim, Calif. (Nov. 25).
Along the way, Fuerza has had a slew of Billboard-charting singles, police run-ins, and a Shakira collab, all while these bad boys of música mexicana keep bringing in the heat with thrilling unpredictability.
Born and raised in San Bernardino, Calif., the members of Fuerza Regida — comprising frontman and lead songwriter Jesús Ortiz Paz (known as JOP), lead guitarist Samuel Jaimez, second guitarist Khrystian Ramos, tuba player José García and tololoche player Moisés López — represented West Coast vibes for a lit East Coast audience.
They have become one of the main drivers of a homegrown music that celebrates Northern Mexican roots with a trap bravado, and this was fully evinced during their high energy show on Friday night. The set included a 16-member brass ensemble, plenty of tequila shots, and even a porta-potty onstage (because, naturally).
Here are five highlights from Fuerza Regida’s Otra Peda Tour in Newark, N.J.
JOP arrived looking like a boss with an early ‘90s-era vintage Versace jumpsuit, à la Biggie Smalls driving a yacht in the “Hypnotize” video or Tupac in several high-profile appearances. His crew, including the brass ensemble that backed them up, all sported white Nike Air Force 1 low tops, looking G’d up. These were fashionable choices that pay homage to hip-hop life, while paving the way for a new kind of image within música mexicana.
JOP took the time to identify Fuerza’s ever-growing fan base, and genuinely thanked them for attending the show. He read several signs and even stopped a song midway to read one that said, “I changed my way to come see you!” “For real?” the frontman replied before asking a cameraman to show the sign to audience members. Amid slinging bras, there was another moment where he felt a boost of ego and said, “I wanna take a girl for myself from the East Coast to the West Coast.” “This princess asks for a kiss,” read another sign. As the group performed their two hour-plus setlist — including many hits (“Bebe Dame,” “Ch y la Pizza,” “Sabor Fresa,” and the list goes on) — the audience belted every single word, very engaged with the high-energy performance. Many Latin countries got their shout-out too, as the band members picked up various flags and waved them from the stage.
While performing “TQM,” JOP stopped the song and yelled, “Yo, yo yo!” seemingly shocked. Then a crew of security guards rush towards the crowd, facing the front center stage. “What’s going on over here? They’re fighting?” she says, “Imma get the f— out of here if you guys keep on fighting.” The suspense thickened, like a cliffhanger from a reality TV show. Then from the mob of angry folks arose a man with a bloody face. “You guys need to chill, no fighting!” “¡Fuera, fuera, fuera!” the crowd yelled, “¡a la verga!,” another concert-goer said. “¡Culero, culero, culero!” the crowd roared in unison, and the security guard escorted them out. “Make some muthaf—ing noise! You know we get crazy in this b—-!” JOP wailed, alleviating the tension, before continuing to belt out the the verses to the song, ”Ya ando enfiestado y parece un festín…” “For a Fuerza Regida show, you gotta get f—ed up!” he added moments later. The frontman handled the tumultuous scene the best way possible, and that deserves an applause.
Back in the ‘90s, West Coast rap and narcocorridos, like those of Chalino Sanches, drew many comparison for its excess and criminal lifestyle. In a similar spirit, drill music draws some connections, thematically, from this new rising música mexicana movement, specifically, from corridos bélicos, the newest subgenre. Being the brash and sometimes controversial frontman that he is — but while also paying respect to East Cast music — JOP honored Pop Smoke with “Dior,” even busting out some drillish kind of dance moves, like also seen in the video for “Dame Bebe.”
In the spirit of true banda Sinaloense music, Fuerza Regida invited a 16-member brass ensemble to back up their music, which further enlivened the scene with every blaring horn. The presence of live brass not only added a layer of authenticity to the traditional-rooted genre but also brought an undeniable cool factor to the stage, plus their sneakers (first highlight mentioned above). The sight of over a dozen brass players, synchronized in harmony, visually enriched the stage, capturing the audience’s attention and adding a touch of spectacle to the performance.