Written by E.J. Hermitt
All Photos by E.J. Hermitt
Leading off with a beautiful land acknowledgment to honor the Tongva tribe, Reyna then tapped poet Fariha Róisín to recite some words inspired by the new album. The journey of her poem encapsulated “Malegría” (“Bittersweet”), as a feeling of blanketing life on the micro-scale and the world at the macro. But for Fabi, it is a word that has meaning beyond the depth that a passerby listener could gather from her oft-upbeat musical stylings.
After tragically losing her creative partner, Nectali ‘Sumo Hair’ Díaz, in 2022, it was clear this gathering was more than an album release celebration. It served as a cathartic connection between Fabi and her listeners to debut new music for the first time in several years. She spoke candidly of how Sumo’s earthly departure has helped propel her into the musician she is today.
Reyna portrays outright honesty and vulnerability on stage, both in her introspective banter and her animated presentation of the songs themselves. She motored through new cuts from Malegría as the onstage cast rotated through a lineup of talented backup singers and players led by multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Nay Mapalo.
The energy exchange between Fabi and her front-row fans illustrated the bond they have built over the years together. She tossed her full-brim hat to the ground as she dropped to her knees and wailed into the mic.
To further bolster the message of the music, the set design itself also told a story. Framed between two large piñatas (a boot and a pineapple), Reyna worked the stage as the projection of the vibrant album art was displayed behind her. To her right was a gorgeous ofrenda (altar), filled with deliberately positioned candles, pottery, herbs, fruit, and corn. A sign prominently placed at centerstage pointed out the band's mission statement, “Sounds of the Tropical Diaspora con amor, intención, conexión.” Love, intention, connection: the keywords of the evening.
As the show approached the end, Reyna called up multi-hyphenate artist and activist Xiuhtezcatl to feature on a song. The two close friends had a moment of reconnection as they traded verses back and forth. The cemetery venue erupted in cheers as Reyna came back on to play one encore song.
After exclaiming, “I NEVER play this song anymore,” she ripped into “No Me Quieres” — clearly a crowd favorite, as the packed house began to jump to the beat collectively. As the final notes of the night faded away, a collective exhale was felt. The dynamism of Reyna Tropical was enough to wake the dead for a chat and a sip of tequila on the way home.
