As Mexican cumbia band tours U.S. South, every accordion squeeze brings nostalgia
LA TimesAntonio Romero had waited all night in a packed arena here for the band to play his favorite song, a brassy, sultry cumbia he had danced to as a teenager in Mexico City. “It’s a beautiful harmony,” said Elías Mejía Avante, 65, the eldest and the band’s front man. It was also people from the U.S. who don’t even speak Spanish.” — Guadalupe Mejía Avante As she and her husband took their seats in the buzzing arena, Jorge was backstage, warming up the band. “It was also people from the U.S. who don’t even speak Spanish.” Jorge Mejia Avante, center, stands next to Edwin Ordonez, left, and closes his eyes while performing in Estero, Fla. A fan, left, takes a video of Los Ángeles Azules while they perform in Estero, Fla. Fernando Zamora, 18, right, sings along with the cumbia group at the same concert. “They make us play better.” The crowds too were ready to hear live music again and to let Los Ángeles Azules carry them once more to homelands far away.
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