Music as a medium of storytelling is almost as old as humanity itself. And no story has been told and retold as much as the story of love and heartbreak. The band Duelo have been master storytellers ever since their debut at the turn of the 21st century, choosing to deviate from the common tales of partying, narco culture and one-night-stand sexual conquests in order to focus on the extreme highs and devastating lows of love and loss.
Reigning from the border town of Roma, Texas, lead singer Oscar Ivan Trevinõ and his crew have revolutionized the genre of Norteño music, mixing elements of ranchera and tejano with romantic ballads and cumbia. Attending a Duelo show feels less like a concert and more like watching a band at a wedding in Monterrey or quinceañera in the Rio Grande Valley.
The stage at Toyota Center Friday night was set at the center of the arena, providing views to every fan in attendance. This was the first of three sold-out concerts on consecutive nights, which is a testament to the band’s popularity.
Prior to the show, I asked my friend and self-described Duelo super fan Esmeralda Obispo (aka @AntojosHouston) why she loved them so much. This was her response:
“Hi Marco! Why do I love Duelo so much? Because I think it was the bridge between music that my parents listened to and mine. It was sounds/instruments that were similar to corridos and cumbias from older generations plus new, softer, more eloquent lyrics that made it more attractive to people my age.“
It’s that type of adoration that makes Duelo a fan favorite. Real fans of Norteño music go beyond the charts and radio play, they became fans of this band on the dance floor being held tight by a lover singing loudly into their ear. Couples were definitely dancing in the aisles last night, embracing their partners and swaying back and forth to the litany of hits.
Around the halfway point of the show, the band ventured off stage for a wardrobe change. They returned in classic Norteño suits and performed cumbia covers of “Quizas Si, Quizas No” by Grupo Bryndis, “Celoso” by Grupo Toppaz and “Dejame Llorar” by Ricardo Montaner before ending this mini-set with one of their first commercial hits “Si Acaso Me Escuchas.” That song was written by Treviño when he was a teenager as a tribute to his mother.
It was certainly a festive kickoff to the three-night celebration of Grupo Duelo, one of the most influential artists of Norteño music history. Most fans sang along to every lyric, some Face-timing their loved ones and singing to them at the top of their lungs, others were simply content on finally seeing their favorite band in the flesh.
Love sometimes hurts, but dammit does it make life worthwhile.
