In fact, most of the song list was taken from the Grammy-winning recording, beginning with the Sahm-sung “What Were You Thinkin’ Of.” The audience’s enthusiastic response to that song’s peppery eighth-note rhythm, and later to Sahm’s galloping “Adios Mexico,” afforded one a clear perspective on the fundamental appeal of Tex-Mex’s mix of Norteno, country, and rock ‘n’ roll. Like its album, the Tornados’ concert coalesced ingredients from each of the players’ musical pantries and whipped them into a Tex-Mex froth. Yet, for its apparent cumbersomeness, the octet made some very pleasant, coherent noise. If you’re counting, that’s four guitarists playing at any one time. Oscar Tellez, who plays bajo sexto (bass-chordal guitar) in Jimenez’s conjunto band, contributed acoustic rhythm guitar and vocals.
The project has assumed a life of its own, and it was obvious in the band’s performance at the Grandstand Stage that the musicians are a little giddy from the unexpected turn of events.īesides the main foursome, the Tornados’ traveling band consisted of a drummer, a bassist, and an electric guitarist. Instead, “Texas Tornados” won a Grammy and has remained on the country charts for 44 weeks, selling 250,000 copies. Together, the quartet released a self-titled album last year that was supposed to be a onetime lark. Sahm and Meyers co-founded the Sir Douglas Quintet, which had pop hits in the ‘60s with “She’s About a Mover” and “Mendocino.” Fender nailed the country-Western charts in the ‘70s with “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” and “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.” Jimenez is a legend of conjunto, the polka-derived music indigenous to the conjoined region of south Texas and northern Mexico.
The Tornados feature guitarist Doug Sahm, keyboardist Augie Meyers, guitarist Freddy Fender and button-accordionist Santiago (El Flaco) Jimenez. Add to that latter category Texas Tornados, who blew into town Thursday night and left a few thousand satisfied fans strewn behind at the Del Mar Fair.
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