The first day of the 2024 Corona Capital festival on Friday (Nov. 15) celebrated the grand return of Green Day to Mexico after a seven-year absence with a performance that marked the American rock band’s last show of the year. As part of this exciting day, multiple sounds — from punk rock and progressive rock to indie, blues, funk, soul, pop and jazz — were heard in the voices of some of its most representative acts.
On its first day, the festival brought together over 74,000 attendees — according to the promoter Ocesa — who enjoyed shows by The Mars Volta, Warpaint, Cage The Elephant, The Vaccines, BadBadNotGood, Twin Shadow, David Kushner, Clairo, Zedd, French 79, Honne and others, who pleased even the most demanding music lovers gathered at the Curva 4, former headquarters of F1, in Mexico City.
One of the surprises that the festival brought this year was veteran rock band Toto, which attracted thousands of attendees from various generations to one of the main stages to sing at the top of their lungs classics such as “Africa,” “Hold The Line,” “Rossana” and “I’ll Be Over You.” Another of the highlights was the debut of the British singer Raye, whose charisma made her one of the most applauded acts.
The festival continues on Saturday (Nov. 16) with performances by Shawn Mendes, Travis, New Order, Melanie Martinez, Primal Scream, Explosions In The Sky, Black Pumas, Jessie Reyez, Del Water Gap, Michelle, and St. Vincent, who the day before released the Spanish version of her four-time Grammy-nominated album All Born Screaming — Todos Nacen Gritando — as a tribute to her Hispanic followers.
Below, five of our favorite moments from day one of the 2024 Corona Capital festival in Mexico City.
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Green Day Rescues Fan in Epic Show
Punk rock trio Green Day gave their last show of the year in Mexico — part of the commemorative tour for the 20th anniversary of their album American Idiot — and the occasion couldn’t have been more emotional for the band led by singer Billie Joe Armstrong and his followers.
The set was overflowing with emotion and energy, and the vocalist even got to help to a young woman squeezed in the crowd who was trying to catch her breath. The musician stopped the show during the performance of “She” and asked security to help her get out. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked the woman, who came out in the arms of the guards. Then he invited her on stage and gave her a warm hug to the amazement and applause of the audience.
The Californian band — also made up of bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool — performed hits including “The American Dream Is Killing Me,” “Basket Case,” “Longview,” “Welcome To Paradise,” “When I Come Around,” “Know Your Enemy,” “Minority,” and “American Idiot.”
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“Viva México!” The Mars Volta Brings Latin Flavor
The band led, by the Puerto Rican guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and Mexican-descent vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, gave the Latin touch to a festival comprised mostly of Anglo acts. With a set in which they paid tribute to their Hispanic roots, including salsa music and rumba among its most representative sounds, The Mars Volta offered one of the most anticipated shows of the day, which included dialogues in Spanish, dancing, improvisation, delirious riffs and proof that there is a deep connection between the band and its Mexican fans.
To the shout of “¡Viva México!”, the beginning of the show transported the audience to the era of De-Loused in the Comatorium, their 2003 album, with songs like “Roulette Dares” and “Drunkship Of Lanterns.”
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Toto Delivers Nostalgia and Prowess
Veteran American rock band Toto made old and new fans fall in love during its Corona Capital debut. Parents and children were seen singing the songs of the band led by vocalist Joseph Williams and guitarist Steve Lukather around the Vans stage, where it offered an energetic performance and shows its talent and discipline prowess. Although many only knew classics like “Africa”, “Rossana” and “Hold The Line,” everyone seemed with the show, which brought the band back to the country for the first time in 16 years.
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The Explosive Beauty of Warpaint
The Californian indie rock quartet also emerged as one of the most exciting and celebrated acts of the evening. Emily Kokal (vocals and guitar), Theresa Wayman (guitar), Jenny Lee Lindberg (bass) and Stella Mozgawa (drums) overflowed with energy in a show that went from fragility and subtlety to more emotional and explosive moments with songs like “Champion,” “Hips,” “Elephants,” “Krimson” and “Common Blue.”
It was Warpaint’s return to the Corona Capital stage after eight years, and the occasion was simply magical for the band and its fans.
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Raye Reigns in Mexico Debut
“¡Hola México!” Raye greeted the Corona Capital attendees in Spanish. The British singer-songwriter gave one of the most outstanding shows during the first day of the festival, and became one of the most pleasant surprises. Her set began with a small audience, but as the music played, more people approached the stage to listen to that powerful voice that stood out among the musical offerings of the rock festival. Happy and surprised by the response, the artist said she was in love with the country for its beauty and warmth.
Between songs, Raye spoke about the experience of being single, being a sexy woman, and how to have fun. It was undoubtedly a very promising debut for her in Mexico.