Robert Rodriguez and Chingon "Tells the Whole Story of El Rey" in "Mestizo City"

Photo by Jacob Katel

From the moment Chingon took the stage shortly after 9 p.m. last night across the street from Henry Muñoz's "Mestizo City" instillation, the organic intermingling of cultures bound together by the universal language of music--albeit Spanglish music--and film was truly beautiful to witness.

Between songs and film clips, Rodriguez would share back-stories, like the one about Quentin Tarantino writing a character, "Blonde Death," for Madonna to play in From Dusk Till Dawn.

Photo by Jacob Katel

Instead, Rodriguez convinced the film's writer to hire Salma Hayek as "Santánico Pandemonium."

Musically, Chingon is one of the tightest groups we've ever seen live. Anchored by guitar virtuosos Mark and Rick del Castillo, the band's effortless blend of ranchera, mariachi and rock 'n' roll is both captivating and mind-blowing.

Photo by Jacob Katel

Highlights include the legendary sax man Johnny Reno channeling the 1950s and tackling vocals on "My Mistake," a song he sang on Rodriguez's 1994 made-for-TV flick, Roadracers, and the Del Castillo brothers' synchronized picking on "Cuka Rocka."

¡Que viva la música!

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