OK. I have to share this post in English so I can share the joy with my salsa friends!
On November 9th 2019, Willie Colon held his concert at the Magnolia in El Cajon, CA. Why El Cajon!? I don’t know!!! But I thought it was a smart choice because it is not too far from San Diego (appx 30 mins from my home) yet the venue is good-sized and clean.
So some of you who asked me if I went to any salsa concert lately, here is the answer!
Willie actually held a concert a few years back in LA’s Conga Room, but you know, LA is just far away especially on a Sunday night. I am so glad he came to somewhere reachable, and on Saturday night!
About Willie Colon
Willie Colon is a nuyorican (NYC-born Puertriqueno), born in 1950, called El Rey de Tronbon. One of the greatest Fania Stars.
I know he is now a politician also. In the past I saw his harsh comments on social media towards Isram people but I am hoping that was my bad Spanish interpretation because I hope stars are always loving and supportive to people no matter what background we have 😉
Besides if he is against Muslim people then why would he hold a concert in the heart of El Cajon, right? El Cajon holds one of the largest Iraqi communities in the United States.
In any case he is a legend with no doubt, his music is magical and he was always in my must-watch list.
My ticket and seat
I learned about the concert about two weeks from the concert date? and back then I saw lots of seats were available.
I secured my seat in the center of 2nd row. It was around 90USD including service fee and everything.
Of course by the concert date it was almost all sold out.
The venue opened at 7pm. And I targeted to arrive 8pm because I thought the concert would start around 830-9pm, as other salsa concert always did in the past… You will know how wrong I was soon…
I left home 730pm, blasting his music in the car.
Arriving at the venue at 8pm I realized my cell phone wasn’t fully charged.
I spent 20 minutes in the car charging the phone so I can record videos with no flaw…
My 2nd visit to City of El Cajon
I have been to City of El Cajon before this event. It would have been around 2 years back. An Iraqi-American friend of mine took us to one of the good Middle Eastern restaurant in the town. Back then I didn’t notice but you see some Arabic signs in this city. I wanted to take some photos but I was driving alone. This is one of the downsides of going to concert alone, but that’s OK.
This is the entrance of the venue, The Magnolia.
Another thing I liked about the venue is security. You know how crazy the security system in LA is? Super strict even though you are a good citizen with no harmful weapons.
Here’s a little different. I brought my Puerto Rico & Japan flags as I normally do for large-sized concerts. And because I didn’t hide it, I left in my little purse, the security guy found it and commented “It’s a bit too large…”
But then he said like “You are not going to block the people behind you with this flag right?”
“Maybe you are going to wrap yourself with this flag, and maybe you kind of show the flag little bit at the end of the show?”
That’s how he let me through with the flags!
Of course I didn’t block the people behind me. Honestly I was busy watching, dancing and recording the show that I had no hands to hold the flags…! In any case I appreciated the flexibility of the security staff there.
Shamefully, I missed the first 1 1/2 songs・・・!
So finally I was inside the venue, and noticed very rich music was blasted. I was like “Wow they prepared pretty good opening performance…!” BUT NOOOO! The concert had already started by the time I arrived!
Basically I missed out the first song and a half!
So this is the view I enjoyed when I just entered the venue. Because it was middle of the song I waited on the side. He was singing the 2nd half of the 2nd song.
Lately you can search musician’s past concert setlist online (like this one for Willie Colon in 2018). According to this list, I missed Che Che Cole😿 Shame on you, May!
BUT BUT, look at him! So gorgeous, so noticeable. Yes he looks like a politician too.
No regrets. Thanks to fully-charged phone, I was able to record my favorite song “El Gran Varon” at the end of the show. That’s ultimately what I really wanted from this show.
So… I enjoy from the 2nd song 🙂
Here is the first video I took👇
Shoooot, I wanted to listen from the beginning…! It’s soooo goood!!!
But then on my second thought he’s decent. He’s from East Coast which has 3 hours of time difference, and he’s almost 70 years old and it seems he has issues with his legs. It’s natural that he starts his concert early.
What he does is normal, and all the other salsa concerts just starts so late!
This is his talk after the 2nd song. Did you hear your country? Not mine 😉
View from the 2nd row
Look at this view! It’s not bad, is it?? Just this view made me super happy 🙂
Idilio!!! This video will be my family treasure jajaja
Live was wonderful. Some say he sings okay because he’s a trombonist, but that’s not the truth.
His voice has volume and just AhMazing…!
I am proud of myself being the witness of this salsa legend, living in the same era.
Wonderful neighbors
You see how close I sat from the stage?
And another lucky thing was my neighbors. My right side was a born-and raised Puertoriqueno who wore Puerto Rican shirt on. His name is Miguel and he kindly asked me to dance with him! And luckily security got less tight so they allowed the audience to dance basically anywhere. We moved to the stage front and danced there. Salsa concert should be this way.
And my left side was a woman from Cali, Colombia. As Cali woman she was beautiful inside out. I told her about my experience at Felia de Cali. She was happy that I have visited her hometown.
I truly love going to concerts with my salsa friends especially when they are coming all the way from Japan, but I also like going alone so people are more likely to talk to me with no hesitation, and vice versa. So that’s another thing I enjoyed from this concert.
The Best Shot
This is the best shot from this show. Isn’t it beautiful and gorgeous? I am fully satisfied. He looks as legendary as he truly is.
My videos
So I was busy during the concert- watching, dancing, recording, waving the flags…!
Enjoy some of the videos I took during the show.
Sin Poderte Hablar
Hasta Que Te Conoci
Talento de Television
Homenaje a Hector Lavoe
This song I didn’t know and couldn’t find. Later asked Miguel for help and finally knew what it’s called.
Can you see how people are enjoying the show? Some were dancing, some were singing, some were smiling…
Don Willie was out of stage for a while during the show, two of the back singer guys took over the stage and shared lots of cool salsa numbers. We all loved them and that’s when I danced. Because isn’t it hard to decide whether you listen to the legend or dance to the legendary music?
Ending with El Gran Varon
this was what I was waiting for: El Gran Varon
Probably I am not fully understanding the meaning or lyrics of this song 100%.
But I bet this song is kind of sad. It’s about a man’s life. But still I love this song so much.
I bet Don Willie was exhausted. No en core shared after this song. So no La Murga.
It’s sad but no other choice.
I was truly happy and lucky to visit his concert to witness the living legendary.
Think about it, no matter how you wish you can’t witness Hector Lavoe. He’s in the sky.
Empty stage after the show
Happy May after the show
This is how the concert in El Cajon ended. It was my first time to step into the heart of the El Cajon City. I saw some cool stores and restaurants. Hope I have another opportunity to visit to learn more about the area.