When The New York Times calls you “Mexico’s most visionary rock band,” you’ve earned the right to take risks.
Café Tacvba—the Grammy-winning Mexican group that never tires of pushing boundaries, taking chances, and exploring the possibilities of sound—is bringing their acclaimed acoustic orchestra show Un Segundo to Walt Disney Concert Hall for two nights: Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 8 pm.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association announced this exciting addition to the 2022/23 season, giving LA audiences the rare opportunity to experience one of Latin America’s most innovative and influential bands reimagining their catalog with full orchestral arrangements. For upscale music lovers, foodies, and cultural enthusiasts from Beverly Hills to West Hollywood who appreciate artists who combine serious musicianship with fun-loving creativity, this represents something special: Café Tacvba’s madcap, boundary-pushing music elevated through collaboration with classical musicians at one of the world’s most acoustically perfect venues.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 25, at 10 am PT, and if you know Café Tacvba’s devoted following throughout Los Angeles and beyond, you’ll want to act fast.
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Why Café Tacvba Matters in Latin American Music
Café Tacvba isn’t just another rock band—they’re a cultural institution that fundamentally changed what Mexican and Latin American rock music could be. Since forming in 1989 in suburban Mexico City, they’ve consistently refused to be confined by genre expectations, blending rock, electronic music, folk traditions, punk energy, and experimental soundscapes into something uniquely their own.
The New York Times called them “Mexico’s most visionary rock band,” and that assessment understates their influence across Latin American music and culture. Café Tacvba demonstrated that Mexican rock didn’t need to imitate Anglo-American or British models—it could draw from indigenous traditions, regional folk music, cumbia, boleros, and create something authentically Mexican while remaining thoroughly contemporary.
Their Grammy wins and critical acclaim reflect more than popularity; they represent recognition that Café Tacvba operates at the highest level of musical craftsmanship while making music that’s genuinely fun and accessible. They never sacrifice intelligence for accessibility or experimentation for entertainment. Everything coexists: complexity and catchiness, tradition and innovation, seriousness and humor.
For Los Angeles audiences—in a city with deep Mexican and Latin American cultural roots—Café Tacvba represents hometown heroes performing in world-class venues. According to the Latin Grammy Awards, Café Tacvba has earned multiple nominations and wins, cementing their status as one of Latin music’s most important contemporary acts.
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Un Segundo MTV Unplugged: Reimagining a Catalog with Orchestra
On their latest album, Un Segundo MTV Unplugged, Café Tacvba recorded new acoustic versions of their songs with a full orchestra. This wasn’t a simple “strip it down” acoustic exercise—it was comprehensive reimagining that revealed new dimensions in songs fans thought they knew completely.
The orchestral arrangements add depth, texture, and emotional resonance to tracks originally recorded with electric guitars, synthesizers, and electronic production. Hearing these songs with strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion alongside Café Tacvba’s core instrumentation transforms the listening experience entirely.
Across two nights at Walt Disney Concert Hall, they will recreate the magic, linking up with an orchestra to reimagine music from across their highly celebrated and deeply influential catalog. This live presentation promises something beyond the recorded album—the energy of performance, the acoustics of Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the spontaneity that makes every Café Tacvba show unique.
For music enthusiasts and cocktail lovers throughout Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Culver City who appreciate both contemporary and classical music, this collaboration represents the best of both worlds. You’re getting rock music’s raw energy and creativity filtered through orchestral music’s sophisticated arrangements and instrumental palette
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Walt Disney Concert Hall: The Perfect Venue for Orchestral Rock
Walt Disney Concert Hall isn’t just beautiful—it’s one of the world’s most acoustically sophisticated venues, designed specifically to showcase orchestral music at its finest. When Café Tacvba performs with full orchestra in this space, every instrumental detail will be audible with stunning clarity.
The venue’s design by architect Frank Gehry has become an iconic part of LA’s downtown skyline, with its dramatic stainless steel curves reflecting Southern California light in constantly shifting patterns. Inside, the hall’s vineyard-style seating surrounds the stage, creating intimacy despite the venue’s size and ensuring excellent sightlines from virtually every seat.
The LA Phil has increasingly programmed boundary-pushing collaborations that bridge classical music, contemporary genres, and world music traditions. Café Tacvba’s Un Segundo concerts fit perfectly within this vision—honoring orchestral music’s traditions while demonstrating its continued relevance for contemporary artists and audiences.
For upscale audiences who attend both rock concerts and symphony performances, this show offers the rare opportunity to experience both simultaneously. The orchestral musicians bring classical training and precision, while Café Tacvba brings decades of genre-defying rock experimentation. Together, they create something neither could achieve independently.
The Fun-Loving Spirit Behind Serious Musicianship
Here’s what makes Café Tacvba special beyond their musical innovations: they make madcap music that’s a whole lot of fun. Despite their critical acclaim, Grammy recognition, and sophisticated arrangements, they never lose the playful, joyful spirit that makes their shows memorable experiences rather than merely impressive performances.
Their lyrics range from deeply poetic to absurdist humor. Their stage presence combines professionalism with spontaneity. They’ll follow a musically complex song with something deliberately silly, reminding audiences that music should ultimately bring joy, connection, and celebration—not just demonstrate technical prowess.
This fun-loving approach extends to their willingness to constantly reinvent themselves. Many successful bands find a formula and repeat it. Café Tacvba treats every album, every tour, and every performance as an opportunity to try something different. The Un Segundo orchestra shows represent this spirit perfectly—taking songs audiences love and asking “what if we reimagined these completely?”
For foodies, wine collectors, and cultural enthusiasts throughout Los Angeles who appreciate when excellence and enjoyment coexist, Café Tacvba embodies this balance. They’re serious musicians who don’t take themselves too seriously, creating space for audiences to appreciate both the artistry and the pure entertainment value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When do tickets go on sale for Café Tacvba at Walt Disney Concert Hall?
A: Tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at 10 am PT. Tickets are available online at laphil.com, via phone at 323-850-2000, and at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office. Given Café Tacvba’s devoted following and the limited two-night engagement, purchasing tickets early is strongly recommended.
Q: What is Un Segundo MTV Unplugged and how will these concerts be different?
A: Un Segundo MTV Unplugged is Café Tacvba’s latest album featuring new acoustic versions of their songs recorded with full orchestra. The Walt Disney Concert Hall concerts will recreate this concept live, with Café Tacvba performing alongside an orchestra to reimagine music from across their celebrated catalog. Live performances typically include spontaneity, extended arrangements, and energy that recordings can’t fully capture.
Q: What are the LA Phil’s current COVID protocols for Walt Disney Concert Hall?
A: Prior to attending, audiences are encouraged to view the LA Phil’s updated COVID protocol guidelines posted at hollywoodbowl.com/safety. Protocols may change based on current health conditions, so checking the most recent guidelines before your performance date ensures you’re prepared for entry requirements.
Experience Mexico’s Most Visionary Rock Band with Full Orchestra
Café Tacvba’s Un Segundo concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall represent a rare convergence: one of Latin America’s most innovative and influential bands, full orchestral arrangements that reimagine their celebrated catalog, and one of the world’s most beautiful and acoustically perfect concert venues.
For two nights only—October 21 and 22, 2022—Los Angeles audiences can experience Café Tacvba’s madcap, boundary-pushing music elevated through classical collaboration. Whether you’re a longtime fan who’s followed their career since the ’90s, a classical music enthusiast curious about contemporary orchestral collaborations, or simply someone seeking an unforgettable evening of world-class music, these concerts deliver genuine artistic excellence wrapped in joyful, fun-loving performance.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 25 at 10 am PT. Don’t wait—Café Tacvba’s devoted following throughout LA means these shows will sell quickly. Visit laphil.com, call 323-850-2000, or visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office to secure your seats for this special addition to the LA Phil’s 2022/23 season.
Get ready to experience why The New York Times calls them “Mexico’s most visionary rock band”—and why their combination of serious musicianship and playful creativity has influenced generations of artists across Latin America and beyond.
I went to this show. Incredible. Beautifil night