Mexican Rock en Español band Zoé returned to Houston for the MEMOREX + REXSEXEX + MÁS tour, where they rocked the house down at the Woodlands Pavilion.
There was such electricity in the air with Rock en Español legends Zoé taking the stage for an incredible show at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston. Frontman León Larregui put in a powerhouse performance cementing their status through their iconic narrative rock sound. In true Zoé fashion, retro-futuristic projections filled the amphitheater with cosmic light.
The evening began as the band performed the entirety of their groundbreaking third album Memo Rex Commander y el Corazón Atómico de la Vía Láctea, released in 2006. Zoé celebrated the 20 year anniversary of their album, and brought classic deep cuts like “Triste Sister” and “No Me Destruyas” to longtime fans. Once the album concluded, documentary-like videos played on the big screen, showing the production process of Memo Rex as well as preparations during that era.
Moods shifted as Zoé reached the MÁS portion of the show, where they began to play all the fan-favorite hits. They started this set with “No Hay Mal Que Dure” from their 2018 album Aztlán, followed by “Fin De Semana”. Televisions and static filled the background as the band launched into their hit “SKR.” The song’s raw emotion and mesmerizing visuals easily made it the best performance of the night. The music virtually levitated the crowd out of their seats, proving the band had perfected the live rendition. “Campo de Fuerza” stood out as another highlight. As the final notes faded, the crowd leaped to their feet for a standing ovation, chanting the band’s name. Larregui showed major appreciation, as he bowed and launched a monster kiss in the crowd’s direction.
With the crowd in full force, the atmosphere remained electrifying all night. During “Arrullo de Estrellas”, the crowd lit up their phones collectively to create a “stars beneath a starry night” effect. Zoé proceeded to sing their MTV UNPLUGGED rendition of “Labios Rotos”, where the crowd erupted in lyric, leading Larregui to aim his microphone to be amplified by thousands of joined voices during the entire chorus.
Decibel levels rose rapidly as the band walked out to perform yet another track from Aztlán, “Azul.” Ending Zoé’s legendary night, Larregui celebrated their shared musical bond by expressing joy for all the diverse cultures present. With a sweet farewell: “We love you, see you next time”, Zoé closed their show with their iconic track, “Soñé.”
While the show was in a pavilion setting, Zoé’s show felt way more intimate. This defining collective experience proved that music connected everyone present. Commemorating their twenty-year-old album was special, but witnessing Zoé pour pure magic into their live performance was an honor.
I'm a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, number one Paramore fan and Husky dog owner. I have a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin and a M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston, which makes me smart! On top of being an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, I love bonding with others over the power of local music and media.
