San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Young ears tune in at music festival
Though it takes place the weekend before Halloween, the Mala Luna Music Festival doesn’t really attract a costumed crowd.
Aside from some cat and bunny ears, face paint and glitter, the crowd at the 3year-old rap, dance and Latin music festival went in the other direction Saturday, taking advantage of the cloudless sky and 80 degree weather. Shorts, T-shirts and halter tops were the apparel of choice for the young crowd gathered at the festival site adjacent to Nelson Wolff Stadium to see performers such as reggaeton star Nicky Jam, rapper Tyler the Creator and pop singer Becky G.
The fans were so young you could trust anyone over 35 probably was there to watch over their kids. That was the case with Paul Rivera, who gifted his daughter Danielle and a friend with VIP passes for her birthday.
Like almost anyone you might ask at the festival, Danielle was looking forward to seeing Cardi B, the “Bodak Yellow” rap star whose Mala Luna appearance would be one of the first full sets she had performed since the birth of her daughter in July.
Waiting for Cardi B was such a common condition that you could observe the symptoms everywhere: a steady stream of late arrivals; a long line of skipping whomever was playing at the moment to take a social media-worthy photo in front of a 3-D Mala Luna sign; and clusters of festival- goers seated far from the stage eating and drinking, checking their phones or just hanging out.
The best way to pass the time, of course, was to enjoy the acts lower on the bill. The contrasts could be eyeopening.
Philadelphia rapper Tier- ra Whack, whose short but savvy songs earned her a Best New Music designation from the Pitchfork music website for her album “Whack World,” carried a purse filled with candy, which she tossed to the crowd.
Music played almost con- tinuously on two stages, so about halfway through Lil Baby’s set, a noticeable number of people edged their way through the crowd so they could get a good spot to watch Becky G at the Lone Star Beer Stage.
“I’ve done a lot of shows” in San Antonio, the Los Angeles-based singer told the crowd. “I want this one to be my favorite one yet.”
A “Happy Birthday” singalong to her little brother Frankie, whom she invited onstage, made it memorable, as did a remix of Selena’s “Si Una Vez” and Becky G’s big hits “Mayores” and “Sin Pijama,” which closed out her set.
As she said goodbye, Cardi B fans continued to arrive.
The festival continues today with performances by 2 Chainz, Young Thug and Dillon Francis, among others.