On Monday, May 29, I had the opportunity to cover the concert of a band that exemplifies perseverance, determination and of course, passion. Few Mexican bands get to go on tour in the United States, but DLD is one of them. During an intimate interview on their tour bus, the members of the band, Francisco, Erik, Edgar, Keno and Sergio, agreed on one thing: the essence of DLD goes beyond what words can define.
DLD was formed in the late ’90s in The State of Mexico with the name Dildo. After they gained popularity, especially in the US, they had to come up with a more appropriate, kid-friendly name for the band. However, they did not want to radically change the band’s identity; so they abbreviated their former name to DLD. Despite this change, the band still considers Dildo to be their authentic name.
Some people may argue that DLD is a purely alternative rock band, while others may say that they play pop rock. These assumptions are neither right nor wrong. The truth is, according to the band, DLD enjoys playing a little bit of everything, which is what makes them so unique and powerful as a group. As a result, DLD has attracted a heterogeneous audience that ranges from young teenagers to grown adults – all of whom sing along, together, at the band’s shows. The amazing audience in San Diego was no exception.
This was not the first time that DLD performed in San Diego. However, this occasion was particularly special since they are promoting their sixth album “Futura.” “Futura” is an album significantly different from their previous records. It was recorded in Cancun, Mexico, a heavenly place where the band felt like they were more connected to nature. This allowed the group to create more fresh and breathtaking songs. When I asked the group which track was their favorite, they could not agree on one particular song, because the album has so much variety.
The DLD US Tour started in El Paso, where they performed at the Neon Desert Music Festival. San Diego was their second destination. They also performed in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
People started to get in line outside The Casbah around 7 p.m., even though the concert began at 10:30 p.m. DLD opened with “A Distancia,” a song from their album “Primario,” released in 2012. Before they started playing, Francisco (the lead singer of the band) said to his fans, “We’re gonna f*ing rock The Casbah… I’ve always wanted to say this.” After these words, an amazing night, full of contagious energy, began.
As the night went on, the audience got fired up listening to their favorite songs from the album “Futura,” which included “Estaré,” “Sigo Siendo Yo” and “Las Cruzadas.” However, the mood changed suddenly as soon as the band started performing “Reencuentro,” a song dedicated to a former band member who passed away. The narrative of this song and the emotion with which DLD played it touched the hearts of the whole crowd at The Casbah, who sang along.
The band left their most famous hits, such as “Mi Vida” and “Todo Cuenta,” for the second half of the concert. The last song they played was “Por Siempre,” magically closing the concert in a way that left the audience craving more.
The concert that DLD gave to their public was more than just a night of rock. It was a night where people could escape from reality and let the music flow into their veins and their hearts.
It is hard for me to recount the numerous times that DLD thanked their public for their unconditional support. This proves that DLD is not only talented, but also humble and grateful. The band made it clear that without the support of their fans, the Futura US Tour 2017 would’ve been impossible.
DLD is now crossing borders, and there’s no stopping them.
Check out DLD more here, on their website.