Tish Hinojosa
El Sol y la Luna, August 28 Who’s bright idea was it to double-book Tish Hinojosa, the darling of Austin’s Tex-Mex scene, with brassy El Sol 104.9 Radio for a live remote at El Sol y La Luna last Wednesday? While El Sol Radio arrived with a snazzy van and speakers to smack Hinojosa into the middle of Congress Avenue, Hinojosa had the fans. Technical difficulties and patron complaints ultimately forced El Sol Radio to leave after 30 minutes, leaving Hinojosa to play to a swooning, standing-room-only audience. Few singers have fans as ardently devoted as Hinojosa’s. Packed shoulder-to-shoulder, some with their children, in nonexistent AC, if anyone had second thoughts about the South Austin taco joint, they quickly evaporated with Hinojosa’s “Well, what do you want to hear?” Old and new tunes from San Antonio Romeo, Corazon Viajera, Rancherita, Siempre Abuelita were requested, and Hinojosa obliged. Heads bobbed in time to the music, mouths lip-synched lyrics, and others simply stood there, enraptured at the sight and sound of Hinojosa. If you think this is an exaggeration, it’s not. An old friend from college was there. He was so entranced with Hinojosa, it would have taken hot salsa sprayed into his face to get his attention — maybe. And Hinojosa wasn’t the only dish on the evening’s menu. Longtime backup guitarist Marvin Dykhuis also performed, perking Hinojosa’s tunes with his nimble guitar and perfectly meshed backup vocals. When an audience member yelled “Tish rocks!” the singer pointed out that it’s Dykhuis who rocks. Without him, Hinojosa shines. With Dykhuis, she glows as brightly as the smitten fans that came for their Tish fix and left happily sated after her two-hour set.This article appears in September 6 • 2002.