Blessed with a bell-like voice and a fanciful writing style, Julieta Venegas first catapulted herself to the very top of the Latin American pop market by recording hook-laden tunes and flirty videos which have now endeared her to millions of fans worldwide and earned her five Latin Grammys.
With songwriting influences like Suzanne Vega, David Bowie and Prince, she showed a confrontational lyric style early on, establishing herself as a cutting edge alternative artist in the ’90s while coming up in the world of Mexican reggae and ska, most notably in the band Tijuana No!, for whom she penned the group’s biggest hit, “Pobre de Ti.”
It wasn’t until her more pop-oriented breakout releases in 2003 (Si), and again in 2006 with Limon y Sal that her career turned the corner, as her mainstream appeal gave way to a much wider fan base. Both studio efforts took off commercially as Si went triple platinum in Mexico and spawned four big hits, eventually leading to a Latin Grammy for Best Rock Solo Vocal Album in 2004. A string of industry awards and critical acclaim followed for Limon y Sal.
Often overlooked are Venegas’ considerable musical abilities. In addition to writing and singing her own songs, she also plays guitar, piano and the accordion.
The night after Venegas appears, the Fox will offer an impromptu pop-up appearance by Grupero star Javier Rosas, who is back on the trail after suffering gunshot wounds in an assault in Sinaloa, Mexico on March 22. Grupera, an idiomatic genre of Mexican folk music popular mostly in rural areas, draws its pedigree from cumbia and ranchera music, featuring sensuous balladeering and instrumental roots in ’50s rock and roll – a perfect showcase for Rosas’ keen crooning.
JULIETA VENEGAS 8pm Friday, July 8. $68-$109. Javier Rosas 8pm Saturday, July 9. $45. Fox Theater, 241 South Main St., Salinas. 758.8459 www.foxtheatersalinas.com