People of all ages came together at the Fox Performing Arts Center on May 12 as Gipsy Kings took the stage. The group is currently on its Generation Tour, which features one of its co-founders, Tonino Baliardo. From the moment the lights dimmed, the packed house enthusiastically clapped and cheered, giving the group a massive welcome as they walked out on stage. The set-up featured five guitarists, a bassist, a keyboardist, a drummer and a singer.

Gipsy Kings set the tone for the whole show as they did a stellar instrumental intro that showed off the flamenco style they are known for. The guitarists would often nod to one another and challenge each other by engaging in strumming face-offs with techniques that progressively got more intense and complicated. This would drive the crowd wild as the cheers got louder and louder with every strum.

Though there was more than one guitarist, each had time to shine and more than one got to show off their singing voice. All the musicians poured their everything into what they were doing, making it hard to take your eyes off them. From the strong, rhythmic strumming and guitar solos to the raspiness of their voices and beautifully held notes, Gipsy Kings brought it all. Among the set list were some of the southern French group’s hits like “Djobi Djoba,” “Bem Bem Maria” and “Baila Me.” In honor of being in California, they played the classic “Hotel California” by the Eagles but with a twist. The arrangement was sung in Spanish and had Catalan rumbas, salsa and flamenco melodies.

Though being the co-founder and lead guitarist, the show was not about Tonino Baliardo; instead, every musician got to show off. Even the drummer had a solo and engaged the audience by playing a rhythm and having them clap it back to him, leading to an alternating game. The musicians often hyped each other up on stage, and as an audience member, you couldn’t help but praise them as well because their energy was infectious. Through both the fast-paced and slower songs, the attendees never lost their rhythm; the style of music just always had you swaying.

The show came to an end with the group playing the iconic hit “Bamboleo.” The song was a highly anticipated one as the beginning guitar strums had everyone immediately cheering as they stood up. The entire time the song was played members of the audience were not only swaying, but some even went as far as dancing in the aisles. The cheers, the music, the claps and the dancing created a beautiful atmosphere. As the Gipsy Kings waved goodbye and exited the stage, no one moved. Instead, the packed house began a chant for one more song. A staff member came out and encouraged the chanting before the group excitedly ran back onto the stage.

For the encore performance, the familiar tune of “Volare” filled the theatre and the crowd went wild. At one point, the singers stopped singing, and the attendees belted out the lyrics instead. The group came front and center and gave a final bow, which was given a standing ovation. Regardless of age and whether or not you know the language, there’s no denying that even after over two decades, the Gipsy Kings’ outstanding performances continue to be loved.