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There was something for everyone - fiery salsa, emotive ballads, fizzy dance-pop - during Saturday's swoon-worthy triple bill at Toyota Center.
Marc Anthony, Chayanne and singer-songwriter Marco Antonio Solis shared, and spread, the love with hourlong sets that made the most of their distinct personas. Fans posed with cutouts of the trio displayed throughout the lobby before the show.
Anthony kicked things off in a tailored black suit and sunglasses. He started his salsa swivel on his way to the microphone, and fans joined him throughout the aisles.
"Valió la Pena" was a loose, lively introduction to his elegant salsa sound, then segued into the dark, dramatic "Hubo Alguien."
"This has to be the loudest place so far on the tour," Anthony said after engaging opposing sides of the crowd in a cheering contest. Indeed, the screams rarely subsided.
It was impossible not to read more into the lyrical heartbreak and angst in light of Anthony's breakup with Jennifer Lopez (who played the same venue, to what seemed a slightly bigger crowd, last week).
"Hasta Ayer" was particularly stinging, also highlighted by a ferocious violin break. And standout ballad "Y Cómo Es El" almost drove him to tears (or proved him a terrific actor). Anthony is a terrific vocalist, unmatched by most of his counterparts in any language.
"Contra la Corriente" boasted a furious instrumentation, and the crowd seemed to get more energized as his set progressed. He ended with the rousing call-and-response of Hector Lavoe's "Mi Gente" and the hopeful swell of "Tu Amor Me Hace Bien." Maybe Anthony's still a romantic after all.
Chayanne: Dave Rossman: for the Chronicle
Chayanne took the stage less than five minutes later, even as much of the crowd was scurrying to the concessions and bathrooms. His slick pop and tinny voice initially paled by comparison during up-tempos "Boom Boom" and "Baila, Baila." His songs fit snugly in the radio-friendly pop zone, which makes them perfect for sing-alongs but not particularly memorable.
Still, he's an animated, engaging performer, even on ballads "Dejaría Todo" and "El Centro de Mi Corazón" (two of his biggest hits). There were dancers and costume changes and a gleaming smile that should have turned Chayanne into a huge crossover star years ago.
Anthony returned to duet on "Un Siglo Sin Ti," and the pair had a giddy chemistry that synced perfectly with the evening's joyful energy. There's still some spark in 1999 hit "Salome," and "Me Enamore de Ti" was the best vocal showcase in Chayanne's spirited set.
Solis, who closed the evening, is an entirely different animal. He's comparatively an elder statesman of Latin pop, having built his career as a frontman for Los Bukis, a songwriter for platinum acts and a solo artist.
He was flanked by female dancers throughout his set, and there was a lot of grand posturing and several air kisses. Several people shuffled out before he was finished, but those who remained danced along to the galloping beat of "Morenita," "Tu Me Vuelves Loco" and "Mas Que Un Amigo." Chayanne returned for a duet, and Bukis classic "Tu Carcel" earned rousing cheers.
At the end of the night, all three took the stage together, trading verses on one of each other's hits: Anthony's "I Need to Know," Solis' "Donde Esta Mi Primavera" and Chayanne's "Fiesta en America." All for song and a song for all.
See a gallery of photos from the concert HERE.
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