This year's Taco Fest will be held at a new venue, and the event will bring together members of a popular music group.
Organizers announced on Tuesday that UTSA's downtown campus will host the taco celebration on April 4. Among the musical performances will be Girl in a Coma, whose three members broke up about 18 months ago.
The news came as throngs of people filled UTSA's Buena Vista Theater. Actor and dancer Jesse Borrego played to the crowd.
"Music...and tacos,” he said. “What more do you want? What more can you ask for?"
He noted playfully that San Antonio's neighbor to the northeast is NOT the home of breakfast tacos. "Step back Austin -- we still have the best breakfast tacos!" he shouted as the crowd cheered.
UTSA President Taylor Eighmy, filmmaker Jim Mendiola and District 5 City Councilperson Shirley Gonzales joined the festivities. Gonzales shared a story about her young daughter.
"You all know that I'm not lying when I say that taco was her first word,” she said, as the audience laughed. “Taco! Taco! Taco!"
Borrego then announced a huge lineup of musical performers, including Grammy winner Lila Downs, Heritage Fellow on squeezebox Santiago Jimenez, Salt Cathedral, The Zeros, Mexican Step Grandfather, Fea, Bombasta and many others.
He then took a moment to introduce the band that reunited just for the event.
“Girl in a Coma will be at this year's Taco Fest!” he said as the crowd applauded.
Jenn Alva, Phanie Diaz and Nina Diaz struck up an acoustic version of their song “Smart,” and some in the audience sang along.
Girl in a Coma broke up about a year and a half ago to pursue other endeavors. Alva and Phanie Diaz then formed Fea while Nina Diaz moved to Los Angeles to pursue a solo career. She said their performance would be an anniversary of sorts.
"The last show we did was Taco Fest, and they invited us back, and so we're having a reunion show for it," she said.
But after two years apart, are they still in sync? Phanie thought so.
“We always have this chemistry together, no matter what," she said. "So it's always nice to wake that up again.”
Nina agreed. “It was easy. Just like riding a bike,” she said.
But this won't mark a permanent reunion. Phanie says Fea still plans to promote last fall's new album.
"Yeah, we just put a record out and we have a bunch of tours to do," she said.
Lead singer Nina Diaz is also putting the finishing touches on a new album and will tour when that comes out. That said, she's just moved back to San Antonio from LA, so time will tell how it will all play out.
"Couldn't get away from home. Home is home," she said.
Jack Morgan can be reached at Jack@TPR.org and on Twitter at @JackMorganii.
