Mars or Planet Tejano?

Go Tejano Day beats Bruno Mars Day? No que no!

On Thursday, March 7th, Bruno Mars set a record attendance of 75,175 at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Everyone that was there said the concert was awesome! Mars brought an atypical performance to Houston Rodeo fans with his blend of Motown, pop, gospel, rock and reggae. Houston is home to the 4th largest Latino population, definitely a major home(y) base for the PochoNation. We love diversity and Mars brings it.
Interestingly, just three days later, Bruno's record was beat. On Sunday, March 10th, the "Go Tejano Day", la raza represented with an estimated paid audience of 75,305. Many showed up for the results of the weekend-long mariachi competition, in which McAllen's Mariachi Aztlan took first place. (Go Valley!) But many others had never even heard the music of the headline performers in the line up: Julión Álvarez or Los Invasores de Nuevo León. But, I'm sure that didn't matter as much as the rhythms and movement, the costumes and pageantry, not to mention the tubas and accordions. More than anything else, the PochoNation celebrates culture. Our culture, in all its diversity, as well as the cultures of others. Whether its Pitbull (3/14), or Martina McBride and George Strait (together on 3/17), we'll be there because all that music is a part of us, and we're a part of them!

Pocho Defined: If You Count Urban Dictionary

When I first started writing, albeit sporadically, about being Pocho and Proud, along with the Rise of the PochoNation, I felt I was alone in my zeal to claim the negative title and turn it into something positive. Some laughed. Others sneered. Most just said, "Huh?". Very few actually identified with the term Pocho. However, more and more, I'm seeing Pocho blogs, comments, references, and yes - t-shirts! Furthermore, while it may not be Webster, there's actually a definition (several) of Pocho in Wiki and Urban Dictionary. The term has been around for a long time, but what's actually new is that people are embracing this notion. (Sorry Grandpa.) Much of what I'm reading is humorous, in the self-deprecating style that is way too common to our culture. Still, as the PochoNation is growing, so are Pocho claimants. Orale!