No other norteño group tells the story of the immigrant experience in the U.S. quite the way Los Tigres del Norte do. Mexican immigrants themselves, they moved to San José, California, from Sinaloa, Mexico, in the late 1960s as teenagers. Led by vocalist and accordionist Jorge Hernández, they started playing locally and quickly built a devoted following.
When the Hernández family caught the attention of music promoter Art Walker, he recorded their early material and helped launch them nationally through Fama Records. In 1971, Jorge heard a live mariachi song about cross-border drug trafficking a pivotal moment that pushed Los Tigres toward the vivid, cinematic corridos that would define their legacy. Their breakout, polka-driven corrido “Contrabando y Traición” (“Smuggling and Betrayal”) became a phenomenon and even inspired a film of the same name in 1977.
Nearly every year since, Los Tigres del Norte have been working-class heroes narrating the lives, struggles, and pride of people too often ignored, with songs that transcend generations. Classics like “La Jaula de Oro,” “La Bala,” “La Puerta Negra,” and the more recent “Un Consentido de Dios” are more than hits they’re cultural landmarks.
Now catch that power live at Pala Casino—in an intimate venue where there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Expect a close-up, high-energy night with great sightlines, great sound, and a view that makes it feel personal the kind of show you don’t get in a massive arena.
