Many years ago, Antonio Perez of MAS Records shared an unreleased concert recording with us from the historic Normandie Casino in Gardena, California. Recorded around 2002, this special performance features Bobby Espinosa’s El Chicano, delivering a powerful live set that captures the band’s signature Eastside Latin rock sound.
The band lineup for this concert included Geree Gonzalez on vocals; Steve Salas as special guest vocalist; George Lopez on bass guitar; Bruce Conte as special guest lead guitarist; Sid Samirez on rhythm guitar; Tony Rosa on congas; and Lance Lee on drums. Bobby Espinosa led the group on the Hammond B-3 organ, while also serving as the band’s announcer throughout the show.
The Normandie Casino, originally opened as the Western Card Club in 1947, was a longtime cultural landmark in Gardena before closing its doors permanently in 2016. The venue was located at 1045 W. Rosecrans Avenue, and this recording stands as a rare musical snapshot of its storied history.
The selected tracks from this performance include “The Introduction,” “Tocayo,” “Mijita,” “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Sabor a Mi,” “Tell Her She’s Lovely,” “Viva Tirado,” and “One More Night.” On El Chicano’s signature song “Viva Tirado,” Bobby Espinosa’s musicianship truly shines, making it a standout moment of the concert.
Special highlights include Steve Salas’s soulful rendition of “Brown Eyed Girl,” Bruce Conte’s exceptional lead guitar solo on “One More Night,” and the beautiful vocals of Geree Gonzalez on “Mijita,” written by Mark Guerrero, and “Sabor a Mi.”
From start to finish, the band sounded great, delivering a memorable live performance that fans of El Chicano and classic Eastside music will truly appreciate.
El Chicano Playlist
