That unmistakable pulse that has defined Kinky for over two decades, those elastic basslines that anchor a sound impossible to box in. It’s a sound that will once again take center stage as the band launches their “Primera Vuelta 2026” U.S. tour, withSan Diego becoming the opening location of the 25-year anniversary show at the iconic House of Blues San Diego.
For Kinky, San Diego is more than a tour stop, it’s a cultural checkpoint. A border city where audiences mirror the band’s own hybrid identity. “San Diego has always welcomed us with open arms, and it will be special to play again at the House of Blues with this new tour,” shared Ulises Lozano during an interview with Visión Music Magazine. The artist also mentioned that after eight years of being away from the venue, the return carries both weight and anticipation. The tour itself spans their full catalog, from their 2002 self-titled debut to the band’s latest EP “5 Disparos”.
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS WHILE REVISITING THE FIRST DROP
For Kinky, their breakout moment lives in their debut album, which they will perform in full as part of this anniversary run.“To celebrate the 25 years of our first album, we’re going to San Diego and Los Angeles to perform it in its entirety,” Lozano explained. It’s a decision that speaks directly to musicians: honoring the raw architecture of early compositions while bringing the precision and instinct of 25 years on stage.
Recognition has followed that journey. Recently named among the best Spanish-language rock bands by Billboard, Lozano reflects on the moment with humility: “We didn’t expect this recognition… it was really great to be included alongside other Latin bands on that list.”
But the real celebration lives in the live performances. In the eclectic electronic programming and live instrumentation, the way a bassline can still dictate the emotional arc of the band’s essence.
BORN FROM FUSION: WHERE GENRES COLLIDE AND COMMUNITIES CONNECT
If there’s a defining element to Kinky’s DNA, it’s fusion, not as a concept, but as a lived practice. Their sound has always moved between worlds: alternative rock riffs, electronic beats, regional Mexican textures, and cumbia rhythms, all stitched together by groove.“I remember when ‘Sound Tha Mi Primer Amor’ came out… it was a time when there were a lot of divisions,” Lozano recalled. “We blended electronic, rock, and Regional music, and Kinky ended up bringing those musical communities together.”
What emerged was something rare: a shared frequency. Audiences that might have stayed in separate lanes found common ground in Kinky’s rhythm-forward approach. You could hear it in the shows, different scenes, same pulse.
Often described as a blend between The Chemical Brothers and Los Tigres del Norte, the band has continued to expand that sonic language. From an MTV Unplugged session to stages like Coachella, and collaborations across genres, Kinky has remained committed to exploration.
That same instinct carries into their latest work, including “Qué Siempre Gane el Amor,” part of the “Amor de Oficina” soundtrack, another example of how their sound adapts without losing its core.
TOUR INVITATION: SAN DIEGO AS THE OPENING STAGE
As the tour begins, Lozano leaves fans with an open call: “We’re going to release all that built-up energy… perform the full album live, from start to finish, just like you heard it the first time.”
In a city like San Diego, that invitation extends beyond geography. It’s for longtime fans, new listeners, and those crossing the border for a night where genres dissolve and the bassline leads the way. Because if Kinky has proven anything in 25 years, it’s this: labels fade, trends shift, but a groove that connects people? That stays.
Experience Kinky live in San Diego as they revisit the rhythms that shaped their sound at the House of Blues San Diego this coming Thursday, May 28th. Click here for tickets.
Photo credit: Kinky Facebook page
