Helado Tropical brought their summer vibe to the Epstein Family Amphitheater with Jackie Mendoza
On August 12th, the open-air grounds of the Epstein Family Amphitheater at UCSD hosted an extraordinary musical milestone as Helado Tropical kicked off the very first headlining tour of their career. Presented as part of UCSD’s ArtPower Summer Sessions, the evening carried a uniquely celebratory energy. Having previously performed together only twice as an opening act, this show marked their official debut as a proper headlining band. The project represents an exciting union born from the merging of two powerhouse musical forces, Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical, who joined talents to forge this vibrant new collaborative band with a beautiful mix of both of their musical visions.
Setting the mood for the night was the multi-talented Jackie Mendoza, who pulled double duty as both the evening’s DJ and opening act. Her infectious curation and live performance immediately set a warm, welcoming tone across the venue grounds. As the sun set and the atmosphere built, fans eagerly gathered around the amphitheater stage, waiting for the main performance while listening to the fun music selection and original songs Jackie had to offer.
The moment both members of Helado Tropical stepped onto the stage, the energy across the venue shifted as many of the attendees who had been waiting in the seating areas rushed down to completely fill the floor. The band came out rocking a really cool matching uniform, a white set of pants and button-up shirts featuring a subtle, barely noticeable light blue cloud design, paired with “HELADO TROPICAL” spelled out across the back in vibrant sparkly purple and pink. Their presence kept the crowd singing and moving, highlighted by spontaneous dance breaks throughout the set. A standout moment arrived when Helado Negro took on the piano on his own and playfully instructed the entire crowd to sing a single verse over and over again in different vocal styles to finish one of his songs.
Delivering a seamless blend of sounds, the duo treated the audience to a rich, diverse setlist that showcased the full scope of their collective chemistry. They performed a captivating mix of tracks from their recently released debut album alongside beloved selections from their respective individual discographies under Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical. To make sure you don’t miss any milestones, new music releases, or upcoming dates on this groundbreaking debut run, be sure to follow Helado Tropical, Jackie Mendoza, and ArtPower UCSD across their official social media platforms. We wish Helado Tropical incredible success on this historic first headlining tour, and from ListenSD, we hope to see them bring their sunshine-infused sounds back to San Diego very soon!
