The Lighthouse Lounge, located on San Antonio’s West Side, is not typically known for hosting live music. When I walked up to the venue for the first time, I could immediately tell it was a hidden gem. The mouthwatering smell of street tacos being made right out front was the most inviting and homey greeting you could ever ask for.

I was told it can hold up to about 100 people, so this made me wonder why this intimate space was chosen for Bardo, formerly of Chicano Batman, to stop in our city for his Renacer Tour. 

But once I stepped inside, everything made sense. The atmosphere was intimate, vibrant, and full of so much character and heart. Truly the perfect setting for Bardo to stop in on his debut headlining tour.

Chavela, a smooth and soulful band led by Isa Paillao, opened the evening. I’ve personally had the pleasure of knowing her for many years, and seeing her play shows is always a gift. 

Her voice is soft yet powerful and angelic, and when her band locks in with her for these long stretches of jams, it’s truly something special. I’ve loved seeing her continue to light up stages around San Antonio as she’s one of the best live musicians in our city.

Bardo took the stage around 9, and you could tell he instantly felt comfortable being back in San Antonio. 

“San Antonio has always been a beautiful, beautiful home. I’ve always felt at home here, every time I’ve came here…”

He also noted the charm of the venue, likening the intimate bar space of Lighthouse Lounge to one straight out of a Tarantino movie. 

It was pretty surreal to see him play on a small stage, considering Chicano Batman had played massive arenas like the Forum in LA not too long ago. But he seemed much more himself and more authentic in this space, especially with the kind of energy the SA crowd was feeding him.

Whether the tunes were psychedelic or funky, whether he was singing in English or Spanish, he performed with a kind of swagger that the crowd latched on to. The longer the set went on, the more passionate he got; I lost count of the times his hat flew off and his curls would just be dancing wildly with him on stage.

I’ve never seen anyone be as comfortable as he was on a stage that small and connect to every single person in the crowd like he did, and it’s a testament to all the years he’s put into his artistry.

He looked incredibly joyful in this element, with his band, and with all the fans that came out to support him. I absolutely can’t wait to see where his solo path continues to lead him next.