The third and last day of the Corona Capital 2024 festival on Sunday (Nov. 17) turned into an old friends reunion, fulfilling the teenage dream of guitarist Jack White who, along with singer-songwriter St. Vincent, was invited by the legendary Paul McCartney to join him on stage in what was the ex-Beatle’s debut at a Latin American music festival and the grand finale of his tour in the region.
In his fourth performance on Mexican stages — and his first time at the famous festival in Mexico City — McCartney achieved the feat of gathering the largest number of attendees the Corona Capital has seen in its 14-year history, according to promoter Ocesa, with nearly 82,000 people.
On the Vans stage, iconic rocker Iggy Pop starred in one of the most anticipated moments, giving a masterclass of what a rock lion does at 77 years old alongside special guests including Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner.
Beck, the “güero” cherished by Mexicans, reaffirmed his connection with the country, where he reunited with dear friends and colleagues at the festival, and practiced his Spanish.
For her part, former Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon raised the bar for women and delivered an experimental show that captivated the audience. Jack White, one of the stars on the third day of the festival, also led one of the most anticipated performances and, at the start of his set, performed a cover of Iggy Pop’s classic “I Wanna Be Your Dog.”
In total, Corona Capital 2024 brought together about 225,000 people over its three days, counting 74,000 on Friday, 69,000 on Saturday, and Sunday’s 82,000.
Below are five of our favorite moments from Day 3 of the Corona Capital 2024 festival. (Here are the recaps for Day 1 and Day 2).
-
McCartney’s masterful closing with St. Vincent and Jack White
Paul McCartney fulfilled the dream of many on Sunday (Nov. 17), including that of the virtuoso American guitarist and producer Jack White, who on several occasions has declared himself a faithful admirer of the Beatles. The former member of White Stripe was invited by the British idol to accompany him at the closing of his show at the Corona Capital with singer-songwriter St. Vincent, in the song “The End.” A simply delirious moment that will remain in the history of the famous Mexican festival.
St. Vicent, meanwhile, accompanied the 82-year-old musician on the Beatles classic “Get Back.” Read more details here.
-
Iggy Pop bring a wild, unforgettable show
Like McCartney, punk legend Iggy Pop delivered another great moment of the evening, attracting the general public as well as the musicians invited to the festival as spectators of his show. The 77-year-old artist roared like a lion as soon as he stepped onto the stage, where he was accompanied by other famous rockers such as the guitarist of the New York trio Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Nick Zinner, and the bassist of Interpol, Brad Truax, showing off expertise and fortitude despite traces of the excesses of his time.
In his performance at the Corona Capital, which marked a return after seven years of absence, Iggy Pop’s repertoire was made up of many of his hits, some of them in versions with touches of funk and jazz. The setlist included “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” “Lust for Life,” “T.V. Eye”, “Search and Destroy”, “The Passenger,” “Down on The Street” and more.
-
Jack White, great among the greats
The American virtuoso guitarist Jack White also made his one of the most anticipated acts of the festival. He opened his show with a tribute to punk legend Iggy Pop, with his own version of “I Wanna Be Your Dog.” It was followed by songs from his former duo The White Stripes and his solo career, such as “Old Scratch Blues,” “That’s How I’m Feeling,” “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground,” “It’s Rough on Rats (If You’re Asking),” “Hotel Yorba” and “Lazaretto.”
White is one of the most proactive artists on the current rock scene, and proof of this is the number of projects and groups he leads, including The Raconteurs, whose songs “Broken Boy Soldier” and “Steady, as She Goes” also appeared in his repertoire, which he closed masterfully with “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes.
-
‘¿Qué Onda güero?’ Beck reaffirms his love for Mexico
Beck used his return to Mexico to reaffirm his emotional ties with the country. Visibly moved, he gave all his love to the audience at the Corona Capital, who welcomed him with great affection. The Los Angeles musician has recognized on several occasions the influence that Mexican culture had on his life, and he in turn has been a strong inspiration for Mexican rock bands such as Café Tacvba.
To the shouts of “¡Güero, güero!” (the Mexican word for blond), alluding to his 2005 album Guero, Beck sang some of his biggest hits and more recent songs, including “Devils Haircut,” “The New Pollution,” “Girl”, “Qué Onda Guero”, “Gamma Ray”, “Loser” and “What It’s At.”
-
Kim Gordon brings thrilling feminine energy
On the female side, the legendary bassist of Sonic Youth offered a lecture on energy and expertice during the third day of the festival. Accompanied by a group mostly made up of young women, Kim Gordon captivated thousands of souls with an explosive and audacious set full of experimental sounds, creating a delirious atmosphere.
Her setlist included “BYE BYE”, “The Candy House”, “I’m a Man”, “Cigarette” and “Cookie Butter”. Without a doubt, it was clear why she is considered one of the most respected voices in contemporary music.
