More Cinco De Mayo, Knoxville Style

Cinco de Mayo, Market Square, Knoxville, 2012

As the day wore on the crowds grew and included Kentucky Derby fans who ended their parties and spilled onto the streets to enjoy another culture entirely. Proms were also happening that night – Fulton’s was in the Convention Center – and promers promenaded about.

The Glamorous Derby Crowd at Cinco de Mayo
Beautiful Prom Refugees join Cinco de Mayo

 

Cinco de Mayo, Market Square, Knoxville, 2012
Truth and Salvage Company, Cinco de Mayo, Knoxville

While Truth and Salvage Company blasted southern rock from the stage, shots were  a theme of the day, with tequila shots you might expect being merged with whiskey shots and even saki shots supplied by Shonos. I bought a delicious Mexican Coke from Steamboat which fit with the theme, though I have to admit that’s pretty much a Saturday thing for me. Don’t tell me Mexican Cokes aren’t better.

Swinging over Cinco de Mayo, Market Square, Knoxville, 2012
Saki Shots at Cinco de Mayo, Market Square, Knoxville, 2012
Meghan Estes offers Tequila Shots for Soccer Taco
Steve Corrigan, Drummer for King Super and the Excellents

People watching was, as always, one of the best parts of the day. The leis really added to the festive vibe and the great pictures. I found a few people with the sombreros and I had a hard time finding many people with the mustaches, but I finally found the little tyke pictured at the top of this post. I ran into the drummer from King Super and the Excellents who cuts quite the figure when he’s all dudded up.

King Super Intro,Cinco de Mayo, Market Square, Knoxville, 2012
King Super and the Excellents, Cinco de Mayo, Knoxville
King Super and the Excellents, Cinco de Mayo, Knoxville
King Super and the Excellents, Cinco de Mayo, Knoxville

The main musical attraction of the day was the aforementioned King Super and the Excellents. They were  preceded on the stage by fire performers, which I missed, introduced by a manic wrestler and joined by a hooper before the night ended. They opened with “Tequila,” which seemed like an inspired choice given the day, but in what must be a concert first anywhere, they segued directly from that into their Pink Floyd “Wall” suite. That’s quite a range and it illustrates their versatility.

King Super and the Excellents, Cinco de Mayo, Knoxville
King Super and the Excellents, Cinco de Mayo, Knoxville
King Super and the Excellents, Cinco de Mayo, Knoxville
King Super and the Excellents, Cinco de Mayo, Knoxville

I know many people must love those guys because of the on-stage craziness, but that’s never been a big thing for me. These guys, however, have the chops to be crazy and still be legit. It’s going to be fun to see what happens for them in the future.

King Super and the Excellents, Cinco de Mayo, Knoxville
Cinco de Mayo, Market Square, Knoxville, 2012
King Super Drums in El Camino

As I walked away from the show I ran into the one thing I had not encountered all day: A genuine, beautiful, ginormous Derby Hat. Thankfully the lady graciously allowed me to take her photograph – after freshening her make up, naturally.

Finally, a Derby Hat, Cinco de Mayo, Market Square, Knoxville, 2012

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