It was impossible to stand still the night Mexican cumbia group Los Ángeles Azules played Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. The packed house was the scene of two hours of infectious cumbia music and non-stop dancing. Every inch of the arena was occupied by those drinking, singing their hearts out, and dancing their asses off. Los Ángeles Azules came to celebrate cumbia in a night to remember.
The cumbia legends have had a very active career since the 1980s. Their songs are easily recognizable, even if you do not know who they are.
If you’re Latino, chances are you’d instantly recognize the accordion intro to the timeless classic “Como te voy a olvidar.” Cumbia’s long history goes back to the 1800s, when it began in Colombia, specifically among the Afro-Colombian community. The music features a variety of drums, brass, and a guacharaca, which gives it its unique sound and rhythm. Los Ángeles Azules takes a unique approach to cumbia by adding accordions and synthesizers. Songs like “20 Rosas,” “Mis Sentimientos,” and “El Listón De Tu Pelo” showcase their virtuosity. Much less a testament to how they’re able to still pack arenas in 2023.
The roughly 18,000-capacity venue might as well have been a dance hall that night. As soon as the group took to the stage, albeit half an hour late, the aisles were flooded with people looking to dance. An arena is a strange place to host a cumbia concert, especially with how cramped the seats tend to be at Allstate Arena, but the crowd made it work. In the upper levels of the arena, the large walking areas near the back were so filled with people dancing you’d think you were actually at a dance hall.
The only dull moment in the show came from an awkward interaction in which Los Ángeles Azules invited two single strangers on stage so they could kiss.
It was drawn out and by the end, people in the stands were complaining and just wanted to dance. Other than that, the show was consistently lively and energetic. Everyone on stage was dressed sharply, and the singing from everyone was superb, not that it mattered since the crowd sang along to the show at deafening levels.
Los Ángeles Azules will always have a legendary status about them. Their songs are instantly recognizable in the Latino community, whether you like cumbia or not. It’s always refreshing to see that groups from Mexico can draw massive crowds in Chicago. Down to the final song “17 Años,” it was a cumbia dance party reminding everyone of the popularity and talent of groups from Mexico and Latin America bear.
For more information on Los Ángeles Azules, please visit their official site here. All photos by Oscar De Leon