If there was ever a shred of doubt in your mind that Latin American rock bands were unpopular in the US, Maná is here to wash away all doubt. As part of their Mexico Lindo y Querido tour, Maná played Chicago’s United Center two nights in a row. For over 2 hours it was hit after hit showcasing their infectious energy. As well as feeding off the passionate (and a bit drunken) energy of the audience. Rock en español and Mexico were represented to the fullest as Maná brought the power of rock en español to the United Center. Proving Latin American artists are more than just a genre and full-on capable of selling out US arenas!
The show was already grand before it even began. A screen on stage announced Maná was returning to the United Center on October 1st, and above the stage was a giant turtle.
Reggae music played over the speakers as the crowd reached their seats. The beauty of rock en español and the generational community it brings was seen in the diverse age range of the audience. People of all ages were present at the show. Like many Mexican (and Mexican-American) children, it wouldn’t be surprising if these children are fans of the music because their parents listened to it. Once the show started, albeit an hour late, everyone was ready to party.
The screens on stage declared “Mexico Lindo y Querido,” and the drum intro to “Como Te Deseo” began. As the song began, the screens rose to reveal the band.
Fher, the lead singer dressed in the sickest blue leather jacket you’ve ever seen, is bathed in bright lights as he walks to the front of the stage. Right before the song kicks into full gear, the drummer, Alex “El Animal” Gonzalez, jumps high in the air and back onto his seat, prefacing how he’s going to steal the show.
Maná was all for crowd-pleasing. While Fher still has quite a voice on him. Despite Fher pointing the microphone toward the crowd to get them to sing, they were going to sing anyway. Those two hours with Maná felt like the grandest of karaoke parties. They played their chiller songs like “Te Lloré Un Río” and their faster-paced songs, like their anthem “Me Vale.” Nothing could have topped the sea of voices belting every word to (arguably) their most famous song “Oye Mi Amor.” However, the real star of the show was percussionist “El Animal.” He was constantly jumping off of his drum set, and pulled an insane drum solo on a rotating platform. Gonzalez even sang some songs, including “Me Vale.”
Halfway through the show, Maná took to their smaller stage set up on the other side of the arena. This felt a lot more intimate and heartfelt.
During this part of the show, Fher dedicated one of their songs to his deceased parents, explaining that his father died at the age of seven and that his mother raised four kids by herself after his passing. All of this led to an incredibly emotional and powerful performance of their 1995 song “El Reloj Cucú.” To cap off their performance on this stage, they invited a fan on stage with them while they performed “Eres Mi Religión.”
With or without the help of the United States, Maná are always going to be legends. It is a huge deal that they were able to pack the United Center for two nights in 2023. Having a successful U.S. tour roughly 30 years into their career further cements their legacy as legends. They put on an extremely captivating show with outstanding showmanship and wonderful production, reaching a euphoric climax with the show’s finale “Rayando El Sol.” Unlike most genres pioneered by Latin American artists, rock en español has yet to have its big moment in the U.S. Despite this, Maná is proof that the genre will always be, and deserves to be, celebrated.
All photography by Oscar De Leon
