The music of Juanes has been a big part of my upbringing. From my Mom constantly playing his music in our home to me growing up to appreciate his talent as a songwriter. But what made Juanes stand out for me was his unique vocal delivery and just how catchy his music is regardless of the complexity of the song. As with most Mexican-American people my age, this is a common thing. Juanes is simply a big deal to Latino music. Needless to say, when I got wind of Juanes coming to my city in support of his Grammy award-winning record Vida Cotidiana, the Chicago Theatre was going to be a packed house.
And with that packed house, Juanes made it clear that he is still capable of making music every bit as brilliant as he used to!
With no opening acts to be seen, Juanes went solo for the night. If that’s not confidence oozing out of every pore of this Colombian icon, I don’t know what is! While this also meant the set didn’t start until much later than advertised, it still didn’t stop the lines from forming outside the venue. With what looked to be a packed house, Juanes appeared on the stage as a silhouette with the “Gris”. Although the enthusiasm from the packed house seemed somewhat understated at first, the entire audience erupted once the opener phased into the staple “Mala Gente”. It was time to party with Juanes!
Obviously, the songs that really got the audience going were selections from earlier in his career. 2002’s Un Diá Normal is a non-debatable no-skip album that launched his solo career after Ekhymosis disbanded in 1998. Be it underrated deepcuts or staples such as “Nada Valga Sin Tu Amor”. “Fotografia”, and “La Camisa Negra” were all met with thunderous reactions as if they were bonified hits. No matter where you stood, Juanes had the hordes of fans feeding off his infectious energy.
If you’ve read my previous reviews at Bearded Gentlemen Music, you already know how important Latin American music is to me.
On a personal level, Juanes reminds me of my childhood and my mom. But with the bigger picture, it reveals just how unknowingly much of the U.S. is depriving itself of such incredible music. I feel like I have personal stakes in sharing my love of Latin American music, be it contemporary or alternative. Nonetheless, Juanes managed to pull in a massive crowd to celebrate his career. One of my favorite moments of the set was when he reminisced about his first time playing in Chicago. Being struck by the city’s beauty and how welcoming the communities have always been to him.
If the elaborate turnout proved anything, it was how Chicago is a hot spot for eclectic diversity. I think as long as fans keep showing up like they did for Juanes, our city will remain an important hub for Latin American music.
As if Juanes’ set was already amazing, the encore of “Querida” sealed the deal. Not only was he able to showcase his incredible vocal ability but it allowed him to show Mexico some love. After that, it was an equally as powerful performance of “Me Enamora”. Earlier, Juanes stated he’s often teased for falling in love too easily, and that sentiment is unmistakable in this particular song. Capitalizing on the high energy, he closed the show with a frenzied performance of “La Luz”.
Overall, Juanes at the Chicago Theatre was an unforgettable experience. From groovy rhythms to the occasional nasty guitar solo, Juanes’ rock n’ roll spirit lives on. From the days of Ekhymosis to his solo career, this man’s impact on the scene music can’t be understated. It was nice to see Chicago giving Juanes all the love he gave us as well as the hope for more Latin American music celebrations in my city.
All photography by Oscar De Leon
