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With Billboard Hot 100 hits like “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Union of the Snake,” “New Moon on Monday” and “A View to a Kill,” Duran Duran’s catalog is frighteningly fitting for spooky season. So in 2022, when the English quartet found itself playing a Halloween-night gig in Las Vegas ahead of its induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the band decided to don costumes, sprinkle in seasonally appropriate covers and embrace the darkness.
The show was successful enough to inspire the band’s 2023 album, Danse Macabre, a top 10 hit on the Top Album Sales chart. With an expanded version of the album out now, the veterans — who have grossed $118.6 million and sold 1.8 million tickets since 1987, according to Billboard Boxscore — are set to play a show at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Oct. 31 that keyboardist Nick Rhodes promises “will be entirely different than any other Duran Duran show you will ever see.”
Is Halloween as big in the United Kingdom?
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We don’t celebrate it in such grand style as you do in America. I remember the first time I came to America was over the Halloween period. I literally thought, “Wow, they’re so far ahead of us. Why don’t we have these giant blow-up things outside our houses? Why can’t bats be 20 feet wide?” I love the sense of fun, the absurdity and that everybody gets to be a villain for a day.
The deluxe Danse Macabre has “New Moon (Dark Phase),” a moodier take on one of your classics; a cover of ELO’s “Evil Woman”; and “Masque of the Pink Death,” which I’m guessing is inspired by Edgar Allan Poe.
I’ve always been a great admirer [of Poe]. We grew up in England in the ’70s, where Hammer horror movies on [TV on] a Friday night, whether it was a Dracula or a mummy movie, were the thing you looked forward to all week. Plus, [I love] Tim Burton’s great contribution to everyone who loves goth. Those things shape the way you feel about life and the possibilities creatively. That’s what makes artists unique — their influences and the different areas they take from, even if it’s subliminal.
The Madison Square Garden show will be your second Halloween-themed concert. Do you see this becoming a tradition?
I don’t know. It’s a lot of work for one show. But Madison Square Garden just happened to be available, and New York is such a good place to be for Halloween. It was irresistible. We are going to make it something unusual and special. It won’t be like a regular show at all. The fans in Europe have been writing in already saying, “When are you going to do one in Europe? This is the second one in America; that’s not fair.” I sympathize with that. We always like to try to balance things, so maybe [we’ll do] one in Europe next year.
You have several other U.S. shows this fall beyond MSG. Will Halloween elements work their way into those?
I suspect some of them will feature a few bits that we’re preparing for Halloween. We didn’t think we’d be back in America this year, but when we decided to do the Halloween one, we slotted some more in. I rather like that way of working. For many years, we haven’t been a band that announces big world tours and ends up on the road for 18 months. But we do seem to play a lot of shows. We just add them when we want to, and somehow the chaos is working.
This story appears in the Oct. 26, 2024, issue of Billboard.
Shawn Mendes paid tribute to Liam Payne at his show Friday night (Oct. 18) at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater. Speaking from the stage, an emotional Mendes told the crowd he had met Payne “a couple of times” and described his impressions of the late One Direction member, who died at age 31 after falling from […]
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One of the most popular streaming concert series is back in a big way. J Balvin, Big Sean and Halsey will perform on the third season of Amazon Music Live.
Source: Amazon Music Live / Prime Video
On Tuesday (Oct. 8) the streaming giant announced the return of AML. Season three will not only feature genre-spanning artists but also bring together both sports and music fans with the performances to follow Thursday Night Football. Slated to take the stage are the likes of Big Sean, J Balvin, Halsey and Jelly Roll. The “One Man Can Change the World” rapper will headline the second episode on October 24. As expected he is taking this opportunity to highlight the culture in a unique way. As a nod to the rich history of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Big Sean will be joined by The Blue and Gold Marching Machine and The Fellowship Gospel Choir—the band and choir from renowned HBCU, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Additionally, the venue will feature a HBCU themed tailgating event via the Amazon Music Yard Fest.
Each episode of Amazon Music Live will stream live from Los Angeles and air exclusively on Prime Video and Twitch. Actress Liza Koshy will host the festivities online and interview all the headlining artists before each set. Tickets to the popular concert series can be requested here.
Source: Amazon Music Live / Prime Video
When Coldplay tours, the British rockers typically play to tens of thousands of fans per show – in fact, as of Aug. 2024, their Music of the Spheres World Tour became the biggest rock tour of all time, according to Billboard Boxscore.
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So when Chris Martin & Co. hit the stage at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg – a 650-person capacity venue — on Monday (Oct. 7) afternoon for a SiriusXM Presents show in support of new album Moon Music, the crowd was freaking out more than a little bit. Which might explain why one attendee, toward the end of the concert, shouted out a request for a nonexistent Coldplay song.
The saga began when Coldplay gave fan-favorite Music of the Spheres track “Coloratura” a rare performance, explaining that people online had been clamoring to hear it live. After that, fans began shouting out song titles, with one guy yelling, “Fix It.” Presumably, the man was thinking of the Billboard Hot 100 hit “Fix You” from 2005’s X&Y, but Chris Martin wasn’t letting him off that easy.
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“’Fix It’ is another song from another band, my brother,” Martin said, shaking his head before leading the band through “Yellow.” But after wrapping up their breakthrough hit (“Yellow” was their first Hot 100 entry back in 2001), Martin seemingly decided that perhaps “Fix It” should be a Coldplay song after all. Apologizing to the fan for getting a bit “cross” with him, Martin sat down at the piano and freestyled an impromptu tune on the spot, dedicating it to the dude.
“Here is a song called ‘Fix It,’ specifically just for that guy / It’s okay if you come to a concert to call out of the name of a song,” Martin sang, chuckling good-naturedly. “[But] I’d much prefer you don’t get the name of the song wrong / Oh, fix it, let’s fix it / It was broken a long time ago / Yes, fix it, a famous song called ‘Fix It’ / That before today even I didn’t know.”
One can only imagine what it was like to be that man in that moment. In less than 10 minutes, he mangled a Coldplay song title in front of the band, got gently mocked by Martin, received an onstage apology and then had a brand-new song dedicated to him – one that will probably never be performed again. Iconic.
That unscripted moment gives a good sense of the vibe throughout Coldplay’s underplay, which was broadcast on SiriusXM later that same day. Thanks to the intimate space and a respectful but enthusiastic audience, Martin seemed warm and congenial, pointing at specific people in the crowd and sticking his tongue out for fans’ cameras. He even joked about the band going the Taylor Swift route with its back catalog. “We released Parachutes (Taylor’s Version), it’s going to do very well,” he quipped while speaking about their new LP, Moon Music.
Of the new Moon Music tracks, the live highlights were undoubtedly “The Karate Kid,” a gorgeous piano ballad that saw its first-ever live performance during the SiriusXM show, and “Good Feelings,” which brought collaborator Ayra Starr onstage and saw The Weirdos — Coldplay’s puppet alien rock band — pop up on the venue’s balcony. Much like their recent Saturday Night Live performance, Coldplay brought of Elyanna & TINI for an emphatic “We Pray,” too.
As for the anthemic sing-alongs, “Viva La Vida” and “Sky Full of Stars” enjoyed wild responses from the crowd, while a live run-through of “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face” from 2002’s classic LP A Rush of Blood to the Head proved that Coldplay can still kick ass as rock n’ roll band.
Although the mood of the show was light, joyous and celebratory (confetti blasted the audience more than once), Martin did take a moment to acknowledge that the concert took place on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel and the start of the ongoing Israel-Hamas War.
“Today, on October 7, we send peace to the Middle East,” Martin said prior to “Coloratura.” The juxtaposition was perhaps intentional, given the opening lyrics: “We fell in through the clouds / And everyone before us is there welcoming us now / It’s the end of death and doubt.”
Peso Pluma electrified the Barclays Center in New York City on Thursday (Oct. 3), captivating the audience as part of his Éxodo Tour 2024, promoting his latest album of the same name. The Mexican superstar performed hit after hit for nearly three hours and was joined by an array of special guests, including Ice Spice, Eladio Carrión, Estevan Plazola, Los Dareyes de la Sierra, Tito Double P, Yng Lvcas, and Jasiel Nuñez.
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Adding to the excitement, J Balvin made a special virtual backstage appearance right before Peso Pluma took the stage, amping up the crowd as Black Sabbath’s “N.I.B.” roared through the speakers.
With a backdrop that invoked a sense of grandeur, the giant screen displayed verses with a biblical tone: “There are over eight billion people in the world, each of us different, different origins, different stories that make up our character,” the message on the screens read. “Of course, not everyone has the perfect character, perhaps those who think that are the same ones deciding that our ways are defective. But before all of them, I ask: Can a compass, moral and broken, decide which is the right direction? An anti-hero is among us.”
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Meanwhile, a floating gigantic moon added a stunning element, moving across the arena and enhancing the celestial theme.
Dressed in black pants, a white T-shirt, olive Travis Scott Air Jordans, and silver chains — and sporting a slick hairstyle in place of his classic mullet — the Guadalajara native burst onto the stage kicking off with “La Durango.” His energy was infectious, marked by a beaming smile and dynamic movement across the stage. Flanked by hip-hop-style dancers and musicians clad in black, including a brass section, a tololoche, guitars, and a bajo quinto, the ensemble impressively adapted these acoustic instruments to resonate in the sold-out Barclays arena.
Spanning such charting hits as “Lady Gaga,” “Rubicon,” and “La Patrulla,” the highlight of the night was undoubtedly the performances by the numerous special guests. Ice Spice — rocking her curly red hair and showing off her new slim figure — performed “Deli,” Yng Lvcas joined Pluma for “La Bebé,” Jasiel Nuñez — who was the first invite and whom Peso consistently called his best friend — sang “Bipolar,” “Rosa Pastel,” and “Me Activo.” His cousin Tito Double P also joined the superstar for several songs, including Tito’s “Dos Días” and Peso’s banger “La People II.”
Eladio Carrión sang a corridos alongside Peso and had his moment with the trap anthem “Mbappé.” Then, Los Dareyes de la Sierra’s frontman impressed with accordion-powered corridos on “Hasta el Día de Hoy.” Another standout moment was Peso’s performances of “Qlona” by Karol G, 2023’s song of the year “Ella Baila Sola” with Eslabon Armado, and the introspective “Hollywood” from Éxodo, during which Peso shared his personal connection with the song penned by Estevan Plazola in 2020.
Outside the arena was another story, with fans gathering to share food and beers at a tailgate party while cars nearby blasted Peso Pluma songs and an array of pirated merch was for sale, displaying that he and modern-day corridos have truly become a cultural phenomenon.
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Billie Eilish is expanding her Hit Me Hard and Soft album from streaming to the road. The 22-year-old kicked off her world tour on Sunday (Sept. 29) in Quebec, Canada, and is planning to go across North America, Europe and Australia, with the final show taking place July 27, 2025, in Ireland.
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In addition to being able to hear Eilish’s No. 1 Pop Airplay song “Birds of a Feather,” the artist will be taking you through her new album with some surprises sure to pop up along the way. The Billboard Hot 100 hitmaker is also teaming up with Google Maps to help you find the most sustainable route to the concert venue in an effort to be more eco-friendly.
Tickets initially went on sale April 30 through a presale hosted on Ticketmaster. As one of the biggest tours of the year, most of the dates have already sold out, but don’t lose hope yet. You may still be able to find Billie Eilish tickets online through Ticketmaster, but just in case the amount you want or venue section isn’t available, there are more affordable ticket options available through resale sites.
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Keep reading to learn more.
How to Get Cheap Tickets to Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard & Soft Tour
To help you fill your weekend with family-friendly activities, ShopBillboard rounded up a few of our favorite ticket sellers below.
StubHub
You can find cheap Billie Eilish tickets on StubHub starting at $175 and use the filters to find the best seats depending on your needs. The site lets you use filters to sort options by price, number of tickets needed and if you want to include estimated fees in the price. Your ticket purchase will also be protected by StubHub’s FanProtect, which you can learn more about here.
Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats is offering affordable Billie Eilish tickets from $105, but you can save $20 off orders of $200+ when you use the code BB2024 at checkout. You can use the interactive map to choose where exactly in the venue you want to sit and filter options based on cost and number of tickets. Purchases are backed by Vivid Seat’s Buyer Guarantee that promises valid and authentic tickets delivered to you by the time of the event or your money back.
Seat Geek
Another option that’ll get you affordable Billie Eilish tickets is Seat Geek. Tickets are available for as low as $147 with options labeled on a scale of 1-10 based on how good of a deal it is. Tickets given a one are considered the worst deal while options labeled a 10 are the best. Bonus offer: First purchases are eligible for $10 off orders of $250+ when you use the code BILLBOARD10 at checkout.
Gametime
For day-of tickets, Gametime has Billie eilish tickets from $130 and promises to provide the cheapest options on the market. Found cheaper tickets? If you purchase yours through Gametime and find a tickets for less through another website, you can get 110% of the difference back when you show proof to the resale site through the Gametime Guarantee. Extra savings opportunity: score $20 off purchases of $150+ when you enter the code SAVE20 at checkout.
Ticketnetwork
You can find cheap Billie Eilish tickets on Ticketnetwork starting at $139. The interactive map tells you how many tickets are left in each section of the venue and you can sort options based on cost per ticket and where you want to sit in the venue. You can also snag $150 off purchases of $500+ when you use the code BILLBOARD150 at checkout or you can save $300 off orders of $1,000+ when you use the promo code BILLBOARD300.
Billie Eilish Tour Dates 2024
Below we listed out all the upcoming tour dates for Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour for your reference.
Oct. 2: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario
Oct. 4: CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Md.
Oct. 5: Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa.
Oct. 7: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.
Oct. 9: Prudential Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Oct. 11: TD Garden in Boston, Mass.
Oct. 13: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Oct. 16-18: Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y.
Nov. 2-3: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga.
Nov. 6: Bridgestone Arean in Nashville, Tenn.
Nov. 8: Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio
Nov. 10-11: Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn.
Nov. 13-14: United Center in Chicago, Ill.
Nov. 16: T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Nov. 17: Chi Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb.
Nov. 19-20: Ball Arena in Denver, Colo.
Dec. 3: Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C.
Dec. 5-6: Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Wash.
Dec. 8: Moda Center in Portland, Ore.
Dec. 10-11: SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, Calif.
Dec. 13: Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz.
Dec. 15-21: Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
Feb. 18-22: Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia
Feb. 24-28: Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia
March 4-8: Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia
April 23-24: Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden
April 26: Unity Arena in Oslo, Norway
April 28-29: Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark
May 2: Zag Arena in Hanover, Germany
May 4-7: Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands
May 9: Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany
May 29-30: Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany
June 1: Prague, Czech Republic
June 3-4: Tauron Arena in Kraków, Poland
June 6: Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria
June 8: Unipol Arena in Bologna, Italy
June 10-11: Accor Arena in Paris, France
June 14-15: Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain
July 7-8: Ovo Hydro in Glasgow, U.K.
July 10-17: The O2 in London, U.K.
July 19-23: Co-Op Live in Manchester, U.K.
July 26-27: 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland
Anyone who skipped Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s Monday (Sept. 23) night concert at Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden will likely spend the rest of this week brat-green with envy. Not only did surprise guest Addison Rae beam in to duet with the Sweat Tour co-headliners on her bubbling viral hit “Diet Pepsi,” but Lorde descended from the heavens to give the Internet-crashing “girl, so confusing” remix its live debut.
While the New Zealand trailblazer previously attended Charli XCX’s Brooklyn Paramount concert in June, Monday night marked the first time that the two performed their therapeutic Hot 100 hit together. The historic moment was felt throughout MSG – quite literally, as a wave of sound from shrieking fans hit your eardrums the moment it became clear that Lorde herself had emerged from beneath the stage for the remix duet.
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If the “girl, so confusing” studio recording sounds like an olive branch, earnestly offered but swaying unsteadily in the wind, the live performance at MSG made it feel like the duo’s relationship was truly taking roots. Charli, who previously dominated the stage like a wildcat on the prowl, politely held back while Lorde delivered her confessional verse. But by the time they hit the “you walk like a bitch” lyric, both singers were strutting in unison toward the back of the stage with the kind of confidence and verve usually reserved for models during Fashion Week.
Addison Rae, the TikTok star-turned-pop singer whose viral hit “Diet Pepsi” is quickly establishing her as a pop singer to watch, also enjoyed a huge roar of applause when she made her surprise entrance to sing the aforementioned fizzy single. Even better, Charli and Troye joined in to provide vocal support (Sivan’s voice was particularly well-suited to the sugary song). And those two weren’t the only surprise guests: During “Apple,” Charli turned the cameras upon the audience, where Kelley Heyer – the creator behind the viral “Apple” dance on TikTok – was front and center, ready to deliver her signature moves while flaunting a brat-branded skirt.
Those pinch-me moments were social-ready highlights, but even without special guests, the Sweat Tour should go down as a model for other pop stars to follow. Instead of having one co-headliner’s set followed by the other’s, Sivan and XCX traded the stage every three-to-four songs, offering up a seamless, unpredictable two hours of sensual, thumping dance-pop that felt more like a Bushwick gay bar or a U.K. rave than Midtown Manhattan. Not too surprising given the spots where Charli cut her chops, but still quite an achievement to take an arena famous for Billy Joel residencies and Knicks games and turn it into a queer party.
A lot of the credit for the Sweat Tour’s unrepentant, inspirational and liberating queerness goes to Sivan. From the moment he hit the stage, it was clear that the Aussie singer-songwriter has found the perfect negotiation between the sweetness of the voice, the vulnerability of his lyrics and the dancefloor-ready grooves that make for a proper party.
Opening the night with “Got Me Started” (from Billboard’s third-best album of 2023, Something to Give Each Other), Sivan set the tone when he dropped to his knees toward the end of the song, crooning the last few lyrics while one of his well-toned backup dancers dangled the microphone suggestively in front of his crotch. Shades of Madonna, certainly, and not the only time during the night that Sivan drew on past pop icons, from his *NSYNC-esque choreography on “My My My” to some Shania Twain-styled line dancing during the evening’s encore. But despite paying homage to pop icons before him, Sivan’s Sweat set stood on its own – no small feat given that Charli’s setlist was centered around the summer-defining brat album.
Toward the end of the night, Sivan and XCX duetted on both “1999” as well as their “talk talk” remix. While the latter is certainly an unstoppable banger (though it’s kind of funny to watch the two cosplay seducing each other while singing the sex-drenched lyrics), the former offered up the emotional core of the night. As a platform stage housing both raised above the MSG crowd, Troye and Charli traded vocals on the nostalgic banger and fed off each other’s energy in a loose, friendly fashion. Both have been low-key luminaries of the last decade in pop, and we’re lucky to have a co-headlining tour that finds both of them at singular (and sweaty) artistic peaks.
Katy Perry lit up the second weekend of Brazil’s Rock in Rio 2024 by officially unveiling her highly anticipated album 143 during a high-octane performance Sept. 20 on the festival‘s iconic Palco Mundo (Main Stage).
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It marked the third time the pop star has performed at Rock in Rio—twice for the Brazil edition and once in Lisbon. Her most recent main stage performance featured an entirely new setlist and custom-designed visuals, where she performed new tunes and beloved classics in front of over 100,000 festivalgoers.
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As if the album launch wasn’t enough excitement for one night, the “Woman’s World” singer surprised fans by bringing out pop legend Cyndi Lauper for a powerful duet of the icon’s Billboard chart-topping 1984 hit, “Time After Time.”
“I want to sing one of my fave songs, it means so much to me, especially in Brazil,” Perry told the crowd as she brought Lauper to the stage.
“I want to be exactly like you when I grow up, exactly like you,” Perry told the “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” singer. “You are so incredible, so connective, so full of life, so full of energy.”
Rock in Rio’s CEO, Luis Justo, spoke of the significance of Perry choosing the festival for the album launch: “A global launch by an artist like Katy Perry is a rare opportunity. We not only have the trust of the audience, who show up in large numbers but also of the artists who find Rock in Rio to be the best place to be close to their fans and give them the pinnacle moment of their careers—an exclusive and entirely premium experience.”
The celebration began earlier in the week, with Perry hosting an exclusive listening session of her new album backstage at Cidade do Rock on Sept. 18. A select group of Brazilian fans was invited to hear 143 in its entirety before the album’s official release, with the singer personally interacting guests.
With headliners like Ed Sheeran, Travis Scott, Mariah Carey, and many others on the bill, Rock in Rio 2024 is one of the most popular festivals on the global music calendar, and Perry’s high-energy performance – along with her surprise duet with Lauper – undoubtedly stands out as one of its defining moments.
Lauper’s legendary track “Time After Time,” co-written by Lauper and Rob Hyman, was released as the second single from her debut album, She’s So Unusual. In June of this year, “Time After Time” celebrated the 40th anniversary of its milestone, when it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984.
Prior to that, Lauper came close to the top spot with her debut single, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” which peaked at No. 2 in March 1984, blocked by Van Halen’s hit “Jump.” However, “Time After Time” succeeded in dethroning Deniece Williams’ “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” spending two weeks at No. 1 before being replaced by Duran Duran’s “The Reflex.”
Stream Katy Perry’s album 143 below.
Metallica gave its first concert in Mexico City in seven years on Friday (Sept. 20), and the band’s bassist, Robert Trujillo, took the opportunity to pay tribute to his Mexican roots by performing a peculiar song: “La Chona,” by famous corrido group Los Tucanes de Tijuana.
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“This is a great party,” Trujillo said in Spanish to the 65,000 people who packed the GNP Seguros Stadium, according to figures from promoter Ocesa. “It is an honor to be here with all of you, with the spirit of 72 Seasons. Kirk [Hammett] and I are going to play something for all of you. We are very nervous, so if you know this song, please help us by singing it.”
Immediately, they started playing the first chords of the classic by Los Tucanes de Tijuana, included in their 1995 album, Me Robaste El Corazón, which has transcended several generations in Mexico and the U.S.
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The long hair of Metallica’s fans swung to the northern rhythm, while Trujillo and Hammett, Metallica’s guitarist, swayed to the surprise and applause of much of the audience. The bassist, who on several occasions during the night wore a traditional mariachi hat, took charge of the vocals.
The moment was quickly trending on social media, where users celebrated the rock band’s gesture to its Mexican fans. “La Chona is national heritage and Metallica knows it,” wrote user @virian_avaa on her X account. “The most surreal thing, Metallica playing La Chona,” added user @Amackdiel. Both posted videos of the moment.
Metallica is giving four performances in Mexico City as part of its M72 World Tour, in support of their 2023 album 72 Seasons. The next shows at the GNP Seguros Stadium are scheduled for Sunday (Sept. 22), and Sept. 27 and 29.
Metallica’s history with Mexico began three decades ago with the tour of their Black Album (1991), which included five dates at the Palacio de los Deportes in 1993. Since then, the band has maintained a very close relationship with the country, where they recorded their live DVD Orgullo, Pasión y Gloria (2009), which portrays three spectacular nights at the Foro Sol (today GNP Seguros Stadium) in June 2009.
Metallica’s production team filmed the entire show on Friday and, according to the Mexican newspaper Reforma, next week it will make special shots at tourist spots such as Teotihuacán, the Historic Center, Chapultepec, Coyoacán, and San Ángel.
Watch Trujillo and Hammett play “La Chona” below.
Billboard Latin Music Week is returning to Miami Beach on Oct. 14-18, with confirmed superstars including Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Sanz and Peso Pluma, among many others. For tickets and more details, visit BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.
There’s a magnetism to Carin León that instantly captures your attention, and his first Boca Chueca Tour date at the United Center in Chicago on Thursday (Sept. 19) was a reminder of how dynamic the Mexican hit-maker can be. Just before 9 p.m., León — clad in jeans, a t-shirt, cowboy boots and one of his signature cowboy hats — took over the stage, which he commanded for over two hours, honoring the past, the present and the future of música mexicana and beyond.
“Tonight, we’re leaving our sorrows behind,” he told a multigenerational crowd that mirrored the artist’s cowboy aesthetic. But it was clear that the sorrows would eventually creep back in at some point during the show since León is one of those artists that can’t help but get emotional, especially when he’s singing some of his most heartfelt songs that can mend broken hearts.
Whether you were ready or not, León took you on a roller coaster, perfectly capturing how nuanced regional Mexican music can be. “Genres no longer exist. Borders no longer exist,” he declared. León is among a new generation of Mexican music artists who have clearly defied expectations that have haunted regional Mexican artists for decades — limiting them to some extent.
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León, on the contrary, is pretty limitless and his setlist is a declaration of liberation. With a hefty live band in tow — that quickly adapted from banda to norteño to rock and country — he of course performed fan favorites including “Te Lo Agradezco,” “Según Quién,” “The One (Pero No Como Yo),” “Que Vuelvas,” “La Boda del Huitlacoche,” “No Es Por Acá” and “Primera Cita.”
And he also paid homage to the artists that have influenced him along the way, including Hombres G’s “Te Quiero,” Joan Sebastian’s “Tatuajes,” Banda Zeta’s “La Niña Fresa,” Mi Banda El Mexicano’s “Ramito de Violetas,” Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen The Rain,” and Banda Toro’s “La Noche en Que Chicago Se Murió.”
His versatility, which he put on full display during the show, is what has made León stand out in a crowded field of a new wave of Mexican music artists since he had a breakthrough nearly five years ago. That and his infectious hip-swiveling cumbia dance moves and mesmerizing zapateado stomping. Since then, León has only cemented his status as one of the most exciting artists of this generation.
“Long live regional Mexican music, Latin music, long live American music,” he said. “At the end of the day, music is what reunited us here tonight.” By this point, León — sporting a Chicago Bulls jersey — had already chugged down some beers and had emptied a Clase Azul tequila bottle, which he took shots from directly while sharing the wealth with his fans. Throughout the show, he handed over the bottle to someone on his team so they could pour tequila in fans’ cups.
“Qué rifados, Chicago,” he said, noting the crowd’s enthusiasm. “Thank you for always showing up for me.”
León’s back-to-back shows in Chicago come on the heels of his four Latin Grammy nominations, including album of the year for Boca Chueca, Vol. 1. Produced by CMN and AEG, the trek continues with stops in Washington, D.C., New York, Austin and Nashville.