As Maná entered the bowels of the Kia Discussion board on Friday night time, its members obtained a royal welcome from the USC Marching Band, the Inglewood Excessive College band and the Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Crew.
That night’s efficiency marked the Mexican rock band’s forty third area present within the L.A. space, surpassing Bruce Springsteen’s file for many area performances within the area.
In honor of Maná’s longstanding historical past with L.A. and the historic Discussion board venue, a everlasting wall set up was revealed backstage on the venue following their spectacle-filled arrival that learn: “Mana – Kings of L.A.”
General, the Grammy winners have performed greater than 30 reveals on the Discussion board; in 2012, they performed 11 straight sold-out reveals at Staples Heart in help of their eighth album “Drama Y Luz.”
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
Additional tying them to L.A. is their star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame, which was cemented in 2016.
Fashioned within the Mexican metropolis of Guadalajara within the mid-Eighties, Maná first performed in L.A. in 1993 following the discharge of their acclaimed 1992 album “¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños?” The band was instrumental in popularizing the rock en español style, and their music is commonly heard throughout the Southland, from home events to sporting occasions.
Earlier this 12 months, the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame introduced that the group was among the many 14 artists nominated for the 2025 inductee class, alongside Oasis, Mariah Carey, Outkast and Cyndi Lauper.
Although the band was in the end not inducted into the Rock Corridor this 12 months, they represented the primary primarily Spanish-language act to be nominated for induction.
“This alone makes Maná’s nomination important in an increasingly global society,” De Los contributing columnist Alex Zaragoza wrote again in February. “But when considering the Mexican band’s impact on Latin music, as well as the Trump administration’s increasing crackdowns on immigrants in the United States, their inclusion is imperative.”
Weeks after tens of hundreds of Angelenos gathered for “No Kings” protests in opposition to the insurance policies of President Trump, the newly minted “Kings of L.A.” confirmed solidarity with the various residents of their “second home” who’ve been affected by the present administration’s actions in latest months.
Manás Fher Olvera turns towards a cheering sellout crowd whereas performing with the band on the Kia Discussion board on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
“L.A. has always been very influential for us … and we’ve seen the city evolved,” lead singer Fher Olvera instructed The Occasions. “We’ve seen that Latinos have continually gained power, but also that the problems facing the community here have grown, especially over the last few years.”
“Right now our message is to have faith, do not despair,” Olvera stated. “Like the Buddhists say, ‘Everything shall pass.’ And these problems will also pass and thankfully it won’t take too long [because] presidential term don’t last so long — although this term has felt like five minutes underwater.”
Olvera expressed optimism about the way forward for Latinos within the U.S., pointing to the rising energy of the confounding Latino vote.
“The power of Latinos will continue on after this [period], and Latinos will be the ones to change future elections,” he stated. “And that scares [politicians], but there’s no way of going back.”
Drummer Alex Gonzalez famous that there hasn’t been any points with ICE at their live shows for the reason that onset of Trump’s second time period and referred to as on Latinos to know and use their rights all through the nation.
That sentiment was extra clearly expanded on when the band closed out the Friday present with a truncated rendition of Bob Marley’s 1973 hit “Get Up, Stand Up.”
“Get up, stand up / Stand up for your right / Get up, stand up / Don’t give up the fight,” Olvera belted out after delivering an impassioned speech concerning the Latino group to the packed stadium.
“I think it’s important to take advantage of the stage we have to share messages about the environment and human rights,” guitarist Sergio Vallín instructed The Occasions. “[We’ve] also stood for something positive for our fans.”
Mexican pop-rock band Maná performs on the Kia Discussion board in Inglewood.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
From their earliest tracks, the group has commented on social points in tracks comparable to “Falta Amor,” “Me Voy a Convertir en Un Ave,” “Justicia, Tierra y Libertad” and their cowl of Rubén Blades’ “Desapariciones,” which discusses how dictatorships throughout Latin America have disappeared residents.
In 1996, Maná launched the Selva Negra Basis — named after a track launched that 12 months with the identical identify — which protects species, restores ecosystems and promotes environmental training. They’ve additionally been vocal in defending susceptible sea turtle species in Mexico and prominently characteristic sea turtle motifs of their live performance set designs.
Friday night time additionally served as an event for households to hold on the legacy of Maná fandom and to have cross-cultural connections by means of the band’s music.
Maritza Castillo was celebrating her forty eighth birthday together with her husband, two youngsters and siblings-in-law on the live performance. A local of San Miguel el Alto in Jalisco, Mexico, she was first uncovered to Maná at age 16.
“I love Maná because it brings me back to my youth and they were the first concert I’d ever been to here in the States,” Castillo stated. “My love for the band is now moving on to other generations. To have my son want to play their music in the car without me asking, I’m like, ‘Wait, you like Maná?’ So that’s made it all very exciting.”
With Maná additionally having roots within the Mexican state of Jalisco, Castillo expressed pleasure that her youngsters are connecting with their heritage by means of music historical past.
“I just keep trying to pass on our culture to the kids who are grown up and born in L.A.”
