Carin León is Pure Dynamite during Chicago's Boca Chueca tour stop

There's a magnetism to Carin León that immediately grabs your attention, and his first tour of Boca Chueca at the United Center in Chicago on Thursday (September 19) was a reminder of just how dynamic the Mexican hitmaker can be. Just before 9 p.m., León — dressed in jeans, a T-shirt, cowboy boots and one of his signature cowboy hats — took the stage, which he commanded for more than two hours, honoring the past, the present and the future of music. mexicana and beyond.

“Tonight, we leave our sorrows behind,” he told a multigenerational crowd that reflected the artist's cowboy aesthetic. But it was clear that the sorrows would eventually return at some point during the show, as León is one of those artists who can't help but be moved, especially when he sings some of his most heartfelt songs that can mend broken hearts.

Whether you were ready or not, León took you on a roller coaster ride, perfectly capturing just how diverse local Mexican music can be. “Species no longer exist. Borders no longer exist,” he said. León is among a new generation of Mexican music artists who have clearly defied the expectations that have haunted local Mexican artists for decades — limiting them to some extent.

León, on the other hand, is quite unrestricted and his setlist is a statement of liberation. With a heavy live band – which quickly adapted from band to norteño to rock and country – he of course performed fan favorites such as “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 tribute to artists who influenced him along the way, such as Hombres G's 'Te Quiero', Joan Sebastian's 'Tatuajes', Banda Zeta's 'La Niña Fresa', Mi Banda's 'Ramito de Violetas' El Mexicano, the Journey. 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 new wave Mexican musical artists since he made a breakthrough nearly five years ago. This and the infectious hip-swiveling cumbia dance are soulful and magical zapateado pressing. Since then, León has only solidified his status as one of the most exciting artists of this generation.

“Long live local Mexican music, long live Latin music, long live American music,” he said. “At the end of the day, music is what brought us back together here tonight.” By this point, León — wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey — had already grabbed a few beers and emptied a bottle of Clase Azul tequila, from which he took live photos while sharing the wealth with his fans. Throughout the show, he would pass the bottle to someone on his team so they could pour tequila into fans' cups.

“Que rifadosChicago,” he said, noting the crowd's excitement. “Thank you for always showing up for me.”

León's back-to-back appearances 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 journey continues with stops in Washington, DC, New York, Austin and Nashville.