Last-minute surprises are the best, especially when they entail press tickets to Cuco’s soldout show at the Greek! My plus-one and I arrived just as the parking lot transformed into a slow-moving sea of cars, each one a wave of excitement for a night we knew would be memorable.
We caught most of the opening act, the controversial Rene Vaca, who put a comedic spin on the traumas kids experience when growing up with Mexican parents. I found him funny, but sometimes too colorful for my 13-year-old niece, my plus one. One thing that stood out was how proud he was to see so many brown faces and how he pointed out that they could be anything they wanted, breaking the stereotype of just being gardeners or cooks—unless that’s what they wanted to do.
Cuco | Photo: María Madrigal
A Celebration of L.A.’s Latine Youth
Photo: María Madrigal
Everywhere I looked, I saw Latines in their 20s—young and alternative—with a few seasoned souls over 40 and some teenage fans.
Cuco was pure joy on stage. He thanked his fans for their unwavering support and shared his journey to sobriety, hoping his story would inspire others facing their own battles. He also talked about how much he loved performing back in Los Angeles, the city that shaped him both as an artist and a person, and thanked his team and fans again for making this happen.
Cuco | Photo: María Madrigal
The stage itself was a work of art. He had a car in the middle of the stage, with a light show and mariachi to start the night celebrating el 16 de Septiembre. At one point, the fans turned on their phone lights, which resembled shining stars from afar. Cuco noticed and paused, looking out into the crowd in awe.
Cuco concluded the concert with the song “Lo Que Siento,” the crowd joined in a todo pulmón. I glanced at my niece, who was singing her heart out, and saw two guys in their twenties to my right, lost in the music. Everywhere I gazed, everyone was in a trance, united at that moment with Cuco and his lyrics. As one of the walls at the Greek Theatre declares, “Music is Life.”
Cuco | Photo: María Madrigal