The hits, the dancing, the outfits, there was so much to look forward to at Rauw Alejandro’s Cosa Nuestra tour stop in Chicago on Friday (May 9). Safe to say, there was all of that and more.
Rauw’s first night (out of three) at the United Center was the hottest ticket in town with fans flocking to the West Side of Chicago in full Cosa Nuestra dress code: evening gowns, elegance, flow and style. While I struggled to come up with an outfit that would be on theme, it seemed like no one else had that same issue.
“This dress is from my junior prom,” Jasmin Martínez, who wore a shimmery ball gown adorned with feathers, told Billboard. She traveled to Chicago from Wisconsin with her sister Janet, who exuded elegance in a sheer, rhinestone-studded gown.
Once inside, the sisters snapped photos and selfies, just like everyone else did to show off their fits of the night. Around 8 p.m. fans began making their way to their seats, making sure they wouldn’t miss the man of the hour take the stage. And once he did, the crowd roared giving Rauw a warm Chicago welcome.
“I see all the ladies with the dress code,” Rauw said at the top of the show, acknowledging his zealous fans who followed closely his instructions. “We have three sold-out [shows] here in Chicago. I just want to say thank you, gracias de todo corazón.”
Alejandro sang well over two hours, which were divided into four acts. See, at a Cosa Nuestra tour stop, you don’t get your traditional show, this is almost like a play on Broadway, there’s even a Playbill-like program that fans can scan to follow along. (More details on the acts below). There’s acting, singing, interludes, a master of ceremony — the whole deal. I can confidently say, I’ve never seen anything quite like this. Actually, think West Side Story, as Rauw’s concert centers around María and Raúl’s (played by Rauw) twisted love story.
“Today I bring you not only music,” a description of the musical reads in the program. “I bring you a piece of my history, of our culture and of the dreams that walk between the streets of Puerto Rico and New York. This journey is for those who love without fear, dream without permission and fight without rest. Welcome to my world.
Rauw’s Cosa Nuestra Tour is in support of his latest album under the same name, which he released late last year. The 18-track set — sonically varied from salsa to R&B to reggaetón to electro-funk to kizomba — gave the Puerto Rican star his first top 10-charting effort on the Billboard 200 debuting at No. 6. The set also sits atop both the Top Latin Albums chart and Latin Rhythm Albums charts.
The Live Nation-produced trek continues in Chicago on May 10-11 and will then make stops in New York, Atlanta and Miami. See the dates here.
Here are some best moments from Rauw’s first show at United Center.
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The Acts
Once you’re settled in your seat, you’ll want to scan a QR code that appears on the screen to get program for the night. It starts with Act 1: Trust No one, Love Anyway. The first act opens with a dramatic persecution of Italian mobsters, particularly the Sicilian Mafia, known as Cosa Nostra. Then, Rauw takes the stage dressed in a black suit, kicking off the show with “Punto 40.” We are introduced to Raúl, the main character, who is hanging out with a group of friends, a girl catches his eye, and so begins their love story.
In Act II: Leap of Faith, we meet María, who seems to be really into Raúl. They start dating, go on car rides, have a date at the billiards. Things are getting serious, but there’s something about Maria that isn’t too convincing. Act II is quickly followed by Act III: When the Lights Go Down where things get steamy. The scene opens with a shirtless Raúl in bed. Just as he thinks he’s got the girl, she runs away, leaving him devastated and feeling betrayed.
Lastly, Act IV: Between Love and War, this action-packed last act is not only the salsa portion of the evening, but where the story takes a turn. Will María and Raúl have a happy ending? That’s for us to know, and you to find out.
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A Packed Setlist
As expected, the setlist serves as the soundtrack to this musical experience. Rauw Alejandro doesn’t just sing the songs from his album Cosa Nuestra, he takes fans on a journey playing the the old stuff, the new stuff and everything in between. From “Punto 40” to “Tattoo,” “Mil Mujeres,” “Se Fue,” “Khe?,” “Tú Con Él,” “Todo De Ti” and “Committed.”
It’s important to note that Rauw is backed by a full seven-member live band that plays the bass, drums, percussions, piano, guitar, trumpet, trombone and sax, not something you see regularly with a reggaetón artist.
See the full setlist here.
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This Man Can Dance
“Why can’t that be me up there with him?” a girl sitting behind me said when Rauw Alejandro danced a mesmerizing salsa numer with one of his dancers. She probably spoke for everyone at that show. No one in Latin music is singing and dancing like Rauw is. And he’s not just doing dance moves here and there, he’s literally doing intricate and complex choreaograpohies from start to finish.
One special moment is when he sings his newest song “Carita Linda” and dances to the rhythm of bomba barrels (large drums used in bomba). Another is when he dances the salsa number with his co-star. It’s one of those moments that you have to capture with your phone.
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The Dress Code
“It looks like a wedding in here,” a concierge worker said while ringing up a few customers. He wasn’t wrong about that.
While there was some confusion initially as to which era Rauw Alejandro wanted to see fans dressed in, 1920s or 1960s, well, you get a little of both. But mainly, you’ll see women in long, ball gown dresses, feathers, and flapper-like outfits. Meanwhile, the men are more on the 60s side wearing slacks, some opting for a guayabera, keeping things a big more casual compared to the women.
Alberto from Chicago was there with a group of friends. He decided to not dress up too fancy and showed up in slacks and a rib knit-like shirt. “The dress code wasn’t confusing for me,” he told Billboard. “Personally, I just didn’t want to do too much. I got a couple ideas from TikTok for my outfit.”
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Top-Notch Production
Any good theatrical experience requires a good stage production, and Rauw Alejandro’s Cosa Nuestra musical is no exception. With creative director Adrian Martinez at the helm, we’re transported to Brooklyn in the 1960s through visuals of skyscrapers, brick buildings and props that turn the stage into a speakeasy or a salsa nightclub. Rauw’s live band is on the right and left side of the stage, with two large screens at each end as well. When there are no props onstage or scenes being acted out, Rauw fills the stage with his dancers, who usher in and out throughout the night.
