Maná threw all the meat on the grill, lowered the ecological line and made his shots nostalgically on the surface

Nostalgia on the surface. This is the purpose of the Mexican group’s concert. Manna Tuesday evening, the first of their five dates in Buenos Airesin front of a Movistar packed from boat to boat.

It’s been eight years since his last visit and, without a doubt, it was kind of loving reunion with his fansalmost comparing it to the meeting of a couple who haven’t seen each other for a long time and when the episode happens the embrace and demonstration of mutual affection is infinite.

Perhaps the absence of great groups that marked the 90s with a wave of pop-rock hits further confirms the significance of Maná in times of music without melodies and little love in its themes.

The group born at the end of the 80s in Guadalajara, upon its arrival in the city of Buenos Aires, He demonstrated how relevant he still is through his songswhose themes never get old and grow old through realities of impossible love, broken hearts or relationships that fortunately have a happy ending.

Fans in the south of the continent

Maná’s audience is not rock, but some hint of this exists in their environment, since the entire list of Eighties music played up until the start of the recital was known almost by heart, whether it was Queen classics or the Police, for example. some leading groups.

However, there was something that struck many people: from thirty-year-olds to fifty-year-olds up to those over sixty, they made the evening a gamble bordering on the familiar.

The manna came to the land within her Beautiful and expensive tour of Mexico 2024with which he is touring the world, just as he has done countless times, conquering even audiences who do not speak Spanish with his lyrics.

Therefore, it was unlikely that anything could go wrong on an evening with a part of its Latino audience, well in the south of the continent.

From the beginning the queues near the stadium, in the Villa Crespo neighbourhood, were filled with people.

Perhaps due to anxiety, or perhaps due to the need to arrive early to experience everything in an effusive way.

This meant that when the lights went out, a few minutes before 9.30pm, the show was on overwhelming both on stage and in their decorative seats, the fact is that in the end they were not used by anyone during the almost two hours that the musical meeting lasted.

On a horizontal screen that occupied the entire width of the stage, the logo or image of this reclamation of Mexican pop and its ancestral culture stood out through one of its greatest references.

That’s why they chose to represent them with a skull (so evoked on the Day of the Dead, which the Aztecs celebrate) but with a mariachi hat, as well as with roses over their eyes and hips.

Even if there was no allusion to the theme itself, there was still a popular serenade The king (inevitable through mariachis everywhere on planet Earth).

The hanging screen lasted just a few minutes there in front of the audience, immediately remaining overhead. That’s when he appeared For her Olivera center stage, right in front and with a silver Telecaster guitar.

The first songs and speeches

The singer immediately began singing, choosing to start Send a signalwithout saying a word to his people, supported by his three usual companions in the spotlight, plus a keyboardist, a percussionist and a guitar to add rhythm.

The frontman sported his signature long hair and wore a shiny skull T-shirt, dark trousers and a beige silk shirt.

Some sonic milestones have passed, such as From the head to the feet AND Thorny heart (written for Carlos Santana), until the moment finally arrived for the long-awaited farewell of his supporters.

“Good evening Buenos Aires, Argentina, what a thrill to return after so many years! It’s been eight years and it feels like a century ago, even with the pandemic. We have such a good bond with you that I would like to see each other more often, “she expressed to the audience.

Then he mentioned the flags of neighboring countries present and, before Thorny hearthe went deeper: “Let’s throw the meat on the grill, as they say here in this country.”

In line with their sayings, the songs that consecrated them completely did not stop playing, until Where will the children play? A shocking thing happened: On top of the planks they mounted a giant elephant, alluding to nature and the abandonment of humanity. Olivera did not remain silent and gave a short speech.

“Argentina: we Maná have talked a lot about taking care of nature, the one that gives us the day, oxygen, light, heat. On the one hand I have been dealing with this problem for 24 years, we are sad about the mistreatment that comes from it, on the other hand we see young people waking up and defending it”, he reflected, took a breath and continued:

“The dilemma is how to convince the planet to reconsider. And also how to take care of those people who talk about these very serious topics. In my case I bear witness because I am a man of faith. I tell you one thing: demand that politicians and entrepreneurs do not ruin Argentina, that they respect the land, this is a small message that I leave you to keep in your hearts.”

Applause flooded the Movistar Arena, it was precisely when the singer appeared with a pipe full of smoke, as if it were a harmful pesticide.

After a few songs and after toasting with tequila with his people, the singer sang Mariposa treicionera, whose images of a woman with wings on the screen completely fascinated the audience present.

Then the compliments for the local football fans didn’t take long to arrive: “Congratulations on the World Cup, you bastards! “How nice that he stayed in America and even nicer that he stayed in Argentina!” expressed as if it were a caress, and then his name is Lionel Messi and he resembles Diego Armando Maradona.

More successes

Towards the middle of the show there were two events: a set on a small stage, at the other end of the stadium, a tour of the musicians along one of the sides among the people on the field, and an impressive solo from the great drummer Alex Gonzálezwhich lasted almost ten minutes continuously and was something like a masterclass.

On the other hand, among the songs It smells of sadness AND You are my religion, the singer casually invited a girl to come on stage. He remained next to the musicians for a long time, until he received a deep hug from Olivera and went down the wooden stairs with wet eyes, the result of emotion.

In turn, the singer, eager to tell anecdotes, referred to his own story in which a girlfriend left him for a wealthy man during his university days. Each of his stories led to a song, which explained the reason for a certain lyric.

Nearing the end, Fer changed clothes: he wore a red t-shirt and had his hair tied up, due to the oppressive heat.

There were compliments and praise everywhere from the Argentine public and even a match simulation San Blas Pierwith wood and strings on the catwalk), just when it was the turn of the composition long awaited by a large part of the public.

Suddenly the end came, but the smiles on both sides never ceased to exist: there were balloons celebrating. And the promise of a return soon without any excuse. At least that’s what Maná made clear before leaving.