{"id":404103,"date":"2025-11-25T17:49:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T17:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/404103\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T17:49:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T17:49:21","slug":"mana-crowned-kings-of-l-a-at-record-breaking-forum-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/404103\/","title":{"rendered":"Man\u00e1 crowned ‘Kings of L.A.’ at record-breaking Forum performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As Man\u00e1 entered the bowels of the Kia Forum on Friday night, its members received a royal welcome<\/a> from the USC Marching Band, the Inglewood High School band and the Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Team.<\/p>\n

That evening\u2019s performance marked the Mexican rock band\u2019s 43rd arena show in the L.A. area, surpassing Bruce Springsteen\u2019s record for most arena performances in the region.<\/p>\n

In honor of Man\u00e1\u2019s longstanding history with L.A. and the historic Forum venue, a permanent wall installation was revealed backstage at the venue following their spectacle-filled arrival that read: \u201cMana – Kings of L.A.\u201d<\/p>\n

Overall, the Grammy winners have played more than 30 shows at the Forum; in 2012, they played 11 straight sold-out shows <\/a>at Staples Center in support of their eighth album \u201cDrama Y Luz.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"INGLEWOOD, <\/p>\n

(Gina Ferazzi \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Further tying them to L.A. is their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame<\/a>, which was cemented in 2016.<\/p>\n

Formed in the Mexican city of Guadalajara in the mid-1980s, Man\u00e1 first played in L.A. in 1993 following the release of their acclaimed 1992 album \u201c\u00bfD\u00f3nde Jugar\u00e1n los Ni\u00f1os?\u201d The band was instrumental in popularizing the rock en espa\u00f1ol genre, and their music is often heard across the Southland, from house parties to sporting events. <\/p>\n

Earlier this year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced that the group was among the 14 artists nominated for the 2025 inductee class<\/a>, alongside Oasis, Mariah Carey, Outkast and Cyndi Lauper. <\/p>\n

Though the band was ultimately not inducted into the Rock Hall this year, they represented the first primarily Spanish-language act to be nominated for induction.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis alone makes Man\u00e1\u2019s nomination important in an increasingly global society,\u201d De Los contributing columnist Alex Zaragoza wrote back in February. \u201cBut when considering the Mexican band\u2019s impact on Latin music, as well as the Trump administration\u2019s increasing crackdowns<\/a> on immigrants in the United States, their inclusion is imperative.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weeks after tens of thousands of Angelenos gathered for \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests<\/a> against the policies of President Trump, the newly minted \u201cKings of L.A.\u201d showed solidarity with the many residents of their \u201csecond home\u201d who have been affected by the current administration\u2019s actions in recent months. <\/p>\n

\"Man\u00e1s <\/p>\n

Man\u00e1s Fher Olvera turns toward a cheering sellout crowd while performing with the band at the Kia Forum on Friday.<\/p>\n

(Gina Ferazzi \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

\u201cL.A. has always been very influential for us … and we\u2019ve seen the city evolved,\u201d lead singer Fher Olvera told The Times. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen that Latinos have continually gained power, but also that the problems facing the community here have grown, especially over the last few years.\u201d <\/p>\n

Following the initial wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that took place throughout L.A. in June, Man\u00e1 was among the many artists that spoke out against ICE\u2019s actions by reaffirming that immigrants and Latinos \u201cmake this country great.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now our message is to have faith, do not despair,\u201d Olvera said. \u201cLike the Buddhists say, \u2018Everything shall pass.\u2019 And these problems will also pass and thankfully it won\u2019t take too long [because] presidential term don\u2019t last so long \u2014 although this term has felt like five minutes underwater.\u201d <\/p>\n

Olvera expressed optimism about the future of Latinos in the U.S., pointing to the growing power of the confounding Latino vote. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe power of Latinos will continue on after this [period], and Latinos will be the ones to change future elections,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd that scares [politicians], but there\u2019s no way of going back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drummer Alex Gonzalez noted that there hasn\u2019t been any issues with ICE at their concerts since the onset of Trump\u2019s second term and called on Latinos to know and use their rights throughout the country.<\/p>\n

That sentiment was more clearly expanded on when the band closed out the Friday show with a truncated rendition of Bob Marley\u2019s 1973 hit \u201cGet Up, Stand Up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGet up, stand up \/ Stand up for your right \/ Get up, stand up \/ Don\u2019t give up the fight,\u201d Olvera belted out after delivering an impassioned speech about the Latino community to the packed stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s important to take advantage of the stage we have to share messages about the environment and human rights,\u201d guitarist Sergio Vall\u00edn told The Times. \u201c[We\u2019ve] also stood for something positive for our fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Mexican <\/p>\n

Mexican pop-rock band Man\u00e1 performs at the Kia Forum in Inglewood.<\/p>\n

(Gina Ferazzi \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

From their earliest tracks, the group has commented on social issues in tracks such as \u201cFalta Amor,\u201d \u201cMe Voy a Convertir en Un Ave,\u201d \u201cJusticia, Tierra y Libertad\u201d and their cover of Rub\u00e9n Blades\u2019 \u201cDesapariciones,\u201d which discusses how dictatorships across Latin America have disappeared citizens.<\/p>\n

In 1996, Man\u00e1 launched the Selva Negra Foundation \u2014 named after a song released that year with the same name \u2014 which protects species, restores ecosystems and promotes environmental education. They have also been vocal in protecting vulnerable sea turtle species in Mexico<\/a> and prominently feature sea turtle motifs in their concert set designs.<\/p>\n

Friday night also served as an occasion for families to carry on the legacy of Man\u00e1 fandom and to have cross-cultural connections through the band\u2019s music.<\/p>\n

Maritza Castillo was celebrating her 48th birthday with her husband, two children and siblings-in-law at the concert. A native of San Miguel el Alto in Jalisco, Mexico, she was first exposed to Man\u00e1 at age 16.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love Man\u00e1 because it brings me back to my youth and they were the first concert I\u2019d ever been to here in the States,\u201d Castillo said. \u201cMy 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\u2019m like, \u2018Wait, you like Man\u00e1?\u2019 So that\u2019s made it all very exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Man\u00e1 also having roots in the Mexican state of Jalisco, Castillo expressed joy that her children are connecting with their heritage through music history.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just keep trying to pass on our culture to the kids who are grown up and born in L.A.\u201d<\/p>\n