TeenTix covers Making Movies’ blue wave victory lap at Folly Theatre
Photo by Brock Wilbur
TeenTix KC is an organization that helps provide KC youth with access to live stage performances. As part of that work, some up-and-coming ‘Press Corps Members’ are tackling their first reviews—building up a next generation of critical, celebratory voices. Today, we’re thrilled to share Hartlynn Gray’s coverage of Making Movies’ album release show at The Folly. Find out more about TeenTix here.
Passion, hope, vibrancy, and unity coursed through the Día de los Muertos concert Making Movies put on at the Folly Theatre. Their energy was infectious as the set played on, and they had the crowd dancing to each tune.
The band’s first opener was Hobo Cane, an independent Latin American artist with just as much brightness as Making Movies, passionately singing his songs “Waiting” and “OK” among others in an indie rock style. Amid all the celebration and energy, there was also remembrance, honoring deceased relatives with Día de los Muertos decorations and a local mariachi band, Mariachi Los Reales, to highlight the holiday. There was also general cultural respect for the Hispanic and Black community, which gave the crowd an added sense of connectedness. Making Movies blew the roof off that theatre.
Courtesy of Columbia Organization
When it came to the band’s performance, they played many compelling songs within the two-hour concert, but my favorites were “No Te Calles”, “Nadie Sabe”, and “El Cuarto de Tula.” “No Te Calles” (or “Don’t Shut Up”) was a fun, electric song that opened the show and built up the energy of the audience. Then “Nadie Sabe” had a call-and-response that further engaged the crowd and made us feel part of the music. “El Cuarto de Tula” came towards the end of the set, a song from the ‘60s that the lead singer Enrique Chi dedicated to his grandfather. The delivery was passionate, and they even taught the audience how to mambo for the song. A trumpet player from the mariachi came back and played with them as well, which was a pleasant addition. To finish, they played “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears, a fitting encore for the current political climate.
From the diversity of the performers to the inclusion of Día de los Muertos in their concert, Making Movies emphasized music’s cultural significance. Between songs, Enrique talked about his family and the importance of the Black and brown community in this country, which added even more power to the performance. Without cultural music and art like this to amplify a sense of community, the “blue wave” of the midterms that so many have long awaited wouldn’t have happened. The root of change is always the people, nosotros la gente.
