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Next Week, JUANES Will Perform May 7, 9, 10 & 11 At Nokia Theatre LA LIVE, Making Him The First-Ever Latin Artist To Do A Four-Night Concert Stand At the Los Angeles Venue
“Juanes just keeps getting better…a sold-out Arena [was] vibrating with emotion”
“[Juanes] impressed from the get go… A vociferous crowd nearly blew the roof off the building”
“[a] captivating concert…Juanes generated the heat of a thousand suns”
“A MAN OF THE WORLD, Juanes shows global appeal at Madison Square Garden”
“MEET EL NUEVO BOSS… He is every bit a superstar”
“Juanes enthralls sold-out crowd … fans went crazy for the Latin American superstar”
“The goodwill this man spreads has his karma bank account in the trillions…an entertainer with a sense of duty and responsibility to the common good of man”
“[Juanes is even] better. The Colombian star has that rare combination of raw musical talent, mass appeal and socially conscious drive.”
“Juanes brings power, passion to [his] show… His heart, soul and spirit make him an original -- in any language”
“Juanes is at the top of the Latin rock scene… Mere seconds after the vocalist opened the show, Juanes had more cameras on him than Britney Spears pumping gas in West Hollywood. The amateur photographers rushed the stage from all over the packed arena”
(See Larger Excerpt Reviews Below)
Photos clips: Ivon David Rojas/Miami New Times
JUANES’ La Vida World Tour Continues With These Upcoming U.S. Dates:
MAY 02 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay Events Cntr
MAY 14 - Palm Desert, CA - Fantasy Springs Casino
MAY 03 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Sport Arena
MAY 16 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion at San Jose
MAY 07,09,10,11 - Los Angeles, CA - Nokia Theatre
May 18 - Sacramento, CA - Arco Arena
Sample Press For JUANES’ La Vida World Tour
“Juanes, the Colombian rocker and global megastar, was the picture of smoldering intent at Madison Square Garden. Singing with equal conviction about love and violence, he offered no spectacle greater than his own charisma. His fallback stance was heroic — feet planted wide, chin pointed out, arms outstretched or cradling a guitar — but his gaze proposed a covenant of intimacy…His fans, who filled the arena to capacity, held up their part of the bargain, cheering and singing with unflagging fervor... [Juanes] didn’t seem at all surprised by the immediate roar of recognition for newer songs like ‘Me Enamora’ (‘It Makes Me Fall in Love’) and ‘La Vida ... Es Un Ratico’ (‘Life Is but a Moment’). It was only the kickoff of his 2008 world tour, but he already seemed triumphant. Juanes has cause for such confidence. His fourth album on Universal Music Latino, also called ‘La Vida ... Es Un Ratico,’ has enjoyed widespread acclaim and perhaps even wider appeal… Juanes (short for Juan Esteban Aristizábal) transcends most niche-market limitations. At the Garden, expertly backed by a six-piece band, he delivered a powerfully effective blend of pan-American rhythms and catchy, guitar-driven choruses. (He saved his sharpest guitar soloing for a busy polyrhythmic jam called ‘Báilala.’) Befitting his reputation for social consciousness, Juanes infused the concert with moments of gravity. Before singing an exhortation called ‘Bandera de Manos’ (‘Flag of Hands’), he made an indirect but clear allusion to Colombia’s recent military tensions. (Speaking in Spanish, he offered to embrace Ecuadorians with his right arm and Venezuelans with his left.) He preceded ‘Sueños’ (‘Dreams’), a new-wave-inspired anthem, by hoping aloud that in Colombia, ‘one day things will be different.’ And during a ballad called ‘Minas Piedras,’ against a rustic arrangement of piano and acoustic guitar, Juanes addressed the human toll of antipersonnel land mines, a cause he has recently championed. The screens above him depicted a slide show of victims, bringing a sobering immediacy to the issue. With such sparse accompaniment — and momentarily, so little crowd noise — Juanes was also freer to explore the pure, sonorous qualities of his voice, occasionally adding a controlled shimmer of vibrato. Elsewhere in the show he suggested that romance harbors its own sense of conflict, singing in the guise of a lover betrayed, unfulfilled or otherwise wronged. He projected these songs with clarity and a precisely measured passion. However the beat gamboled or surged beneath him, he never lost his bearings, or his connection with the audience” – Nate Chinen, NEW YORK TIMES, 03/08/08
“MAN OF THE WORLD, Juanes shows global appeal at MSG: He may have sung every song in Spanish…, but the scope and feel of the music performed by the Colombian star Juanes at Madison Square Garden Thursday night would be familiar to any fan of arena rock, in any language. As always, Juanes delivered many of his songs with the grandeur and ambition of a U2 or a Bruce Springsteen - that is, with a sweep meant to rouse thousands. These days, that's exactly what his tunes do. Juanes has become one of the planet's most celebrated Latin stars. He can sell out in non-Spanish speaking countries in Europe, despite the fact that he hasn't sung a single song in another tongue on any of his four CDs. In that way he counters the other top name to come from Colombia – Shakira- although he's just as sexy and, like her, mixes traditional Colombian sounds with mainstream pop and rock. At the Garden, Juanes' songs drew heavily from the feisty rhythms of cumbia, combined with dollops of pop and steady helpings of slick '80s rock.…Juanes has a knack for bravura melodies, a billowing vocal talent, and a clear command of rock guitar. In the song ‘Me Enamora,’ he batted out a taut and tidy blues rock solo. In ‘Clase De Amor,’ his runs rang clear and clean. Juanes has further endeared himself to his audience by mixing songs of social consciousness with more personal revelations. That's taken on a more urgent tone given the current tensions involving Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. He addressed that last night in a prayer for unity speech before his anti-war song ‘Suenos Para Tu Amor.’ He showed video footage of Colombians who've lost their limbs to land mines in ‘Minas Piedras.’ None of this undermined the other key aspect to the show - Juanes' sexual allure, which may well turn out to have just as universal appeal.”
- Jim Farber, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, 03/07/08
“Juanes Preaches Peace on Tour in US… Juanes kicked off the U.S. leg of his world tour at Madison Square Garden, bringing a message of peace and a giddy enthusiasm to performing in ‘the temple of music.’ He opened Thursday night with his hit ‘A Dios le pido,’ and kept the public on its feet with more than 20 songs, including ‘Mala gente,’ ‘Fotografia,’ ‘Volverte a ver’ and the megahit ‘La camisa negra.’ The Colombia star showed his activist colors, preaching peace between his homeland and its neighbors amid a diplomatic crisis over a deadly Colombian cross-border raid into Ecuador …‘This night as a Colombian, I want to extend my right hand and embrace all my Ecuadorean brothers, I want to extend my left hand and embrace all my Venezuelan brothers,’ Juanes said. ‘Only we can come together under a single flag, the flag of peace.’
A hush fell over the stadium as Juanes led a tribute to land-mine victims, singing ‘Minas piedras’ while two giant screens carried images of the victims of anti-personnel mines” – Associated Press03/07/08
“MEET EL NUEVO BOSS, SPANISH-LANGUAGE SPRINGSTEEN SINGS POLITICAL AT GARDEN… To hear him speak about his accomplishments with quiet modesty, you'd never guess that in the Spanish-speaking world, Juanes is el Jefe - the Boss - a Latin American rocker who's part Bruce, part Bono. Those references are easy to make after hearing his percolating, Latin-flavored rock that [is] as often about politics as about passion… Juanes offers some guidance saying the music is about tension and dynamics. ‘My songs balance pain and happiness. The songs are about peace and war, about day and night, about life and death.’… Juanes writes from experience. Having grown up in Colombia during that country's darkest days, he has had family members kidnapped and killed, friends maimed by land mines planted in the hills to protect guerrilla strongholds… Juanes wrestles with the notion that life is short and you have to take time to enjoy it. Surprisingly, even the dark songs sound upbeat. With a hint of Colombian poetry, Juanes explains: ‘I want the music to let you dance away the pain.’…he's in awe of Madison Square Garden. ‘When you go to the Garden it is like going to the temple of music. When I walk the halls and think of all the stars who have played there - from Pavarotti to Springsteen to John Lennon to the Rolling Stones, I mean everybody - I can't believe I'm there and will perform on the same stage.’… make no mistake about Juanes: He is every bit a superstar - el Jefe - and like his heroes, he's going to rock the house tonight.”- NEW YORK POST
“He's been a star for seven years now, but Juanes just keeps getting better. On Saturday night at a sold-out American Airlines Arena that he had vibrating with emotion, the Colombian rocker was more powerful, more mature and more charismatic than he's ever been. Fame empowers him to open up and to bring the audience with him… The audience rewarded him with rare intensity; on La Camisa Negra (The Black Shirt), thousands of people sang verse and chorus unaccompanied by Juanes or the band, as if the music truly belonged to them. They made the arena seem to shake… Juanes led a band that sounded tighter and stronger than ever. They filled out his many hits with extended guitar riffs, enriched them with new rhythms and different feeling. Juanes gave new meaning to the songs -- Sueños (Dreams), which is a raging rocker on record, here became a heartfelt ballad. He played with the black humor in La Paga (The Payment), making its sarcastic condemnation of hypocrisy funnier and more fiercely critical. All of Juanes' songs feed a single message: Life and love are precious and to be celebrated. It's a sentiment he takes to spiritual dimensions. He opened with his first big hit, A Dios Le Pido (I'll Ask God) where he begs for ''another second of life, and I'll bring you my whole heart,'' and segued into the ringing rocker No Creo En El Jamas (I Don't Believe in Never) where he challenges life's pain to conquer him. When he covers La Noche, a party song, it's not just about good times, but a celebration of life that's to be treasured all the more because it could be snuffed out at any moment. Sentiments that could be cliché are transformed because he seems so sincere… One of the night's most powerful moments was on Minas Piedras, an aching ballad about a village in Colombia where people have been terribly hurt by land mines -- a problem Juanes has tackled through his Mi Sangre Foundation. Overhead, three giant screens showed somber black and white photos of children without legs and arms, footless mothers holding babies. ''Here they come down the mountain/terribly wounded men and children/seeking asylum, seeking a place to dream and love,'' Juanes sang, voice vibrating with emotion, and a song that could have been simply painful instead became an anthem to hope.” – Jordan Levin, Miami Herald, 4/14/08
“Juanes showed he is not only a rocker and writer of songs with grandiose, compassionate and socially conscious lyrics, but also that he knows how to make the ladies swoony and the cognoscenti appreciative… [Juanes] made deep connections with his audience… he emoted and taught about love and hurt in the manner of an ascetic sage… fronting a six-member band whose vibe was equally campesino and intellectual, Juanes' instincts for Colombia's bedrock culture continue to be sharp…. ‘La Camisa Negra’ was indicative of Juanes' ear for his country's music; its tinges of reggae and many Colombian rhythms combined with typically Iberian modes. The singer-songwriter played several guitars and bass, and he sang in an earnest, clear tenor whose grit showed on the heartbreaking ‘Minas Piedras,’ an anthem dedicated to victims of antipersonnel mines, many of which continue to maim ordinary Colombians.”-Philadelphia Inquirer
“A vociferous crowd nearly blew the roof off the building Saturday night with an impromtu, pre-concert rendition of Juanes' Me Enamora that shook American Airlines Arena. Over 20,000 voices sang along to a skit on dual video platforms that showed the Colombian rocker making his way through traffic in a car before appearing on stage. And the peace-yearning, socially-conscious star returned the love with plenty of hair-raising guitar solos, a versatile vocal range and uncanny stage presence. [Juanes] impressed from the get go, opening with a hard-driving and guitar rippling version of peace anthem A Dios Le Pido that had them bouncing in the aisles before performing La Paga with ease. Always one for social harmony and peace, Juanes implored that 'no matter where you're from, tonight there's just one flag... the one with peace and the one we all love." Juanes begged the audience to live life to the fullest, 'Life is a journey.. .We meet people, make some good choices, some bad choices." before breaking into an emotionally-charged solo of La Vida...Es Un Ratico.
He showed his soft side by serenading all the women in the house with a lovely and dead-on version of Gotas De Agua Dulce… The 12-time Latin Grammy winner, and part-time Miami resident, went on to perform a blistering and prolonged encore of La Camisa Negra… And as if that wasn't sufficient, Juanes paid tribute to Colombian salsa legend Joe Arroyo, while showing his own versatility, with Rebellion, which had everybody out of their seats and dancing. From the crowd's passion and admiration for a humble star to the peace and harmony left all over the AAA, there was plenty to love this night. -- Fernando Ruano Jr., Miami New Times, 4/14/08.
“There are roads and roads, sings Latin pop star Juanes on his latest disc, "La Vida ... Es Un Ratico," and that sentiment also symbolizes his own artistic mission. He could have gone the easy route and become a standard-issue pop deity, selling out stadiums, moving lots of merch and living the good life. From the start, Juanes chose a different path. A native of war-torn Colombia, the singer-songwriter has dedicated himself to promoting a socially conscious agenda. In signature hits such as "A Dios Le Pido" and "Mi Sangre," he spells out his commitment to creating a better world through music. That message came through in his emotionally charged yet captivating concert Wednesday. Many other Latin stars have charitable pursuits… But Juanes alone seems to convey the message that social activism remains foremost in his art. His music, quintessentially Latin, layers cumbia, vallenato, porro and other native Colombian rhythms with a guitar-rock sensibility… "Minas Piedras," [is] a rock hymnal that mourns the carnage inflicted by anti-personnel mines (a huge problem in Colombia). While photos of victims flashed overhead on video screens, he sang passionately about the human cost of armed conflict but also the need for hope… Backed by his excellent six-piece band, Juanes generated the heat of a thousand suns, especially when he ventured forth on a center-stage runway and serenaded the fans with ballads such as "Volverte a Ver" and "Es Por Ti." And when he closed out his encore segment with an extra-salsafied cover of Joe Arroyo's joeson classic "Rebelion," he brought the focus back on the power of music to inform and uplift.” – Laura Emerick, Chicago Sun-Times, 04/04/08
“Juanes brings power, passion to Houston show… That's the beauty of a Juanes concert. He switches effortlessly between powerful socio-political statements and passionate love songs. Every moment is equally important, every lyric deserving of its time in the spotlight. Juanes' vocals also project a pleading earnestness that makes everything sound heartfelt and true. He projected loud and clear for two hours' worth of energy and emotion… He strutted onto a short walkway that reached into the crowd during Mala Gente, the first of his many chart-toppers to anchor the set. But every song, even non-singles, bristled with the same urgency. He ran through several cuts from last year's excellent La Vida ... Es Un Ratico (Life ... Is A Moment), including Hoy Me Voy and Clase de Amor… Girls squealed every time he offered a hug. Guys sang along at the top of their lungs. Parents and kids danced in the aisles…And again, the mood and tempo deftly changed. The Beatles-esque keyboards of Volverte a Ver shifted into a chugging cumbia groove and back again. And recent single Gotas de Agua Dulce had an even quirkier charm live than on record. He spoke of life and peace, the importance of dreams and the complexities of immigration. But it wasn't preachy or condescending. It felt effortless, sincere and held the crowd's attention. The graceful Minas Piedras touched on the issue perhaps closest to Juanes' heart -- the horror of land mines in Colombia. The song was accompanied by stark, black-and-white images of land mine victims, most of whom were missing limbs. The moment swelled with emotion… The show's final stretch was anchored by Juanes' biggest hits. Me Enamora, the monster that topped Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart for [five] months, was a stellar showcase for his sly, assured guitar work. La Paga, a tune inspired by traditional Colombian music and Bob Marley, was stretched into a teasing, sweaty standout. La Vida... Es Un Ratico hasn't made it to radio, but it's a gorgeous ballad that could be Juanes' defining hit. The insanely catchy La Camisa Negra gave way to future single Tres, a stirring vallenato. And Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor was a driving, head-bopping moment of rock-star sparkle. Juanes has earned comparisons to Bono and Bruce Springsteen, but he's much more than an easy-to-file, Spanish-language version of someone else. His heart, soul and spirit make him an original -- in any language.” – Houston Chronicle, 4/17/08
“Juanes wasted no time Friday night at American Airlines Center. He immediately launched into "A Dios Le Pido," a rhythmic staple that succinctly showcases his infectious mix of rock, pop, reggae and Colombia's vallenato…In 15 minutes Juanes had already displayed the kind of energy and commitment it takes some performers an hour to achieve. He doesn't need to warm up. He emerges fully formed, armed with the impetus and dedication to charm an audience. No surprise. When Juanes popped onto the Latin music scene eight years ago with the Latin Grammy-winning Fijate Bien he made heads spin so profoundly that it prompted the question, "Where did this guy come from?" He only got better. The Colombian star has that rare combination of raw musical talent, mass appeal and socially conscious drive. His activism includes work to rid Colombia of land mines, educate the poor and promote peace in Latin America…Juanes was in strong voice throughout the gig… He frequently spoke to the adoring audience about dreams, life and love. The heartfelt ballad "La Vida...Es Un Ratico" was introduced as a song about the pure, clean love of family. But lest he get too serious, Juanes plays music for the sheer joy. "Me Enamora," a recent chart-topper, hooked everybody in with its wicked melody, rhythm and chorus. You can't get that song out of your head. "La Paga," a rural yet amped-up merging of vallenato and reggae, had the arena moving. He can throw a party” – Dallas Morning News, 4/19/08
“Lively, exceptional music at Amway… Colombian rock star Juanes named-checked his homeland about a dozen times…For a lesser performer, that would qualify as a gratuitous plea for applause, along the lines of shouting "Hello, Orlando!" It sounds utterly sincere, however, when a singer backs it up with material that so passionately embraces the notion of nationalism. Songs such as "Bandera de Manos," off the singer’s La Vida… Es Un Ratico, celebrate the idea that peace and national pride can co-exist. Juanes introduced it with an exhortation, in Spanish, to "unite and build one flag." The centerpiece of the show, which unfolded over a generous and skillfully executed 2 hours, was "Minas Piedras," an emotionally charged ballad. The song about the human toll of land mines was presented against a backdrop of evocative photos of injured victims on three giant video screens… Juanes doesn’t need to lean on special effects. The music is a captivating blend of cumbia and other native Colombian beats melded to a reliable assortment of catchy melodies and big choruses. If he wanted, Juanes could be a huge crossover star with English-speaking audiences, but it’s not worth messing with his distinctive style… the rhythm section provided the heartbeat for a set that shifted from the sultry syncopation of the opening "A Dios le Pido" ("I Ask of God") into the anthemic pop of "Volverte a ver" and into the highly infectious salsa romp of the closing number, Joe Arroyo’s classic "Rebelion."… The musicians were helped by a wonderful sound mix, perhaps the best in recent memory at the troublesome old arena…[Juanes] prefaced a tender version of "Sueños," a song about the dream of a peaceful world, with some philosophy:’The most important thing in life to dream…A man who doesn’t dream is not alive’ On Sunday, Juanes proved that his own dreams yield engaging music that deserves to live a long time.” - Orlando Sentinel, 4/14/08
“Colombian rocker Juanes enthralls sold-out crowd in Atlantic City: - You have to love a man in black.
And when that man happens to be Colombian rocker Juanes, you just might jump over railings to share that love. Juanes, who performed for a sold-out crowd on Saturday night, has a way of bringing that reaction out in his fans. From the first notes of his 2002 hit ‘A Dios Le Pido,’ fans - in particular, female - went a little crazy for the brooding, unapologetically sexy Latin American superstar. They rushed the metal stage barricades, extending hands in the hope of contact. Two women tried to jump over and had to be pried off the railing by security. One woman somehow did make it over, and rushed the stage to embrace Juanes as he began to sing his hit ‘Un Dia Normal.’ She screamed and cheered as she was escorted away….One thing is for sure – Juanes is not lacking in the charisma department. The South American star doesn't just work a crowd, he literally walks among his fans, descending the stage steps to shake hands…Backed by a six-piece band, Juanes, brought a strong mix of Latin dance, acoustic guitar, a pop-rock that sounds made for American Top 40 crossover success. Juanes fame in the Latin music world has risen to a level that is beginning to get everyone's attention. Time magazine dubbed him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Others have called Juanes Latin America's answer to Springsteen and Bono. The accolades come not just because of Juanes' music - it's the message behind it. Juanes is never one to shy away from bringing a message of social consciousness to the fans, and he did the same Saturday.” – Press of Atlantic City, 03/09/08
“Juanes has Tucson crowd singing along at sold-out concert.. Juanes is at the top of the Latin rock scene… Mere seconds after the vocalist opened the show with “A Dios le Pido,” the hit single from his second album, “Un Día Normal,” Juanes had more cameras on him than Britney Spears pumping gas in West Hollywood. The amateur photographers rushed the stage from all over the packed arena… Camera flashes didn’t distract him from rocking the guitar and vocals on “Me Enamora,” “No Creo en el Jamas,” and the funky, tropical “Gotas de Agua Dulce.”… In an effort to show who the most diehard fan was, one woman brought along her official Arizona “JUANES” license plate. Another gentleman, obviously comfortable with his significant other’s wandering eye, wore a t-shirt with the line: “Juanes, my wife loves you”
- Arizona Daily Star, 04/28/08
“Juanes made the ladies swoon and the men jealous at his sold-out Magness Arena concert Friday night…[to open the show]the Columbian megastar sucker-punched the unassuming crowd right in the mouth with his second-biggest hit, “A Dios le Pido.”… The goodwill this man spreads has his karma bank account in the trillions. The message he preaches is one of love, peace and happiness.And I’m not describing a hippie misplaced in the wrong time, but an entertainer with a sense of duty and responsibility to the common good of man.Juanes used his time wisely during song breaks, advocating for the indigenous people, “campesinos,” and the rest of us — both in his native Columbia and throughout the world. Juanes incited social responsibility and human unity so that someday we can live in a world without boundaries, united under a flag of peace…Juanes’ catalog contains no English songs, and he intends to keep it that way… a large majority of the crowd was of Mexican descent — and they were wildly vocal about their passion for the performer. Juanes revealed that, as a child, his parents sung him songs from famed Mexican artist Pedro Infante … and the ladies’ tongues were wagging. Several times during the show, these same ladies rushed the stage to get themselves a piece of Juanes. Like a moth to a flame, these ladies had their short-lived fame on stage with the world’s biggest Latin entertainer. To my surprise he obliged with a simple hug and kiss. The highlight for interaction with the crowd came when Juanes picked up a young gal (four years old, to be exact), Columbian flag in hand, and serenaded her with “Para Tu Amor.” Eat your hearts out, ladies. Juanes’ ability to combine an impressive amount of inspirations — including Puerto Rican salsa star Willie Colon, Argentinean rock en Espanol group Soda Stereo, Metallica and the late, great Celia Cruz — sets him apart from his contemporaries.” – Denver Post 04/28/08
