Making Movies closes album release with Día de los Muertos tribute
The band’s two-hour set at The Folly Theatre featured a mariachi ensemble and a cultural reflection on the upcoming midterm elections.
By Madison Darwish ·
Making Movies concluded their album release tour at The Folly Theatre with a two-hour performance centered on Día de los Muertos. The show, which opened with the track "No Te Calles," incorporated elements of remembrance and community to frame the music.
The event featured a specific cultural program alongside the main band set. Local mariachi group Mariachi Los Reales performed to honor the holiday, while the venue displayed decorations dedicated to deceased relatives. These elements were designed to acknowledge the Hispanic and Black communities, creating a thematic backdrop for the musical performance.
Hobo Cane served as the opening act for the evening. The independent Latin American artist performed in an indie rock style, playing songs including "Waiting" and "OK" to build audience energy before the main act took the stage.
Enrique Chi, the lead singer for Making Movies, integrated personal history into the setlist. He dedicated the 1960s song "El Cuarto de Tula" to his grandfather. During that number, the band taught the audience the mambo dance steps. A trumpet player from the mariachi ensemble joined the band for the track, adding brass to the rhythm section.
Between songs, Chi discussed the role of family and the importance of Black and brown communities in the nation. He connected these cultural threads to the political moment, suggesting that the recent midterm election results, often described as a "blue wave," were driven by grassroots cultural movements.
The band closed the show with a cover of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears. The selection served as an encore that referenced the current political climate. The performance ended with the audience engaging in call-and-response segments, particularly during the track "Nadie Sabe."
The concert was part of a larger initiative by TeenTix KC, an organization that provides youth access to live stage performances. Hartlynn Gray, a member of the group's Press Corps, attended the event to write her first professional review. The organization aims to cultivate the next generation of cultural critics through these hands-on assignments.
