Before Cuco even stepped on stage, his band set the tone with a slow-building instrumental. The lights flickered on and off. It wasn’t loud or chaotic, but it had an eerie, almost “Purge” like energy.
“Cuco, Cuco, Cuco, Cuco.” The chant echoed through Brooklyn Bowl on Oct. 3 as Omar Banos, better known as Cuco, stepped up to the mic and opened with “Rider.” He glistened under the lights in a white tank top, striped jacket, leather belt and black pants. Fans had been anticipating the night, waiting in line for five hours while dressed in red, white and green to honor the Mexican flag. By the time the music started, the anticipation was already high.
Cuco began making music at just 15-years-old, growing up as the only child of Mexican American immigrant parents in Hawthrone, California. Cuco’s sound fits right in with artists like Crisaunt, Still Woozy, Victor Internet, Ariel & The Culture, Jasper Bones, Katzu Oso, Rudy De Anda and Maye. Many of them are Latin artists blending indie pop with R&B and lo-fi influences. His sound, often described as “bedroom pop,” blends dreamy melodies with bilingual lyrics, and over the years, he’s built an international following, with fans stretching from Nashville to Madrid to London.
At 6:30 p.m. CDT, around 450 fans had already packed the Brooklyn Bowl as disco lights flashed over the crowd and chill tracks played through the speakers.
After his performance of “Rider,” Cuco swiftly moved into “Phrase” and “Piel Canela.” The floor seemed to buzz as fans sang along, some with eyes closed, others jumping to the rhythm.
By the fifth song, Cuco eased back from the mic and turned the spotlight toward his band. His guitarist bent into the melody, fingers running over the strings, while the drummer pushed the beat with a steady intensity.
The night was full of surprises, each one pulling the crowd closer to Cuco. Midway through the set, a sudden commotion broke out in the audience as a fan dropped to one knee. Cuco stopped the music, looking wide-eyed.
“You guys scared me there for a sec,” Cuco said.
Once it was clear that it was a marriage proposal, the room erupted; cheers filled the venue as Cuco grinned and congratulated the couple before easing back into the music.
Not long after, he shifted the energy to something lighter. When he asked whose birthday it was, dozens of hands shot up. Cuco teased the crowd, pointing out that apparently half of the venue shared the same birthday. Fans laughed and shouted back.
Cuco spotted Mexican flags waving proudly in the air and pointed them out with a smile, his voice rising as he shouted out his Mexican American heritage.
Alongside singing his hits, Cuco took time to perform covers like “The Reason” and “Llorar.” As it was my first concert ever, the whole experience felt surreal. I didn’t know what to expect going in. Was I supposed to memorize every lyric to blend in? Would I feel out of place if I didn’t know his most iconic songs?
Turns out, none of that mattered. The moment he stepped on stage, the crowd’s energy wrapped around me like a warm blanket. I didn’t know all 20 songs he performed, but it didn’t stop me from swaying, singing along when I could and soaking in every moment.
Before the concert, I had listened to “Amor de Siempre” on repeat, just to feel a little prepared, so when he played it live, I lit up. I sang every word, probably off-key, but with my whole chest.
What really got me was the story behind each song. You could feel it in the way he closed his eyes mid-verse and in the way fans screamed certain lyrics like they’d lived them.
Cuco closed the night with “Dreamin’,” but the audience wasn’t ready to let go. Chants for one more song filled the room until he returned for “Tabs,” bringing the “Ridin’ Tour’s” Nashville stop to a warm, unhurried close.
Before leaving the stage, Cuco took time to speak directly to the crowd, calling himself an in-person kind of “dude.”
“It’s easy to post it, but it’s not the same,” Cuco said.
He thanked his fans repeatedly, along with his staff, his bandmates and even the Brooklyn Bowl crew who helped make the night possible.
From making tunes in his parents’ home to performing for a packed crowd, Cuco left a lasting impact on his fans, especially the Hispanic community, which was celebrated throughout the night. I admired how attentive he was to his audience, constantly checking on fans, signing merch and making sure everyone felt included. His concert was absolutely worth going to, and it’s clear why so many people connect so deeply with him.
