LIVE REVIEWS
There is a clear distinction between warm and cool in the world of Ivan Cornejo. Headlining the Kia Forum on the first of two sold out nights at the Los Angeles arena, the música mexicana artist and Southern California native appeared on stage Saturday night through a bold gleam of orange light that wrapped around his silhouette. Opening with “Atención,” from his Billboard 200-charting (No. 17) “Mirada” album, Cornejo’s first interaction with his audience is overwhelmingly optimistic — “I have an idea, I don’t know if it’s good or bad,” the 21-year old sings in the guitar ballad.
Color plays an important role throughout the progression of the “Mirada” tour setlist, constructed mostly of songs from the 2024 album, and streaming favorites like “Está Dañado” and “La Curiosidad” from his sophomore LP “Dañado.” The lights switched to a marine blue for “Llamadas Perdidas,” from his 2021 debut “Alma Vacía,” a color that would come to signify heartbreak. If the song was about losing yourself by losing your first love, the glow was blue and starry. To represent hope and a revived outlook on life and relationships, the stage became the sun, and the arena of teenage hopefuls radiated yellow and orange. The only color that deviated from that spectrum was pink for the “I’m currently in love” songs. In the audience, more than a few fans carried signs with the same slogan: “You healed hearts you didn’t break.”
By the time he signed his first major label record deal with Interscope at the age of 19 (the result of a bidding war), Cornejo was already known as a defining voice for Gen Z Latinos thanks to his emotive songwriting and unique blend of regional Mexican and alternative rock music. Some of these influences were showcased in the pre-concert playlist of Billie Eilish, the Marias and Tame Impala, and nostalgic classics like Bobby Pulido’s 1995 hit “Desvelado.”
You wouldn’t necessarily identify Cornejo as a rock star, but there are certainly commonalities. Throughout the hour and thirty minute show, he leaves a lot of room for guitar solos and power chords, especially for the electric guitar, which is at the core of his three-album catalog. You can easily recognize a song is his by the twangy inflection of his voice. A defining quality of the best música mexicana artists is their ability to sing clean register breaks with a whining tone and with great force (Vicente Fernández was known for his intense vibrato) — Cornejo is no different.
The night went without long speeches but he did take the time to address his L.A. fans directly, emphasizing the importance of community and to “stay strong during these rough times.” Proceeds from the show are going to helping raise funds for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), who are supporting families impacted by the Trump administration’s raids and mass arrests of migrants by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.). The crowd erupted in ceiling-shaking shrieks and applause with his point proven: “Los Angeles, you guys are the loudest!” he shouted.
Cornejo is fulfilling the end of the North American leg of his “Mirada” tour — which started with his debut at Coachella — on Sunday night. He will perform continue performing in cities across Latin America starting July 5 in El Salvador.
LIVE REVIEWS
The closing hours of Reading 2026 have finally arrived. Florence + The Machine brought the rain during ‘Dog Days Are Over’ at The Grid, opening the heavens and leaving the festival site completely soaked. The weary fans who have stayed behind are wet, exhausted and clearly feeling the effects of the weekend. What they need now is one final enormous celebration to make the wait worthwhile.
The Gallery tent comes alive as the speakers blast ‘Favourite’ by Friday’s headliners and fellow countrymen Fontaines D.C., receiving the kind of reaction usually reserved for ‘Mr Brightside’ at a drunken wedding reception. Moments later, Kneecap display their familiar statement accusing Israel of carrying out genocide against the people of Palestine and Lebanon, with support from the UK government. It captures the Belfast rap trio perfectly, combining serious political messages with an unapologetic party atmosphere.
“We use our platform to talk about what we believe is right,” Mo Chara explains during the performance, before recognising those who “aren’t so fucking lucky” and whose voices have been suppressed. He soon encourages the audience to roar “fuck Netanyahu” and “free free Palestine”. Later, he starts a powerful chant of “Aaaaaa-ndy Buuurn-ham’s a waaaaaaan-ker” to the melody of ‘Seven Nation Army’, targeting our new Prime Minister over his claim that “a united Ireland is off the table”. Laughing, he asks: “The BBC won’t broadcast that, or will they?” As it turned out, they did not.
Away from the headlines and the controversy, there is no denying the connection Kneecap have built with their audience. Politics may shape the conversation, but the crowd also came to enjoy themselves, ready for a rave after the rally. The performance begins carefully with the heavy rumble of ‘Smugglers & Scholars’, before exploding during the Grian Chatten collaboration ‘Better Way To Live’ and the threatening energy of ‘Sick In The Head’. “Are ya ready for a mad one?” Mo Chara shouts. The response is already obvious.
The atmosphere becomes increasingly chaotic as the hip hop rhythm of ‘Cold At The Top’ and the hypnotic trance sounds of ‘An Ra’ send the entire tent into motion. The trio jokingly thank the UK for everything it has given Ireland, listing UKIP, fish and chips, a mental health crisis, Jimmy Saville, HP Sauce and Bloody Sunday. However, the show reaches another level once the second half begins. The explosive ‘Sayonara’ brings the ‘beef’ to ‘IBEEFA’, while ‘Get Your Brits Out’ and ‘Guilty Conscience’ give the crowd every reason to obey Móglaí Bap’s demand to “oooopen up the piiiiiit”.
Anyone watching closely may have questioned why the cameras continued to focus on Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara. The pair eventually reveal that they have spent recent weeks performing alongside a “provisional” DJ Próvai. Wearing the familiar tricolour balaclava, the temporary replacement handles his role as the crowd agitator with confidence while their bandmate enjoys some paternity leave. “Some things are more important than music, and that’s family,” they explain. How sweet. Móglaí Bap quickly destroys the tender moment by adding: “As you might know, the Brits took all our potatoes from Ireland; they took all our cocaine,” before declaring, “but we still have all our caaandy.” The group then charge directly into one of the biggest tracks ever written about extremely powerful ketamine.
‘Liar’s Tale’ sparks another huge reaction with its response to Keir Starmer, “genocide armer”, while the group warn that “you’re not getting away with doing nothing”. It is a politically charged message hidden inside an irresistible anthem from musicians who have experienced the “belly of the beast” through the legal system. Their latest album, ‘Fenian’, has helped Kneecap fully embrace the celebration that has always been part of their identity. Their live production now feels capable of filling arenas, blending the intimacy of a late night lock in with the rhythmic force and visual scale of The Chemical Brothers, the reckless electronic punk spirit of The Prodigy, and the fearless political honesty of Public Enemy. The spectacular visuals complete the experience.
Kneecap fans at Reading 2026. Credit: Andy Ford for NME
Kneecap fans at Reading 2026. Credit: Andy Ford for NME
Closing with the powerful combination of ‘Fenian’, ‘H.O.O.D.’ and the enormous ‘The Recap’, Kneecap bring our final celebration at Reading to a thrilling conclusion while also finishing their last festival appearance of the summer. “It’s been a pleasure to spend it with you mad c**ts,” Mo Chara says before leaving the stage. The feeling is mutual.
Return to NME here for the newest reports, reviews, photographs, conversations and further coverage from Reading & Leeds 2026.
