Concert review: Rauw Alejandro stuns with retro style, theatrical performance at Intuit Dome

Rauw Alejandro wears a black hat and black coat while performing in front of a projection of a flaming car at the Intuit Dome on Sunday night. The Puerto Rican singer-songwriter played his second of three shows at the Inglewood venue Sunday as part of his “Cosa Nuestra World Tour.” (Darlene Sanzon/Assistant Photo editor)
“Cosa Nuestra World Tour”
Rauw Alejandro
Intuit Dome
April 27
By Maya Parra
April 28, 2025 6:25 p.m.
When it comes to putting on a performance, Rauw Alejandro is committed to giving his fans nothing but the best.
The Puerto Rican singer-songwriter lit up the Intuit Dome on Sunday night for the second of three shows on his “Cosa Nuestra World Tour.” With a recommended dress code for fans that included 1960s-inspired evening gowns and suits, the concert superseded expectations as Alejandro instead put on what he called “A Musical Theatre Experience.” Equipped with a host, a digital program, elaborate choreography and incredible stage sets, Alejandro’s four-act performance told the story of the dangers of love. In the approximately two-hour show, audiences followed along with the story of Raúl and Maria as Alejandro sang his greatest hits as well as all the songs on his latest album “Cosa Nuestra.”
As the curtains rose for “Act I: TRUST NO ONE, LOVE ANYWAY,” the show started with a video of Alejandro in the middle of a car chase that culminated in a crash. The lights went dark before a single spotlight showed Alejandro gunning down his opponent and then opening the show with “PUNTO 40.” The intensity of the opening scene was compounded by strobing lights and pyrotechnics flashing beside Alejandro and his backup dancers.
Alejandro’s love interest was then introduced from a moving elevator on stage. As Alejandro sang “Mil Mujeres” and danced with multiple female backup dancers, the live band playing on both sides of the stage highlighted the instrumentals of this upbeat track. Sets changed seamlessly as the characters moved from a restaurant to a spotlighted stage and then to a speakeasy where Alejandro slowed down the pace and sang “Tattoo” to his love interest while both seated at the bar.
Once the act concluded and the love interest’s name was revealed to be Maria, audiences picked up on the hint that the performance takes inspiration from “West Side Story.” This influence became more evident in the background elements of the second act, with vibrant images of New York landscapes and Alejandro singing “Committed” to Maria’s window from below, evoking imagery of “Romeo and Juliet.”
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In “Act II: LEAP OF FAITH,” audiences watched Maria and Raúl’s relationship develop as they went on a date in the city. A retro-style black car was brought onto the set, and as the visuals zoomed behind, the illusion of Raúl and Maria driving past the city created an engaging focus for the audience as Alejandro sang “La Old Skul” from the passenger seat. As the song ended, Alejandro shouted out the women who are the “drivers” in their relationship, earning loud cheers from the audience.
Additionally, Alejandro paid homage to Puerto Rico with his latest single “Carita Linda” while the background screen panned through different settings in Puerto Rico before settling on an image of the territory’s flag. For this recently released track, Alejandro projected lyrics on the screen, allowing audiences to follow along with the heartfelt tune. As fans looked through the crowd, pink and red lights glowed all along the seats, and audiences swayed to the melody.
The act ended on a hopeful note, as Alejandro sang “Amar De Nuevo,” a song about finding love again. The singer skillfully matched the song’s mood as he conveyed longing through his mellow vocals and dancing. The set added to the romance of the date as sparks fell from center stage at the end of the song before Raúl and Maria shared a kiss.
The newfound spark quickly died out, however, as in “Act III: WHEN THE LIGHTS GO DOWN,” the curtain opened to Maria and Raúl intimately sharing a bed on stage for a few songs before Maria walked out. Following her departure, Alejandro emotionally performed “Khé?” while standing out in a red ensemble among his background dancers in white. The heartbreaking mood continued on as Alejandro followed up with “Pensándote” and “Se Fue,” which he gave solo renditions of on stage in a single red spotlight. The act then ended with an emotive performance of “Ni Me Conozco” as fans were seen waving their flashlights from side to side.
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Alejandro honed in on songs from his latest album in the final act, titled “Act IV: BETWEEN LOVE AND WAR,” starting with the title track “Cosa Nuestra” and accentuating the 1960s inspiration the album takes on. This throwback influence was furthered by Alejandro’s cover of Frankie Ruiz’s “Tú Con Él” as the lively band and salsa choreography brought the audience’s energy up. The vivacious energy kept climbing as Alejandro invited Marconi Impara and Yan Block onto the stage to sing their song “Espresso Martini” together.
The concert’s central romance took another turn when Maria killed a man and framed Raúl for it, presenting an unexpected twist for their love story. The curtains closed for what appeared to be the final time, but they soon rose again for “SEXXXMACHINE.” The closing song for both the album and the setlist served as a curtain call for all the dancers to come out for a final energetic dance. Alejandro humbly thanked his fans for their support while the dancers all took a closing bow. He then acknowledged the members of the live band, individually naming each of them and noting their Puerto Rican heritage.
Overall, elements of Alejandro’s show adeptly created an engaging performance while also not taking away attention from the main act. In the livelier songs, the pyrotechnics and lights were a welcome addition among Alejandro and his dancers, but the simple solo performances were appreciated when Alejandro was delivering his downhearted tracks. Though the lights accompanying the show did bring sufficient attention to the stage, there were times when the strobe lights and effects bordered on bothersome and Alejandro would have been better off shining on his own.
Nonetheless, the structure of the concert shone as separating the show through acts allowed audiences a break to sit and rest before getting up again to dance along with Alejandro. The added element of a host-like emcee with his friendly and humorous persona ensured audiences were engaged throughout the whole performance, as he never allowed for a dull moment while providing commentary on the story and interacting with audience members.
Overall, with his incredible vocals, imaginative sets, and a compelling plot twist, Alejandro’s “Cosa Nuestra World Tour” is giving Broadway musicals a run for its money.