Rauw Alejandro Lit Up the Stage at Kaseya Center — Literally

The deafening screams of a sea of women enamored with Rauw Alejandro filled the Kaseya Center Friday night as the Latin music star headlined his first of three back-to-back concerts in Miami this weekend. The hype around his Cosa Nuestra World Tour has been massive, fueled by TikTok videos showcasing Alejandro's penchant for the theatrical, his showmanship, and the wild comments he makes onstage. But as he prepared to close the U.S. leg of his tour in Miami, would the show live up to the online buzz?

The short answer is "yes." Alejandro has created reggaeton's — or perhaps Latin music’s — most theatrical, Broadway-style touring production of the moment. The show begins with Saturno's "Punto 40," during which Alejandro emerges dressed as a 1960s gangster to set up a narrative arc involving love, deception, gang rivalry, and old-school violence.
In the first act, Alejandro plays a singer in a club, infamous as a local womanizer with enemies on the other side of the river. The audience sees him fall in love with a mysterious woman named María in mid-century New York. A sleek Mustang is the stage's centerpiece prop, and Alejandro dances on it during the show.

RPG explosions and head-on car collisions follow as the story progresses, recalling West Side Story, Romeo and Juliet, and even Fast & Furious. Stunning set designs transform the stage into a billiards hall, a nightclub, his bedroom (of course), and Central Park. The show is indeed a full-scale spectacle, but Alejandro's charisma carries it. At one point, after the María character leaves him, Alejandro speaks about heartbreak and being single, prompting an explosive reaction from the crowd.
The dance routines are also a highlight. From classic perreo to soulful salsa numbers, the choreography is electrifying and dynamic. The touring band, featuring not only guitar, bass, and drums, but piano, trumpets, and congas, makes those numbers all the more lively.

The setlist masterfully weaves songs from his latest album, Cosa Nuestra, alongside fan favorites like Vice Versa's "Todo de Ti" and "Desesperados." One memorable moment ties the deep cut "Desenfocao'" to the show's major plot twist, leaving the audience in awe.

Despite the elaborate theatrics, it's the songs that drive the narrative and amplify the show's emotional and visual impacts. This is especially evident with “2/Catorce,” set in Alejandro’s bedroom, where the performer emerges in red silk pants and sneakers — a reminder of his status as a bona fide sex symbol (as if your girlfriend's screams didn’t drive that home already).
One slight disappointment: Given Miami's status as a home base for Latin music's biggest stars, we've grown accustomed to surprise guest appearances during tour stops. Friday's set was a one-man show, though the Saturday and Sunday crowds might get luckier.

After the show, many in the crowd headed west to Little Havana's CosaNostra Nightclub for an advertised afterparty. Ever the showman, Alejandro pulled up to debut his latest track with up-and-coming talent Clarnet as he geared up for two more headlining sets in Miami.