Los Tigres del Norte share the pride of selling out Madison Square Garden with its fans

Madison Square Garden could’ve been El Foro Sol.

For one night, it felt like the entirety of New York’s Mexican community was watching Los Tigres del Norte, one of the most celebrated corrido bands in the world, play one of the most historic venues in the United States for the very first time.

Marcela Rivera, left, and Lidar Portela, right, hold the Mexican flag and stand for a portrait as hundreds of fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte navigate the bustling block outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band's show at Madison Square Garden in Midtown, New York City, New York, U.S., on Friday, May 24, 2025.
Marcela Rivera, left, and Lidar Portela, right, hold the Mexican flag and stand for a portrait as hundreds of fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte navigate the bustling block outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band’s show at Madison Square Garden in Midtown, New York City, New York, U.S., on Friday, May 24, 2025. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)
Fans eagerly await the start of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte show at Madison Square Garden in Midtown, New York City, New York.
Fans eagerly await the start of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte show at Madison Square Garden in Midtown, New York City, New York. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)

“ What happened tonight at Madison Square Garden it’s something you never dream, you never realize in your whole career that one day you were gonna be here at this place,” says Eduardo Hernandez, a member of Los Tigres Del Norte.

The band has played almost every single place in the country — from armories to rodeos, in big cities and small towns – but the group has never played Madison Square Garden. It’s a touchstone career moment for the band, whose every milestone has always been as much their fans’ as those of its members.

Hernán Hernández plays his bass guitar for hundreds of fans in Madison Square Garden in Midtown, New York City, New York, U.S., on Friday, May 24, 2025.
Hernán Hernández plays his bass guitar for hundreds of fans in Madison Square Garden in Midtown, New York City, New York, U.S., on Friday, May 24, 2025. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)

“I think our fans deserve to be here,” band member Hernan Hernandez says. “Maybe for some people it’s their first time like us.”

Los Tigres have always made its fans — the immigrants, the people in this country who cook in the kitchen, cut the grass — the celebrated subject of each concert. Many of the band’s biggest songs even take direct inspiration from fans’ ordinary lives, making Los Tigres shows an exchange from the public to the band and back.

Elizabeth Vargas and Luis Vargas, stand for a portrait before enjoying an evening watching the norte–o band Los Tigres del Norte play Madison Square Garden.
Elizabeth Vargas and Luis Vargas, stand for a portrait before enjoying an evening watching the norte–o band Los Tigres del Norte play Madison Square Garden. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)

Elizabeth Vargas is a fan who identifies most with the song “La Puerta Negra.” It’s a song about two young lovers whose family doesn’t approve of their relationship. La puerta negra, “the black door,” is a device the family uses to keep them apart, but the singer assures his lover that they will overcome it.

Vargas shares that there was a black door in her own life. Her Mexican family did not approve of her husband, who’s standing beside her tonight, because he is Cuban.

Jorge Hernández greets the hundreds of fans in Madison Square Garden in Midtown, New York City, New York.
Jorge Hernández greets the hundreds of fans in Madison Square Garden in Midtown, New York City, New York. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)
Hundreds of fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte take group photos on the bustling block outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band's show at Madison Square Garden.
Hundreds of fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte take group photos on the bustling block outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band’s show at Madison Square Garden. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)
Left photo, Ernesto Sanchez a vendor selling hats to fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band's show at Madison Square Garden. Right photo, Brian Contreras is ready for the start of the show.
Left photo, Ernesto Sanchez a vendor selling hats to fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band’s show at Madison Square Garden. Right photo, Brian Contreras is ready for the start of the show. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)
Hundreds of fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte navigate the bustling block outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band's show at Madison Square Garden.
Hundreds of fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte navigate the bustling block outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band’s show at Madison Square Garden. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)

“No matter what happened, [the door] always opened for us,” Vargas says in Spanish. “So that song was like, wow, for me. Every time I heard it, it was for him.”

For Jocelyn Romero, she hears her parents’ immigrant experience reflected in the song “La Carta.” In the song, Los Tigres describe delivering a letter from a son to his mother who’ve been separated by the border.

Joselyn Romero dons a white hat.
Joselyn Romero dons a white hat. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)

The song’s lyrics reflect the son’s words to his mother: “Espero estar el día de la despedida / Para realizar mi sueño de volvernos a abrazar” (I hope to be there on the day you say goodbye / to realize my dream of us hugging again.)

 ”You put yourself in their shoes,” Romero says, “ I understand their whole life.” The closeness she found with her parents through Los Tigres’ music inspired her to buy them tickets to the show.

Fans eagerly await the start of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte show at Madison Square Garden.
Fans eagerly await the start of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte show at Madison Square Garden. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)
Vanessa Huesca stands for a portrait in her hat before the start of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte show at Madison Square Garden.
Vanessa Huesca stands for a portrait in her hat before the start of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte show at Madison Square Garden. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)
As hundreds of fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte navigate the bustling block outside of Madison Square Garden, vendors sell shirts, hats, and drinks before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band's show at Madison Square Garden.
As hundreds of fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte navigate the bustling block outside of Madison Square Garden, vendors sell shirts, hats, and drinks before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band’s show at Madison Square Garden. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)
Yobani Escandon Galvan, left, and Rosalina Maldonado, center, stand for a portrait outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band, Los Tigres del Norte show at Madison Square Garden.
Yobani Escandon Galvan, left, and Rosalina Maldonado, center, stand for a portrait outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band, Los Tigres del Norte show at Madison Square Garden. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)

In recent months there have been conversations in the Latin music community raising concerns that ticket sales and concert attendance for artists like Los Tigres might be impacted by fears of ICE raids. Some cultural events and concerts have been scaled back or canceled.

For the band, this potential risk for fans is something it is intimately familiar with. The group shared that its members previously lived in this country without legal status.

“I know that people are a little afraid, but it’s something us Mexicans like — the fear, the action,” Ernesto Sanchez, a sombrero salesman who frequents Mexican cultural events and concerts throughout the city, jokes in Spanish.

 Pues, aquí estamos,” Sanchez says — “well, here we are.”

Fans eagerly await the start of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte show at Madison Square Garden.
Fans eagerly await the start of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte show at Madison Square Garden. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)
Ernesto Sanchez sells hats to fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band's show at Madison Square Garden.
Ernesto Sanchez sells hats to fans of the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte outside of Madison Square Garden before the start of the Sinaloa, Mexico band’s show at Madison Square Garden. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)
A couple dons their cowboy hats as they make their way into Madison Square Garden for an evening of music from the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte.
A couple dons their cowboy hats as they make their way into Madison Square Garden for an evening of music from the norteño band Los Tigres del Norte. (José A. Alvarado Jr. | for NPR)

Transcript:

AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:

Los Tigres del Norte is one of the most celebrated Mexican groups in the world, known for their corridos. Last week, they played Madison Square Garden for the first time ever. NPR Music’s Anamaria Sayre has this report from the show.

(CHEERING)

ANAMARIA SAYRE, BYLINE: For one night, it felt like the entirety of New York’s Mexican community descended on one of the most historic venues in the world.

EDUARDO HERNANDEZ: What happened tonight at Madison Square Garden, that is, like, something that you never dreamed. You never realized in your whole career that one day, you were going to be here at this place.

SAYRE: That’s Eduardo Hernandez, a member of Los Tigres del Norte. The band has played everywhere, from armories to rodeos, big cities and small towns. But as the band’s Hernan Hernandez says, Madison Square Garden is a touchstone moment for their fans.

HERNAN HERNANDEZ: Our fans, our followers deserve to be in a place like this. Some of the people that was here, maybe it was their first time here, too, you know, like us.

SAYRE: Los Tigres have always made their fans – the immigrants, the people in this country who cook in the kitchen, cut the grass – the celebrated subject of their concerts. Many of their biggest songs even take direct inspiration from fans’ ordinary lives.

Elizabeth Vargas is a fan who identifies most with the song “La Puerta Negra.”

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LA PUERTA NEGRA”)

LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE: (Singing in Spanish).

SAYRE: It’s a song about two young lovers whose family doesn’t approve of their relationship. “La Puerta Negra” – The Black Door – is a device the family uses to keep them apart, but the singer assures his lover that they will overcome it.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LA PUERTA NEGRA”)

LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE: (Singing in Spanish).

SAYRE: Vargas shares that there was a black door in her own life. Her Mexican family did not approve of her husband, who’s standing beside her, because he’s Cuban.

ELIZABETH VARGAS: (Speaking Spanish).

SAYRE: “No matter what happened, the door always opened for us. That song was like, wow, for me. Every time I heard it, it was for him.”

Jocelyn Romero heard her parents’ immigrant experience reflected in the song “La Carta.”

JOCELYN ROMERO: You put their – you know, yourself in their shoes. I understand their whole life.

SAYRE: In the song, Los Tigres described delivering a letter from a son to his mother who’d been separated by the border.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LA CARTA”)

LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE: (Singing in Spanish).

SAYRE: The closeness she found with her parents through Los Tigres inspired her to buy them tickets to the show.

ROMERO: They were yelling, oh, my gosh, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go. Yes, I can’t believe it.

SAYRE: In recent months, there have been conversations in the Latin music community raising concerns that ticket sales and concert attendance for artists like Los Tigres might be impacted by fears of ICE raids. For the band, this potential risk for fans is something they’re intimately familiar with. They shared with me that they previously lived in this country without legal status.

ERNESTO SANCHEZ: (Speaking Spanish).

SAYRE: “I know that people are a little afraid.”

That’s Ernesto Sanchez, a sombrero salesman who frequents Mexican cultural events and concerts throughout the city.

SANCHEZ: (Speaking Spanish).

SAYRE: “But it’s something us Mexicans like – the fear, the action,” he jokes.

Despite any fear, the night show was sold out.

SANCHEZ: (Speaking Spanish).

SAYRE: “Well, here we are.”

Like many told me over the course of the night, the band speaks for us. They sing for us. To have them supporting us in this country right now is a thing of pride. Anamarie Sayre, NPR News.

(SOUNDBITE OF LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE SONG, “LA PUERTA NEGRA”)

LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE: (Singing in Spanish).

 

As opposition to an Alabama medical waste treatment facility boils over, a  mysterious Facebook page weighs in

Dozens of residents opposed to Harvest Med Waste Disposal’s site in Remlap packed the Blount County courthouse to voice their concerns. Online, a paid campaign supporting the facility has been active, though its backers have remained anonymous.

Amid debate about U.S. history, Harlem Hellfighters receive Congressional Gold Medal

The Harlem Hellfighters, who became legends for their service during World War I, were honored this week with a Congressional Gold Medal.

Concerned about federal vaccine policies, states are crafting their own

As federal health agencies change their approach to vaccine policy leaving access for COVID shots uncertain, some states are taking things into their own hands.

HHS responds to report about autism and acetaminophen

A report that health secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has promised will come out this month will look at the causes of autism. Many worry it will have claims unsupported by science.

The U.S. government is taking a stake in Intel. It’s rare — and it has some risks

In the past, the federal government has taken stakes in American companies during wars or economic crises. But now the government's motivation has more to do with the race for AI chips and technology.

Where things stand with Trump’s National Guard threats in Chicago and other cities

Local officials and community members prepare for the possible arrival of National Guard troops under President Trump.

More Front Page Coverage