Live Review: Divino Niño Thalia Hall
By Sydney Cramer
There’s nothing more wholesome and Chicago-like than eating dinner two tables away from the band you’ve anxiously waited to see all day. It’s their humble, warm energy I watched follow them from the front door of a local Pilsen restaurant to the stage that captured my heart while watching this five piece powerhouse perform live. Divino Niño performs as their true selves. Their refreshingly genuine stage presence sets them apart from the oversaturated Indie scene, giving the audience permission to let their guard down and let the music wash away their inhibitions.
The cold, tall walls of Thalia Hall quickly warmed up with bodies swaying to the band’s rich, gooey melodies. Opening their set with “Queiro”, the band gave the audience a Colombian welcome, pulling the crowd in with their soft, sweet spanish lyrics. The set took a sentimental turn with “B@d Luck” as their second song of the night. Rich orange lights washed over the stage as lead guitarist Camilo Medina gently plucked the opening riff- a total goosebumps moment. Their harmonies were as solid and entrancing as they are on the record, bringing a beautiful backbone to B@d Luck and “Coca Cola”. The band played back to back hits, following Coca Cola with the title track from their 2019 release “Foam”. Psychedelic synths echoed off of the carved ceiling as the thick richness of Javier Forero’s bass rattled the floor.
Song after song, the room was consumed in the ocean of Divino Niño’s ethereal, beachy sound. Looking out over the half-stoned crowd, faces glowed in the vibrant lights. Smiles were ear to ear. Arms were around one another as hips bumped to the beat of the groovy drums. People held hands instead of phones. Divino Niño’s inviting melodies created a bubble of bliss. There was an undeniably beautiful energy in the room.
After pouring their Chicago love into a jam packed set, Divino Niño finished off the night with a surprising, yet fitting cover of The Bee Gees’ “How Deep Is Your Love”. Working their dreamy synths, laid back drums, and a bouncing bassline, they effortlessly blended their velvety sound with the 70’s cheese of The Bee Gees. As the 5 musicians left the stage, the post-concert sadness quickly set in. While I could have stood and swayed to their melodies for another hour, the band played a perfectly constructed set that left me totally satisfied. It’s hard to believe that this group of lyrical and musical geniuses was the opener for the Indie-Psychedelic headliner Crumb, but if they continue on their path of genuine, heartfelt shows, they’ll be right back on the stage of Thalia Hall headlining in no time.