The Santa Ana winds were howling the night Young Miko took the stage at L.A.’s shiny new Intuit Dome for her Late Checkout Tour. Stronger than the winds, though, were the 18,000 fans packed into the venue, cheering at the sold-out show — Miko delivered an incredible sonic crash-landing to the city, sending waves of reggaeton euphoria across L.A.
Gracing the sleek hallways of the Intuit Dome were thousands of fans dressed fittingly in baggy cargo shorts, bandanas and chunky sneakers galore. Inside the dome, the artist’s power was clear and overwhelmingly present.
Credit: Joshua RiveraEvery seat was full, and every fan appeared ecstatic. Then suddenly, the lights changed.
Young Miko’s signature scorpion logo glowed deep red, and the sound in the stadium rose by about 10 decibels. The crowd was electric. A pulsating intro drew everyone in as the screen flashed with the silhouette of a figure dressed in sleek black.
Through flickering lights and rising smoke, Miko appeared at center stage, enveloped in a cloud of haze. As she stepped forward, all lights — and all eyes — were on her.
Miko launched into “What’s Your Vibe?” with the cool energy she brings to every stage. Dancers surrounded her in effortless synchronicity, turning the performance into a flirty exchange between the artist and her audience.
A live band was positioned at opposite ends of the stage, with the guitarist sending vibrations through the audience as the keyboardist joined in. Miko led the dancers with fluid movements, and they followed her lead. Everyone on and offstage seemed connected through movement and dance — even the videographer followed Miko as she danced spontaneously.
Credit: Joshua RiveraKimberly Mendoza, an excited fan of Miko, called the artist’s music “expressive” while standing in the crowded hallway filled with chatter.
“She isn’t scared to explore other versions of music, and she’s very outspoken,” Mendoza said. “She’s straight to the point. I really like her music because at the end of the day, she’s just explaining who she is.”
That vulnerable, intimate communication Miko cultivates with her fans seems to be what draws people to her. Onstage, she’s playful and direct — when someone tosses a pair of lacy pink underwear onto the stage, she smugly holds it up to the camera. Two songs later, she winks at a fan. It’s clear that Miko views performance as a sensual game of eye contact between her and some 18,000 people.
The cheeky banter is a constant throughout Miko’s headlining tour, where she has made a tradition of bringing a fan onstage during her seductive song “Sin Pausa.” In Los Angeles, the chosen fan was dressed in black leather and smiled confidently as Miko danced around her. Miko took the fan’s hand and placed it on her waist. The young woman grinned, embracing her role in the performance.
Miko’s newest Grammy-nominated album, Do Not Disturb: Late Checkout, was released on May 29. Since then, she’s reached 21.1 million listeners on Spotify and over 80 million streams on the standout track “BnB.” Singing the song halfway through her show, Miko sent fans into a frenzy.
In another standout moment, a Puerto Rican flag was tossed onto the stage as fans held up signs expressing their love for the artist. Amid the white lights and roaring applause, Miko paused, visibly moved and slightly teary-eyed. The Puerto Rican flag was waved above the crowd as fans cheered for the performer, their pride reflecting in the energy that filled the room.
“She kind of changed the industry in a very positive way,” Puerto Rican fan Sara González said. “She is one of the first very popular queer artists doing reggaeton, and she’s created music in many ways that other artists haven’t done.”
As the glittery performance neared its end, Young Miko stepped forward to speak about her gratitude.
“E tenido la oportunidad de viajar diferentes países y very diferentes públicos. Y varios me han seguido desde que estaba tocado discotecas aquí con públicos de 300 personas. Siempre me encanta ver como han crecido ustedes junto a mi música.”
“I have been able to travel to different countries and have seen great crowds with very different people, and many have followed me from when I was playing in small clubs for 300 people. I always love to see how you have grown alongside my music.”
Young Miko will bring her electrifying performances to Phoenix, Atlanta, Orlando and Miami before wrapping up her U.S. tour in New York on Nov. 5. For concertgoers of all ages, identities and backgrounds, Miko delivers a memorable, high-energy show that celebrates self-expression through music and dance.
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