On Sunday, September 23rd, 2023, Inter Miami beat 2022 league champions LAFC by a score of 3-1 at BMO Stadium in downtown Los Angeles, California. Inter Miami was ahead 3-0 at 84 minutes of play with goals from Facundo Farias, Jordi Alba, and Leonardo Campana. The Argentine superstar Lionel Messi assisted his Inter Miami teammates for their latter two goals. His team might have been up another goal had LAFC keeper John McCarthy not made an impressive block on his shot at the 38th minute of play. LAFC made the game a little more interesting with a header goal by Ryan Hollingshead during the concluding minutes of play. That goal was assisted by the Mexican LAFC captain Carlos Vela. Inter Miami ultimately played better by capitalizing on their scoring opportunities.
Read moreSoccer Champions Tour 2023: Barcelona vs Arsenal by Roger Martinez
On Wednesday July 26th, 2023 Arsenal defeated FC Barcelona 5-3 for a contentious friendly match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Roger Martinez documented the night with a photographic essay.
https://www.soccerchampionstour.com/en/
Read moreSoccer Champions Tour 2023: Real Madrid vs AC Milan
Real Madrid earned a 3-2 victory over AC Milan on Sunday July 23rd, 2023 at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. Christian Pulisic, United States Men’s National Team captain, helped AC Milan take an early lead with a corner kick assist to his teammate Fikayo Tomori. AC Milan doubled their lead with a beautiful shot from outside the box by the Argentine Luka Romero. The game had quick turnaround in the second half following numerous substitutions by Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti. Federico Valverde tied the game with goals in the 57th and 59th minutes of the game. Later, Vinicius Junior would give Real Madrid the lead and eventual win with his fast break shot in the 83rd minute.
https://www.soccerchampionstour.com/en/
Read moreMister Cartoon's "Just My Imagination" by Joel Duran
Chicano artist Mister Cartoon in collaboration with Beyond the Streets is exhibiting his “Just My Imagination” show at Control Gallery in Los Angeles, California through July 16th, 2023. He “began his career as a graffiti artist before branching into murals, album covers, logos, and now most famously known for his tattoos (mistercartoon.com).” He has tattooed a long list of celebrities that includes Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Travis Barker, Dr. Dre, Christina Aguilera, and 50 Cent. His current show highlights his airbrushing and drawing abilities on a variety of surfaces, including a unique classic car.
Read moreConcacaf Champions League Final 2023 by Joel Duran
Leon representing Mexico’s Liga MX beat LAFC of Major League Soccer 1-0 at BMO Stadium on the cool evening of Sunday June 4th, 2023 in downtown Los Angeles, California. That score combined with Leon’s first leg 2-1 victory in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico earned Leon the title of Concacaf Champions League 2023.
Read moreSueños Music Festival 2023 by Joel Duran and Roger Martinez
Sueños Music Festival on the Memorial Day weekend of May 27th to May 28th, 2023 at Grant Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois was a joyous celebration of Latino music. Attendees were welcomed by the city’s 57th mayor Brandon Johnson, a former Chicago Teachers Union member. He promised that Chicago would continue hosting the festival as long as he was mayor. The crowd accepted the extended invitation responding with loud chants, claps, and screams.
https://www.suenosmusicfestival.com/
Read moreCONCACAF Champions League Semifinal: LAFC vs Club Leon by Joel Duran
Los Angeles Football Club defeated Philadelphia Union 3-0 on Tuesday evening of May 2nd, 2023 at BMO Stadium in downtown Los Angeles, California. That victory for LAFC combined with the first leg 1-1 tie between the two Major League Soccer teams on April 26th, 2023 secured the Los Angeles team a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League Final against Club Leon of the Mexican Liga BBVA MX. Leon beat Tigres UANL in the other leg of the tournament’s semifinal round by an aggregate score of 4-3.
Read moreSueños Music Festival 2022 After-movie
Cam & China Rolling Loud Los Angeles 2023 Interview by Joel Duran
I interviewed Cam & China following their Rolling Loud Los Angeles 2023 performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vifs_AVBVI8
Read moreEsteban Escobedo Interview by Joel Duran
We interviewed Esteban Escobedo after Professional Bull Riders’ UNLEASH THE BEAST: SOCAL SHOWDOWN 2023 at Crypto Arena in downtown Los Angeles, California.
https://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=20-1575
https://www.westernjustice.info/
https://www.change.org/p/la-city-council-save-rodeo-in-los-angeles
Read moreLA Art Show 2023 by Joel Duran and Roger Martinez
Roger Martinez and I attended the LA Art Show’s Opening Night Premiere on Wednesday, February 15th, 2023 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California. We have covered the show several years and each time enjoy learning of new artists, galleries, and participants. We make an effort to focus our coverage on Latino participants.
Read moreSan Diego International Film Festival 2022 by Alexis Duran
I started my San Diego International Film Festival experience in La Jolla, California on October 20th, 2022 at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. This was the second day of the festival and its 21st anniversary. The event I covered that night was Night of the Stars Tribute which was dedicated to celebrating some of Hollywood's most accomplished filmmakers and fan favorites. The night began with excitement as some of the cast and directors of this year's film submissions walked the red carpet.
Read moreLAFC vs Austin FC, MLS Western Conference Final 2022 by Roger Martinez
LAFC defeated Austin FC 3 - 0 at home in Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Read moreEl Trafico Western Conference Semifinal in Pictures by Roger Martinez
El Trafico
Read moreEl Trafico: LAFC vs LA Galaxy 7/8/2022 by Joel Duran
LAFC defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy on Friday, July 8th, 2022 with a score of 3 to 2 at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The stadium appeared sold out with LAFC fans dressed in black and gold outnumbering Galaxy fans by a lot. Galaxy fans managed to completely fill section 216 as evidenced by the white shirts and jerseys fans wore. This white section contrasted with the north end of the stadium where the boisterous 3252 LAFC fans are at for each game. Before the game, one of LAFC’s newest players Gareth Bale was introduced first to the fans in that 3252 section and then to the entire crowd. The Welshman appeared to enjoy his welcome to Los Angeles.
Read moreSueños Music Festival by Joel Duran and Roger Martinez
Sueños Music Festival was held in Chicago’s Grant Park this past Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 28th and Sunday, May 29th, 2022. The Latin music festival’s lineup included Natanel Cano, Fuerza Regida, J Balvin, Ozuna, El Alfa, Wisin y Yandel, and many others. Grant Park was a beautiful setting for the festival because it is on Michigan Lake’s lakefront and near several of Chicago’s iconic structures like Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate, The Art Institute of Chicago, and Buckingham Fountain.
https://www.suenosmusicfestival.com/
Read moreAN EVENING IN LA WITH NATHY PELUSO by Sophia Juliette
“Yo era ateo, pero ahora cero” after seeing Nathy Peluso preform for the very first time in Los Angeles last week at the El Rey Theatre. This show would be the first time that the Latin singer is preforming in LA, which is crazy considering the huge following she has amassed over the years. The entire front section of the audience consisted of fans who traveled just to see the show. “Que sueño poder viajar a Los Ángeles para verla crear arte en el escenario” says Mariapaula Macedo who came all the way from Florida. “Que noche tan irreal” said Kelly Villanueva who drove from Mexico along with the rest of her friends in the front row.
Read moreThe Marias at The Novo in Los Angeles by Sophia Juliette
The Marias ended their Cinema tour with two sold out shows in Los Angeles. Founded in LA, the quartet have achieved viral success through their EPs alone, with songs like Cariño and I Don’t Know You reaching millions of listeners on streaming platforms. Cinema is the band’s debut album, which has been nominated for a Grammy and had its lead single Hush become their first chart-topper since its release. It’s safe to say that this tour has been highly anticipated, especially by those who have been following along since Superclean, Vol. 1.
Read moreLAFC vs Timbers by Joel Duran and Roger Martinez
On Sunday evening March 5th, 2022 at Banc of California Stadium the Los Angeles Football Club came back from a 1-0 deficit to tie the Portland Timbers 1-1. The tie follows LAFC’s resounding season opening victory over the Colorado Rapids where star Carlos Vela scored a hat trick to lead his team to a 3-0 victory. Carlos Vela did not score this last game and was substituted at halftime by new coach Steve Cherundolo for Kwadwo Opoku. LAFC controlled the ball most of the game but it was the Portland Timbers’ Yimmi Chara who scored first at the 18th minute. LAFC responded to the goal with persistent play that created several opportunities to score but they could not get the ball past the Rapids’ net after 90 minutes. However, in the 93rd minute Brian Rodriguez sped past a Timbers defender and centered the ball to a waiting Mamadou Fall who kicked in the tying goal just feet from the center of the goal.
Read moreRolling Loud California 2021 by Joel Duran and Roger Martinez
Photographer Roger Martinez and I met at the National Orange Show Events Center on the evening of Friday December 10th, 2021 in San Bernardino, California to begin our coverage of Rolling Loud California 2021. The three day festival was very entertaining, well organized, and brought together fans from all over. We met people from Atlanta, Miami, North Carolina, Houston and many other places. Immediately after entering, we walked to the Punx stage because it was the closest one. We got near the stage as Action Bronson was closing out his show with DJ Akademiks by his side. The crowd was very animated but quickly dispersed when Action Bronson left the stage. The winter cold came in as the sun set on the crowd and remained through the entire weekend.
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