Review: The Marías Showed Red Rocks What a Band Should Be

Dreamy vocals, mesmerizing on-stage visuals and a hyped up crowd were some of the memorable moments during the Marías' ninth stop for its Submarine Tour. As one of the most-anticipated concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre this summer, the indie-pop band was welcomed by a sold-out crowd of fans from across the country on July 30.

The Marías is named for lead vocalist María Zardoya, who was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in Atlanta. But it was in Los Angeles that she met drummer/producer Josh Conway at a music venue; the pair eventually began dating and enlisted guitarist Jesse Perlman and Keyboardist Edward James to form the band in 2015. After releasing two EPs, the group signed with Atlantic Records in 2021 and dropped its major album Cinema, which was nominated for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical at the 2022 Grammy Awards. The group officially hit the mainstream, and in May 2024, Submarine was released and praised by critics and fans alike.

And that love could be felt at Red Rocks. Los Angeles-based rock band julie opened up the concert as thousands of fans entered the venue. The trio might have looked small, but it put on a mighty performance to kick off the evening. And then it was time for the shining moment: Blue lights began strobing to the sound of a futuristic piano that signaled the headliner was about to take the stage. Once the lights turned white and faded out, Zardoya's shadow was highlighted by a blue spotlight and the audience erupted.
Finally making herself seen on stage, Zardoya was dressed in an open white top, black bra, black cross necklace, flowing white skirt and black platform boots. Swaying across the stage, Zardoya took a moment to speak to the crowd.

"Thank you so much for coming tonight," said the singer. "I want you to try something with me. Be safe, lookout for each other, but when I start jumping, I want y'all to start jumping. Let out all of your frustrations."
The crowd followed orders and thousands of fans began jumping as the beat dropped to "Hamptons," kicking off the set before Zardoya performed "Real Life" and showed off her dance moves. Eventually, a cover of the Cardigan's 1996 track "Lovefool" captivated the audience and had hundreds screaming the lyrics, with a trumpet blaring across the space.

Following the cover, Zardoya walked around the stage before returning to a platform to perform "Only in My Dreams," from Superclean, Vol. 1. As she sung the lyrics "Baby, stay with me / I feel it happening, I guarantee," vapor bubbles, another blue light and the red rocks behind the stage added another level of ambiance that only this venue can bring.
As the track wrapped, Zardoya began to reflect on the last time the Marías were at the venue, and dedicated the set to close friend and manager, Gonzo Lubel, who was present when the band opened for Halsey in 2022 and passed away in a plane crash in October 2024. Before playing the next song, Zardoya shared a personal sentiment with the crowd.

"Cada vez que canto [Lejos de Ti], me hace recordar a mi familia. Ahorita mismo, están en Puerto Rico disfrutando la playa, disfrutando el sol, cuidando a mi abuelita [y] comiendo un montón de comida bien rica," said Zardoya in Spanish. "Aunque yo quesera que ellos estáran aquí con nosotros y yo con ellos. Tal vez si ustedes también tienen familia que están lejos de ustedes, pues esta canción es para ellos."

That means: "Every time I sing [Lejos de Ti], it reminds me of my family. Right now, they're in Puerto Rico enjoying the beach, enjoying the sun, taking care of my grandma [and] eating a lot of delicious food. Although I wish they were here with us and I was with them. Maybe if you also have family who are far away from you, then this song is for them."
The tear-jerking performance was accompanied by a breeze of air, which made the song's powerful lyricism and Zardoya's captivating vocals amplify the energy. "Lejos de Ti," which translates to "Far From You," is about Zardoya calling out for her lover and questioning if he remembers her as distance keeps them from being united.

After the performance, the Marías played "Hush," "Heavy" and "Spin Me Around" — all from Cinema — while such tracks  as "Nobody New," "Loverboy" and "Love You Anyway" provided a contrast to how the band's sound has evolved over the years.

"Dónde está mi familia Latina en Denver?" Zardoya called out. ("Where is my Latino family in Denver?") From Colombia and Peru to Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic, the crowd screamed as their home country was called out. When Mexico was called out, the crowd burst into applause as "Otro Atardecer" began to play and Zardoya wrapped herself in a Puerto Rica flag. The singer then hopped off stage and headed towards the back left side of the amphitheater to greet fans and get the crowd hyped up for the rest of the set.
Zardoya's soulful yet soft voice shined through songs like "Vicious Sensitive Robot" and "Over the Moon," before the crowd all anticipated what track was coming next as she said, "Alright Denver, I'll give you time to FaceTime your ex."

Indeed, dozens of phones went straight to the app and ex-lovers were called as "Sienna" started. In the spirit of heartbreak, Zardoya's performance was gut-wrenching, bringing tears to many fans. The song muses on the vast possibilities of what a broken relationship could've had, including starting a family.
As the set was nearing a close, fans were excited to witness the moment they'd all been waiting for: Zardoya performing in a bathtub. Seen across TikTok and Instagram, the singer performs "If Only," a tribute to Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan's 2004 song "Green Grass," while seemingly taking a bath to reflect the impact of love.

After the performance, Zardoya went backstage to dry herself off and change into a new outfit, while the band played "Superclean" with Conway as lead vocalist. A brief moment of darkness not only raised the tension of what was to come, but had fans screaming for the singer to come back on stage. Out of the blue (quite literally), Zardoya appeared with wet hair, a white dress and a guitar and began to sing fan-favorite track "No One Noticed."
Zardoya's voice reeled in fans and had them scream the lyrics throughout. She even sang the song's extended Spanish version, which offered a layer of reflection in another language. Shortly after, the singer slowly began belting out Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's track "Ojos Tristes," which the band collaborated on.

As the lights shifted from deep sea blue to a warm orange, the ambiance changed immediately and Zardoya was back to dancing and encouraging the audience to match her energy. Before the final track on the setlist, "Cariño," Zardoya took one final moment to thank those behind the show, from fans to the nature that surrounds Red Rocks.
"This is our last song, so let's make it count. I'm going to miss y'all," said Zardoya. "Just be here in the moment with us, this is the only moment that exists. Anything that happened five seconds ago [and] five seconds from now it doesn't exist. The only thing that matters is right here right now, so just live it however you want to live it."

The song was the perfect way to close out an incredible performance at Red Rocks. Once again, the singer walked through the audience to have fans sing the lyrics with her. Making her way back up on stage, Zardoya finished the song and gave her thanks again, blowing kisses, forming hearts with her hands and waving goodbye.

For its first time headlining Red Rocks, the Marías showcased a prime example of what a band should be: diverse in sound, appreciative of the fans and those who have helped it along the way and, of course, incredible at its craft. Bands like the Marías not only need to exist in today's world, but the messages and meanings behind its music has and will continue to help out many going through personal hardships in life.

See more photos below: Find more concerts on our concert calendar.