You hear the loud music, festive cheers, and vibrations making everyone happy. The group announces that this is the last song of the night, but the crowd screams, “¡1 MORE! ¡1 MORE! ¡1 MORE!”
This is Chicago’s rising sensation, Henry y Los Surtidos, and they are not stopping for anyone. The festive event took place in Cicero on Chaka Eve, open to the public with a $30 entrance fee. It was a night neither the band nor the audience would ever forget.
“Dude, I’m sweaty as hell because of how hard I was playing,” Henry said. “Felt like I was getting cooked in an oven because it was so packed. I haven’t played like that in a minute, pa.”
It was a great night for the band, going all out for their fans. But since mid‑September, they haven’t been as active. Their visibility and gigs have declined since increased immigration enforcement hit Chicago.
“La neta pa, we ain’t as busy. We started getting less gigs by pues, we aint making money,” Henry said. “What’s crazy is we haven’t played in a month. We did hella content online, pero no pegó clients were also just scared because of el rollo con el ICE,” added Gabriel, the drummer for Los Surtidos.
Sadly there has been less activity of the hispano people going outside. As recently seen, many have started working from home or not working at all. Many businesses in Latino and immigrant neighborhoods in Chicago have reported drops in customers and sales 20% up to 70%, since increased ICE raids began.
Luis Sanches, bass player and segunda voz for Los Surtidos, said, “Music is honestly my only job, but when ICE hit I had to get another job, bro. I think for like half a month I was the only one working because my parents got fired from where they were working, including some of my other family members.”
Employers across restaurants, food service, retail, and vendors report that immigrant workers are not showing up to work, either out of fear of raids, fear of being targeted, or because family members have been arrested or detained.
“La verdad tengo miedo de salir; qué va a pasar, se me llevan, tengo una hija,” Henry said, voice shaky. “No les voy a poder ayudar con algo cuando estoy en el otro parte del mundo.”
His fear is in every latino family in neighborhoods like Little Village, Cicero, Melrose Park, and others, who are avoiding going outside due to ICE enforcement, disrupting daily life and work.
Despite the challenges, Henry y Los Surtidos are pushing forward, trying to keep the music alive for their fans. “We’re just gonna keep making content and playing when we can, pa. Music’s what keeps us going,”
