The Warning began at 8:43 pm CST on February 6th, 2025 in Mexico City. The massive white sheets unfurled from ceiling to floor concealing the stage at Auditorio Nacional started to waft as in a light breeze; a result of the first tremors. An excited, anxiety-laden yet, subdued roar, rose from the capacity crowd of over 10,000.

The lights in the Auditorio went black as nondescript black blobs appeared on the backlit white sheets descending ominously in front of the stage—morphing into different shapes, like black fluids dripping from the heavens above. As this surreal visual continued to morph and waft, the tremors in the facility became increasingly apparent. Two blurry dark hands appeared, superimposed on the barely fluttering white sheets. Then, a hazy, black shadowy figure of a woman came into view. Startled with this unanticipated display of visual imagery, the crowd spasmodically responded with the sounds of a collective, unintelligible, rising and falling bellow. The foreshocks of seismic waves roiled the venue.

Then—it happened. Reminiscent of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake that struck on the morning of 19 September at 07:17:50 (CST) with a magnitude of 8.0 and a Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent)—The Warning exploded onto the stage of Auditorio Nacional with the bone-crushing tones of Six Feet Deep. Led by drummer Paulina Villarreal’s punishing blasts from her skins, the trio launched into their second rant, S!CK. The Warning would go on to shake the concrete foundation and structural integrity of this facility for the next two hours with performances of 21 of their original songs. What was distinctly different from the seismic national tragedy that struck Mexico City some four decades earlier—this was a celebration of joy and national pride with the same epicenter. February 6, 2025, was the first show of 2025 that will take the Villarreal-Velez sisters of Monterrey, Mexico across the globe, again. Yet the “Keep Me Fed Tour” of 2025 will be unequivocally different. How so?

Beginning with playing piano at the ages of 4 and 5, The Warning began public performances around the age of 13. Now 25, 23, and 20, the sisters—Daniela Dany Villarreal Vélez (25, born January 30, 2000; guitars, lead and backing vocals, piano), Paulina Pau Villarreal Vélez (23, born February 5, 2002; drums, backing and lead vocals, piano), and Alejandra Ale" Villarreal Vélez (20, born December 13, 2004; bass, piano, backing, and occasional lead vocals)—have become a symbol of national pride for Mexico.

Their journey and ascent through the hard rock industry have been well documented. With television appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres show, TED talks, Jimmy Kimmel LIVE, the MTV Music Awards, and opening for Guns N’ Roses, their 26 million plus views on YouTube of their performance of Metallica’s Enter Sandman, plus opening for Stone Temple Pilots, Foo Fighters, Sammy Hagar and the Circle, Halestorm, Three Days Grace, and many more. As of 2025, they have released four studio albums, two EPs, and several dozen music videos. They were nominated for a Latin Grammy in late 2024.

Several new developments became apparent during the first 2025 performance of The Warning in Mexico City on February 6th. These include:

BIG business

The Warning are now globally recognized and legitimately ranked superstars in the hard rock n’ roll universe. They have become headliners in many indoor and outdoor festivals and concerts. The demand for in-person interviews is out of control. The stated capacity of Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City is 10,000. Both shows in Mexico City have been sold out since August 2024. There were clearly more fans in attendance than that as standing-room-only tickets were also sold. Official merchandise in the main lobby of the auditorium was quickly sold out. The unofficial vendors outside the auditorium (numbering over sixty booths ) enjoyed a brisk business as fans descended upon the arena before the shows. In 2025, The Warning have become BIG business.

NEW corporate influence

The presence and guiding hand of Lava/Republic Records was obvious in Mexico City. Production staff with studio-quality cameras were everywhere capturing every angle of the shows. In December 2023, I was authorized to photograph The Warning’s final show of 2023 in Queretaro, Mexico. I was upfront at the edge of the stage, with maybe three other photographers. The arena was not sold out. While the performance of The Warning was spellbinding, the quality of the production clearly lagged behind the exquisite talents of these emerging rock stars. Yet, I departed from that performance absolutely convinced something terribly unique was being birthed by these three young women.

In February 2025 in Mexico City, I requested in advance—and was authorized—to photograph the show. At this show, I was relegated to the press pool shooting from the edge of the balcony on the second level. Then, I was advised that the press corps was only authorized to shoot the first three songs and then we were all led to a secure area to stow our professional camera gear for the rest of the show. After stowing our gear, we were led to the press area at the edge of the 2nd-floor balcony stage right to watch the remainder of the show—and use our phones for photography (great seat by the way).

For the second show on February 7th in Mexico City, once again, I had pre-authorized press access for the show. The problem that arose was that there was “no press access” for the show. Dejected, I had to stow my professional camera gear in a secure area and buy a ticket…that turned out to be a standing-room-only ticket. The point is, the unequivocal rise in the popularity of the band in 2024—due primarily to the release of their new album Keep Me Fed, has led to new access and proximity controls instituted by the record label, management, and associated promoters for both fans and the press alike. This is understandable as popularity skyrockets. Clearly, corporate command and control have arrived in new, comprehensive, and obvious ways.

Social media and legacy fans

The story of the evolution of The Warning is one that cannot be told without acknowledging the central role of the social media universe. You name the platform and you will find The Warning with a uniquely vibrant, dominant, and expansive presence. YouTube views of their performances eclipsed millions of cumulative views in 2024. The number of the most significant Facebook fan groups now exceeds over thirty worldwide. These groups are large, very active, and inhabited by a fanatically dedicated fan base. A significant segment of this fan base has followed The Warning since the sisters began sharing their musical talents publicly together in 2013. Will the astronomical rise in the band’s popularity include additional social distance with the legacy fan base whose social media support has been unequivocally fundamental to their public persona? What might The Warning team do to ensure that this legacy fan base remains an ongoing essential component of their public profile? How do you remain connected to a legacy fan base whose social media contributions have been essential to the rise in your popularity? We shall see.

Production quality improvement

The quality of the production for both shows in Mexico City was overwhelmingly apparent and awe-inspiring. Honestly, it was mesmerizing. The sound quality and mixing were likely the best I have ever experienced for an indoor rock band performance. The video and lighting production was world-class and set a bar that other bands might only dream of. The graphics, video, sound, smoke, and other magnetic production accoutrements were seamlessly choreographed. Frankly, The Warning have earned the right to perform immersed amidst this atmosphere of cutting-edge creative excellence. The entirety of both Mexico City shows is a testament to not only the musical genius of the Villarreal-Vélez sisters but also the entire team that supports them. The cumulative, multi-dimensional creative genius that is The Warning continues to break barriers and redefine what it means to be a force in reimagining live performances in the performing arts universe.

Performance quality improvement

The Warning have always been recognized by industry critics and pundits for their superb musical talents. They play uniquely tight together. What was refreshing during the two shows in Mexico City was a solo guitar piece by Dany, a focus on Ale vocally encouraging the crowd, and Pau departing her drum kit to be the frontwoman for two songs. Holy Wars Drummer Johnny Tuosto played drums when Pau took the spotlight as frontwoman for the Consume number. Her front-woman talent is mesmerizing. The Warning’s talent equation is collective as well as individual. How the band continues to evolve while showcasing their individual talents as a group is a dimension of their potential that will continue to unfold.

BRAVO! Orgullo!

After experiencing the first two shows of The Warning’s Keep Me Fed World Tour 2025 in Mexico City, it is obvious that their penchant for evolving excellence is being realized. Virtually all dimensions of their live performances in Mexico City were tangible, dramatic improvements. Honestly, it was startling.

One thing that stood out in their performances in Mexico City was pride—or orgullo en español. Their responses to the overflow crowds at Auditorio Nacional were one of sincere, heartfelt gratitude to perform in front of their fans, in this venue, in this atmosphere, in the capital city of their home country. The one strand of DNA that has been an enduring trait of The Warning is that they are real. They are authentic. They are transparent as women, as gifted musicians, and songwriters, and as an evolving creative force in the global performing arts industry. Their work ethic is second to none.

The Warning are headed to South America after their show in Monterrey, Mexico Saturday, February 22nd—Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Colombia. Then they are off to Spain, France, Germany, and the UK and they do a US tour in May. In June, they will be in Europe through August. The fall 2025 dates have yet to be announced. Their industry representation is through Lava/Republic Records/Universal Music Group—same as Taylor Swift. These three women are no longer the three, cute little sisters with amusing musical talents. They are, in every sense of the term, gifted, creative, terrain-rearranging, forceful prodigies, redefining the topography of the rock music industry—one that has suffered distinct struggles over the past decade worldwide. The Warning are a uniquely equipped and distinctly inspiring story...with much, much more to come over the next decade.

Heed The Warning.

Have The Warning arrived? To say “yes” to this question would be demeaning to these women and their team. Frankly, they are just getting started. The talent potential here is truly limitless. They are a gift to the rock industry. They are a national and international treasure. Their potential is akin to being presented with a gift wrapped in a ribbon. We have only removed the ribbon around the package and have yet to lift off the top. Once inside, one thing is certain: More! The earth-shaking performances in February 2025 in Mexico City are solely precursors in the seismic shifts of the tectonic plates in the rock music industry that are yet to come.

You’ve been warned!

Orgullo Mexico!