Earlier this month, I caught Mike Mangione & the Union‘s performance at Real Madrid soccer stadium while in Spain covering World Youth Day. The six-piece band traveled from Chicago and played several showcases throughout the week and I was lucky enough to catch them one of my last days there.

Frontman Mangione has a powerful stage presence and captivated the stadium filled with people from countless countries who most likely didn’t understand every word sung. But, good music transcends language barriers and he had the stadium clapping along throughout the set and at times even singing along.

Songs like the catchy “Darling Little Sister” impressed with violin and cello accompaniment while Mangione’s soulful vocals satisfied. In fact, Mangione brings slight resemblance to Ray LaMontagne with his deep and raspy singing style. After joking that he and violinist Kristina Priceman wrote the song in 1965, Mangione & the Union segued into a solid cover of Bob Dylan’s “Tombstone Blues.” With fast paced guitar and percussion, the energetic number showcased the band’s talent.

“It’s hot. We’re gonna sweat and it’s gonna feel great,” Mangione told the crowd. The thermometer hit the upper 90s throughout his set, so he wasn’t kidding.

Poignant ballad, “You Were Beautiful Once” followed soon after while Mangione’s heartfelt vocals and soaring guitar accompaniment led the track before the band ended their set with the bluesy “Somewhere Between.” With heavy hitting percussion, haunting string accompaniment and riff ready guitar parts, Mangione & the Union left Spain with hundreds of new fans.

To listen to Mike Mangione & the Union, be sure to visit their Web site. You can watch my interview with him below and see some of the band’s performance.