Tag Archives: Tex Mex
The Mezcaltones Release Single ‘Wouldn’t Last A Day’
With the sun in their faces, the wind in their hair, and their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks, those genre defying, Alt-country, Tex Mex, Surf Rock Cowpunks, The Mezcaltones, present ‘Wouldn’t Last a Day’ – part three of their “Modern Romance Trilogy”.
A swampy guitar riff opens up this spaghetti western themed domestic hiccup. While our antagonists take verbal swipes at each other the rhythm section holds steady as the guitar slides between the flying plates, pots n pans… and barbs.
Co-written with talented songstress Dani Young, ‘Wouldn’t Last a Day’ not only describes “Domestic Bliss” in three and a half minutes but also rounds out the Mezcaltones “Modern Romance Trilogy” with a modicum of acceptance, understanding and hope.
A duet from The Mezcaltones in an up tempo country rock format. Plenty of riffy guitars and some great call and answer male/female vocals – just think Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood doing Jackson. A foot tapper and a mood maker all in one.
The Mezcaltones are a Sydney six-piece band whose aim was to put together a repertoire of obscure alt country/surf twang songs. They were found mostly on cult Mexican movie soundtracks and then matched with dance, cabaret and outrageous showmanship to form a unique and original show. Ten years and four albums later the Mezcaltones are one of Sydney’s premiere live acts. With an impressive collection of original songs, the Mezcaltones are not only able to play venues that are traditionally for original bands only but are also able to put on three set shows at some of the more mainstream venues.
The Mezcaltones love playing festivals having performed at Groundwater CMF; Sydney Blues & Roots Festival; Dashville Skyline Festival; Blue Mountains Music Festival to name a few. They have also performed at seven Tamworth Music Festivals including this year where they performed ten shows in eight days. The shows were a huge success and the band were booked for 2024 before they’d even left town. The Mezcaltones have also been booked for the 2024 Broadbeach Blues and Roots Festival in QLD.
Some of the Mezcaltones regular Sydney gigs include The Marrickville Bowling Club, The Union Hotel, Shady Pines Saloon, Narrabeen Sands, Collaroy Beach Club, Club Cronulla and The Orient Hotel.
Stream the single:
Wouldn’t Last a Day September 1 (Foghorn/MGM)
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The Mezcaltones Release Single ‘I Wanna Do It With You’
‘I Wanna Do It With You’ is the second single from the fourth and latest album ‘Agave Soiree’.
On the back of the first single from ‘Agave Soirée’ (‘If l Could Make You See’), The Mezcaltones present part two of their “Modern Romance Trilogy” entitled ‘I Wanna Do It With You’. This song is a “progressive country” track and poses the question… What if Otis Redding was a member of the Allman Brothers? The spark behind ‘I Wanna Do It With You’ is the ostinato theme, set up by the lead guitar and met with a syncopated guitar rhythm to make the opening statement. Col and Dan’s vocals appear as one as they blanket the verses to be countered with a call and response guitar solo played in double stop harmony. This lyrically optimistic and light hearted jaunt is a delight to the ears and a smile to the soul.
The Mezcaltones are…
Neralita
Rhythm and slide guitar. She has and uses a handmade resonator for slide and a Gretsch for the Bigsby stuff but her guitar of choice is the Slimline telly played through a VOX AC15…
Mimi
Mimi is a graduate of the Sydney School of Theatre and has acted on stage and screen. A triple threat… she also sings and dances plus displays her skills with different apparatus including, hula hoop, ribbons, flags and anything else she can get her hands on.
Lucre
Bass guitar and one hell of a one half of the engine room. Light on his feet with fingers to match.
Don Juan
Drummer and the other half of the engine room. Dan is not only an exceptional drummer but is the primary backing vocals and harmony person. Bangin’ out the lows and belting out the highs.
Shango
Lead Guitar. A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and someone with a deeply developed sense of sound textures making for an immersive musical experience.
Col Padre
Frontman. Raspy, experienced singer with an innate sense of humour which is reflected in his lyrics and delivery.
Song Description
Gotta love an up-tempo single that starts with the chorus. The Mezcaltones have scored bigtime with this catchy, upbeat, hooky tune. Plenty of guitar riffs, ooh aah backing vocals and snappy drums and bass on this full throttle Texmex track.
The Mezcaltones are a Sydney six-piece band whose aim was to put together a repertoire of obscure alt country/surf twang songs. They were found mostly on cult Mexican movie soundtracks and then matched with dance, cabaret and outrageous showmanship to form a unique and original show. Ten years and four albums later the Mezcaltones are one of Sydney’s premiere live acts. With an impressive collection of original songs, the Mezcaltones are not only able to play venues that are traditionally for original bands only but are also able to put on three set shows at some of the more mainstream venues.
The Mezcaltones love playing festivals having performed at Groundwater CMF; Sydney Blues & Roots Festival; Dashville Skyline Festival; Blue Mountains Music Festival to name a few. They have also performed at seven Tamworth Music Festivals including this year where they performed ten shows in eight days. The shows were a huge success and the band were booked for 2024 before they’d even left town. The Mezcaltones have also been booked for the 2024 Broadbeach Blues and Roots Festival in QLD.
Some of the Mezcaltones regular Sydney gigs include The Marrickville Bowling Club, The Union Hotel, Shady Pines Saloon, Narrabeen Sands, Collaroy Beach Club, Club Cronulla and The Orient Hotel.
Stream the single: Out July 21 Fog/Mgm
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The Mezcaltones Release New Single ‘If I Could Make You See’
In the lead up to the band’s no less than 10 live performances at this years Tamworth Country Music Festival here’s the first cut from the forthcoming album.
Key dates
Jan 13 ‘If I could make you see’ digital single release(all platforms)
Jan 14 – 21 CD Album Agave Soiree Pre release available exclusively at Tamworth Live shows
March 1 CD Official release available via MGM
March 17 Digital Release Album Agave Soiree
Lyrically, ‘If I Could Make You See’ is an old story told with a twenty first century bias. Instead of the typical “Man goes off working while woman pines away waiting for his return“, it’s the man left behind to pine and wonder if his love will ever come back. This track bounces comfortably along on the back of some tasty Mezcaltones style bluegrass riffory. While the rhythm section lays down some Buck Owens/Buckaroos vibes, the modal guitar solo gives a respectful nod to the late 60’s Byrds/Flying Burrito Brothers’ style.
Classic country Mezcaltones style on this first cut from the new album for 2023 specially released for the Tamworth Music Festival. A tight snappy rhythm track with plenty of hooky country twang guitar. Col’s signature vocals and some catchy backing vocals in the chorus – what more do you need!
WHAT IS IT WITH THE MEZCALTONES?
Four guys dressed as cowboys and two women dressed like Spanish Mexican Señoritas that you might find in a Quentin Tarantino movie – two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, a crazy front man and a beautiful dancer/percussionist.
Whilst their original songs have an alt country rockin’ blues flavour, the guitar tones also reach into the realms of 60’s surf instrumentals. With the band’s slick look and sharp costumes, THE MEZCALTONES are there to entertain.
THE MEZCALTONES comprise 6 experienced musicians who came together through their love of cool country rockin’ blues, and get down and get dirty Tex Mex sounds.
- Don Juan – Texan Time Keeper with a Smooth Tequila Feel
- Col Padre – Raspy Lead Vocals dripping with Desert Soul
- El Shango – Lead Guitar possessed with tangy, psychedelic blues, magic finger licks
- Lucre – Mezcaltonic Groovin’ Bass Sounds
- Mimi – Spicy Seductress who shakes it like a Rattle Snake
- Neralita – Queen of Southern Rhythm Strummin’
The Mezcaltones have previously played six Tamworth Country Festivals; Groundwater CMF; Sydney Blues & Roots Festival; Dashville Skyline Festival. Their latest album Mexican Hillbilly Surf Music debuted Top 10 in the Australian Blues & Roots charts.
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The Mezcaltones Mexican Hillbilly Surf Music
The Mezcaltones Mexican Hillbilly Surf Music
The band’s third album finds them at the top of their game with brilliantly written and played originals along with a tasteful selection of covers lifted from their live set. Recorded and mixed in just over a week at Damien Gerard’s new expanded studios on the Central Coast, the album stands as their most cohesively accessible and sonically pleasing to date.
Only released last Friday to coincide with the launch on Sydney’s Northern Beaches to their home crowd the Album is already garnering reviews such as
“The third album from the enigmatic Mezcaltones is cranking, feelgood drinking music that crawls into your boots and drags you to the dance floor of any number of dusty roadside Mexican Saloons.” Redback Rock
“The good, the bad, the groovy, playing all things cool with a Tarantino and strong Mexican flavour.Blog
The band have also been invited to co host Ross Fear’s influential Australian Spectrum show this Tuesday March 3 (tonight).
The band will be playing over the next few weeks to promote the record, see dates below.
And now to the band – Just what is it about the Mezcaltones-
Four guys dressed as cowboys and two women dressed like Spanish Mexican Senoritas that you might find in a Quentin Tarantino movie – two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer a Crazy front man and a beautiful dancer/percussionist. Whilst their original songs have an alt country flavour with rich Cowboy guitar sounds reminiscent of another century the guitar tones also reach into the realms of 60’s surf instrumentals.
See them live at
Album – Out Now – Foghorn/MGM
CD on sale at Shows
Click below for DSP’s
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For further information please contact:
Marshall Cullen at Foghorn Media
0416 143 030
marshall@foghornrecords.net