Patricia Vonne
Viva Bandolera (Bandelora Records, 2015)
On her new album Viva Bandolera, Austin singer-songwriter, musician, videographer and actress, Patricia Vonne celebrates the Hispanic roots of Texas and her own family’s ancestors who came from far away Spain and the Rio Grande Valley.
Viva Bandolera is Vonne’s sixth album and features all Spanish-language songs. Born in the historic Monte Vista barrio of San Antonio, Vonne grew up in a large family with very creative siblings. Her brother is celebrated Tejano film director Robert Rodriguez. As a kid, Vonne listened to her mother’s Spanish songs, American rock, Tejano music, jazz, pop and other genres as well.
Patricia Vonne’s previous five mestizo albums have been described Texas border rock. Bandolera focuses on Patricia’s Tejana roots. It contains the Spanish-language songs from her previous five recordings with a few revisions and additions.
“Growing up as a Tejana, I listened to the diverse music of San Antonio—country, rock, jazz, pop, conjunto and Tejano styles,” Patricia Vonne recalls. “When I started writing my own music, which is also a hybrid mix of sound and flavors, I felt a need to preserve and honor the rich cultural heritage of my upbringing.”
The songs featured in Viva Bandolera include rock, Spanish copla and flamenco elements, along with Tejano, border surf rock and Mexican influences. Patricia Vonne uses Flamenco dance moves and plays castanets throughout the album. Although castanets are not widely used in Flamenco music, it is very common in Flamenco dance.
The title of the album and her own label, Bandolera Records, directly translates to “female bandit.” It’s a tribute to the “independent spirit of women”. Patricia indicates that at times she feels like an outlaw herself as a genuinely independent artist.
Several of the songs on Viva Bandolera are stories about Vonne’s family such as “La Gitana de Triana” (“The Gypsy of Triana”) that narrates the story of Vonne’s sister who decided to run away and become a gypsy dancer while in the old gypsy quarter of Triana in Seville (Spain). “Severina” was co-written with her brother is an homage to their grandmother, Severina Rodriguez.
“Traeme Paz” appears in Robert Rodriguez’s cult movie “Once Upon A Time In Mexico.”
“El Marinero y La Sirena” was composed while Vonne was on tour in Odense, Denmark. Vonne worked with fellow San Antonian Michael Martin on the nautical-themed animated video as well as the songwriting. Vonne shot and edited the animated video that features Vonne and Martin’s original illustrations. The short won the Audience Award at the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival in 2015.
Other songs were inspired by Vonne’s visits to her ancestral Spain. La Huerta de San Vicente and Fuente Vaqueros are dedicated to celebrated Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca. Other songs inspired by her visit to Spain include “Torera”, “Guitarras y Castañuelas” and “Fiesta Sangria.”
“Mujeres Desaparecidas” has a special significance to Vonne. She composed it to bring awareness to the ongoing feminicide in Mexico and later donated the song to Amnesty International.
The lineup on Viva Bandolera includes Paricia Vonne on vocals and castanets, Joe Reyes on electric guitar, Scott Garber on bass, Rafael Gayol on drums, Vonne’s husband Robert LaRoche on guitars and backing vocals, Dony Wynn on drums, Carl Thiel on piano, Steven Medina Hufsteter on electric guitar, Charlie Sexton, Jon Dee Graham, Rick Del Castillo on guitars, Michael Ramos on accordion, Mark Andes on bass, David Perales on violin, George Reiff on bass, Brian Standefer on cello, Scott Esbeck on bass, Jon Blondell on trombone, David Garza on guitar, piano and bass, and Tito Larriva on backing vocals.
Vonne runs her own label and has released all of her records through the imprint to date. She played the role of Dallas (aka the Zorro Girl) in 2014’s movie Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.
Viva Bandolera is a splendid album by one of the most talented acts in the Austin music scene.
Buy Viva Bandolera
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
