Pistolera

Artist Description

"Pistolera melds the sass of indie rock with traditional Latin sounds to create compelling pop melodies, all of it sung entirely in Spanish."
-Billboard Magazine

"...a foot-stomping sound that's one part ranchera and one part indie-pop."
-The New Yorker

"Listening to Pistolera's self-released debut, "Siempre Hay Salida" ("There's Always a Way Out"), or watching lead singer and guitarist Sandra Lilia Velásquez stamp out a beat in her boots to bandmate Maria Elena's accordion melodies, you inevitably feel as though you've landed in the heart of Mexico.The blend of soulful ranchera, peppy cumbia, and Spanish lyrics evokes a feeling that's distinctly south of the border, yet not too far south."
-The Boston Globe


Critically acclaimed New York band Pistolera has toured its accordion-driven dance songs in six different countries since its debut in 2005. Fans around the world are dancing cumbias to the group's socially conscious songs--en español--about immigrants' rights, war, racism, feminism, and life on the border. The band has shared the stage with Los Lobos, Lila Downs, Ely Guerra, Vieux Farka Toure, has graced the stage of Town Hall in New York City, Massey Hall in Canada, Teatro Circo in Portugal, and has performed at high profiles festivals such as The Montreal Jazz Festival (Canada), Ollin Kan (Mexico), Central Park Summerstage (USA), and Sfinks (Belgium). Pistolera released their third album, El Desierto Y La Ciudad, on July 12, 2011. NPR called it, "modern...daring...inventive..".