Friday the 13th is a holiday celebrated by Wiccans, goths, and nerds like me who celebrated her golden birthday on the auspicious date.  In April though, my joyful reverence for the day was aptly justified thanks to a few musical gifts. First of all, the stars had aligned such that my favorite new find,  Y La Bamba, was playing Cafe du Nord. Second, the show sold out but we still got last minute tickets for our crew. Third, Y La Bamba turned out to be the opener (!), a truly marvelous gift for those of us plagued by Friday evening exhaustion but hungry for some musical salvation.

Friday, April 13th: Y La Bamba @ Cafe du Nord

Y La Bamba played their set at Cafe du Nord, a Mid-Market neighborhood venue famed for its history of serving San Francisco (almost) continuously since 1907. The concert hall is located in the subterranean level of the Swedish American Hall, another great San Francisco venue. Du Nord’s low ceilings and disjointed layout can feel a bit cramped and stuffy at times, making views of the band or hopes of a relaxed atmosphere usually non-existent on sold-out show nights.  But with ticket prices under $15 and a concert calendar of consistently high performing breakout acts one can forgive the Du Nord’s red light district dingy hue and the parting gift of a few bruised toes.

Hailing from Portland Oregon, Y La Bamba is the project of frontwoman Luz Elena Mendoza, who carries her multiple identities with pride.  Mendoza’s Mexican family roots are immediately apparent in her music as this California native integrates bilingual storytelling and a diverse array of instruments into her enigmatic indie-folk-pop band. The group’s sound weds Mexican folk styles — from mariachi, Nueva Cancion, and norteño to American folk-rock and dreamy indie.

During their Friday the 13th set Y La Bamba’s songs ranged from hip shaking Chicano folk grooves to shoegazing rock ballads reminiscent of Real Estate. During the set, it was evident that the audience was eager for this hybrid sound – captivating us with an integration of Mexican and American music styles that were not only catchy but felt especially poignant with the current wave of nationalist politics. For those of us proud to live and support the residents of our sanctuary city, this Latin music fusion music is ever more important to honor and patron. As a soundtrack for those who value diversity in our communities and on our stereo speakers,  Y La Bamba is a fresh soundtrack for the revolution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMUxca7gXv4

This new music playlist, Red Rye in Bed Stuy, was inspired by songs I discovered while exploring the gritty and beautiful streets of Manhattan.

Happy Listening!