Listening to Brooklyn-based alt-Latin band Pistolera (“female gunslinger”) you’d think they hail from the north of Mexico. Their sound is strongly influenced by “corrido,” a fast-paced, syncopated beat with lyrics about various issues—heartbreak, social issues and, more recently, the tension involving immigration to the United States. That influence can be felt in songs like “Cazador,” a protest song about the Minutemen vigilantes on the Mexico-US border, and the very danceable “Policia.”
But over the years, the band led by San Diego-born Sandra Lilia Velásquez (guitar, vocals) has gone well beyond that more basic sound. Their third release “El Desierto y La Ciudad” clearly explores different musical terrains, evidenced by the title track (“The Desert and The City” in English), which has more of a psychedelic rock edge. Accordionist Maria Elena is the main soloist, and she has evolved from the more traditional Mexican sound to using her instrument like a keyboard. The band is rounded out by bassist Inca B. Satz and drummer Sebastian Guerrero. (Ernest Barteldes)
November 6 at Mayne Stage, 1328 Morse, (773)381-4551, 7:30pm. $15-$25.
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