Y La Bamba made their Virginia debut on Thursday night, supporting Durand Jones & The Indications at The Birchmere in Alexandria.
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Led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Luz Elena Mendoza, the Oregon-based indie band melds traditional American folk music with Mendoza’s Latin influences. Ryan Oxford (guitar/vocals), Julia Mendiolea (keys/vocals), Miguel Jiménez-Cruz (drums), and Zack Terán (bass/vocals) round out the rest of the experimental outfit.
Mendoza, a first-generation Mexican American, sings in both English and Spanish, continuously pushing the boundaries of folk music. She weaves themes of spiritual contemplation, personal journeys, politics, and emotions throughout her lyrics while her bandmates provide riveting harmonies.
Throughout their set, Y La Bamba treated fans at The Birchmere to songs from their original catalog, including from albums like 2019’s Mujeres and 2016’s Ojos Del Sol. Additionally, Mendoza sat in with Durand Jones & The Indications during their headlining set.
Below, check out a gallery of images from the show courtesy of photographer James Miller.
Y La Bamba continues their tour in support of Durand Jones & The Indications tonight (2/15) at The Haunt in Ithaca, NY, before their headlining show at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore, MD tomorrow (2/16). Visit their website for tickets and more tour information.
