Latin Rock: Patricia Vonne's Guitars & Castanets

Country Southwestern. Patricia Vonne can sing those Country rock blues like Maria McKee but also play alongside Los Lobos in border crossing rock. It’s no surprise that her song, “Traeme Paz,” was featured in Robert Rodriguez’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico--the third in his “El Mariachi” trilogy which featured guns, guitars, bullets, mariachis, and guns in guitar cases. Vonne’s impassioned, sultry, hot-dusty, Mexico blues fits right in with Rodriguez’s films which are like vehicles for rock music.

Of course, like the Spaniard Antonio Banderas, the star of the second and third installments of Rodriguez’s trilogy, Vonne’s music reaches beyond the Rio Grande and back across to the Old World. For instance, a strong cut from Guitars & Castanets is “La Gitana de Triana,” flamenco-fueled rock about Vonne’s sister joining the gypsy dances of Triana. “Fiesta Sangria” is dedicated to Vonne’s Seville and the evenings of community at her local cantina.

A song like “Texas Burning” obviously recalls the geography of the border/Mexico blues, but this sound is much more Country Western than Country Southwestern. Here’s where those comparisons can be made to McKee, Patty Larkin, Patti Griffith, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, or Emmylou Harris. With its Dylanesque title, “Blood on the Tracks” has the Southern Railroad rhythm rounded out by Robert LaRoche’s harmony vocals (LaRoche who plays guitars throughout, cowrote a majority of the songs with Vonne, and happens to be Vonne’s husband).

Cowboys wear leather and ride horses. Modern cowboys wear leather and ride Harleys. Vonne could take the stage in any biker bar with “Rebel Bride” and “Lonesome Rider.” With a Joan Jett attitude on “Bride” and the far-horizon view on “Rider,” the songs are made to accompany the swirl of dust surrounding the bikers pulling into the lot of a way-out Texas roadhouse. “Bride” gets some of its rebel air from the ever-present, ever-electrifying guitar of Charlie Sexton.

Inspired by Johnny Reno and the Sax Maniacs, the first live show Vonne saw in her hometown of San Antonio, “Sax Maniac” features the dirty saxophone of Reno, a longtime member of Chris Isaak’s band. (How many artists get the chance to work with the inspiration for their song?) The song brings swing to the Country Southwestern.

As the album closes out with “Traeme Paz” from Once Upon a Time in Mexico, speaking of the trilogy’s theme of el corozon, Vonne is an enchanting mariachi, singing with a passion which burns a fire beneath the listener.

Thanks to Patricia Vonne and CoraZong Records USA for the review copy.