Piñata Protest
Piñata Protest is an accordion powered Tex-Mex punk rock band from San Antonio, TX. Piñata Protest combines the lively sounds and traditional rhythms of the Mexican button accordion with the upbeat tempos and attitude of punk rock to produce a unique and wildly eclectic mix of aggressive yet melodic songs that are sung in both Spanish and English. Adding to their sonic performances that ignite crowds to mosh, skank, and twirl their dance partners around is their energetic and impassioned live show.
Piñata Protest was founded by the Mexican-born singer and accordionist Àlvaro Del Norte. The band includes Jose Morales on electric guitar and vocals, Richie Brown on electric bass and vocals, and Chris-Ruptive on drums and vocals.
For over ten years the quartet has maintained a busy schedule of performing and touring throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico with a wide range of musical acts such as The Reverend Horton Heat, Mariachi El Bronx, Molotov, Guttermouth, Voodoo Glow Skills, Brujeria, The Toadies, Ramon Ayala, The Blasters, Authority Zero, Agent Orange, Molotov, Ozomatli, Mustard Plug, The Blasters, Wayne Hancock, and Girl In A Coma.
The band has had official appearances at SXSW, Dia De Los Toadies, the 2015 Latin BMI Awards, and National Public Radio.
Notably, the band released their album ‘El Valiente’ at #7 on the Latin Billboard Top 100 charts. The band has been featured in several graduate level academic research papers, books, and soundtracks for the following films:
2016: Me Estas Matando Susana
2015: La Soldera
2014: Circus of the Dead
In 2014 the independent beer brewer Freetail Brewing released Piñata Protest beer after the band which was distributed in grocery chains, bars, and venues across Texas.