Michael Guerra & The Nights Calling

San Antonio’s Michael Guerra is a young but experienced accordionist who has the best Texas music has to offer: that rootsy, bluesy mix of rock and Americana. Whether solo, with The Mavericks, or playing alongside other Lone Star greats, Guerra is the type of artist unafraid of making quality music palatable for all without sacrificing edge. The best thing about his 2012 self-titled CD (which includes five of his own fine songs), are three gems: The Krayolas’ Héctor Saldaña’s “My Love’s Too Big” (especially written for him), a rockin’ Tex-Mex version of The Who’s “Squeeze Box,” and a beautiful bolero version of Roberto Cantoral’s “La barca.” Guerra has a pleasant voice and he gets by, but this is about his accordion, his band, and his songs, and I’m perfectly fine with that. With Ashley Rose. Free; 7-11pm Fri, Feb 1; Blue Star Brewing Company, 1414 S Alamo, (210) 212-5506, bluestarbrewing.com. Check out our full online calendar of upcoming events here: calendar.sacurrent.com. - San Antonio Current

Michael Guerra is standing at the crossroads.

The Tex-Mex accordionist celebrates his self-produced debut, the 11-song “Michael Guerra Band,” with a CD release party Friday at Augie's Barbed Wire Smokehouse BBQ.

Recorded at Joe Treviño's Blue Cat Studio in Southtown, the album shows off Guerra's range with stabs at country, conjunto, '50s balladry, Santana-esque Latin rock and pop.

But here's the rub for the Los Angeles native who first became known around these parts with Los TexManiacs and Shawn Sahm's Tex-Mex Experience.

Guerra's also a recent member of the reunited (and recording and touring) Mavericks. For the last couple of years, Guerra has been touring with Mavericks' frontman Raul Malo and “Latin-ifying the whole thing.”

“It's totally a different level,” Guerra acknowledged. “Just the exposure is so huge. I've got to further my thing, but I don't want to get too heavy into my thing because the Mavericks is about to take off. I pretty much have to balance it.”

Indeed, the solo release was delayed, in part, because of Guerra's busy schedule and other related issues.




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“He's walking a tightrope,” said close friend and songwriting partner David Pedrazine, whose lush production “Break Away” is one of the new CD's highlights.

“Scheduling is the biggest thing, getting (solo) gigs while the Mavericks are getting ready to go on tour, you know.

“When he went to the Mavericks, his status rose considerably. Now, he's at a point (where he has to make some career choices). I do see the struggles that he has — breaking out on his own. But being with the Mavericks is just a huge thing for him.”

Guerra's main band includes guitarist Robert Bertman, bassist Ramon “Junior” Jasso and drummer Danny Martinez.

An array of guest musicians — Henry Gomez, Bobby Flores, Joe Reyes, Ed Gough, Christian Maldonado, Alfredo Rabago, Jose Vaca, Eric Casillas and Chepe Solis — contribute additional San Antonio flavor.

Guerra loves those moments in the spotlight as the leader. He doesn't mind the extra responsibility.

“You gotta call the shots. You're the one doing everything. You're not just the back-up and waiting for your turn to play,” he said. “This is all me. It's totally different.

“It's more of an accomplishment. This is my first record and I'm pretty much ready to do it on my own now. It's an accomplishment for me, being out in front, man. It's pretty cool.”

hsaldana@express-news.net - San Antonio Express News

Some may know accordion ace Michael Guerra from his days with Los Texmaniacs, Ruben Ramos, Rick Trevino, the Tex-Mex Experience, or his session appearances with Los Lobos, the Texas Tornados, Los Lonely Boys, or others. His recent work with Raul Malo and, now, The Mavericks, are what caught my attention in recent years. The guy is just plain good, as he’s been playing accordion since his mid-teens. Beyond that, he can play several other instruments, truly making his stage presence known.

Guerra and his band just released their debut and self-titled CD. Guerra has produced a style all his own, yet, one cannot help but notice the various influences, be it conjunto, rock, blues, mariachi, or country. It’s all in this eclectic production which fuses into something better than most attempts at “latin fusion.” This one has a special vibe to it.

Kicking off with Voodoo Lady, one notices the rock influences, with Robert Ybarra’s haunting guitar blending with Guerra’s accordion. One may think Los Lonely Boys, thus making the tune quite Texican, but it’s all Guerra and his band. The country tune, My Love’s Too Big (To Fail) caught my attention with the title (I’m in politics, sue me!). In this tune, one immediately notices Guerra’s San Anto influence.

The Los Lobos’ musical influence pops out with La Prietita Loca, with its cumbia rhythm. Of course, the hook, “La Prietita baila muy suave…pero cuando se junta con las chicas se pone muy loca,” is quite catchy. Dreams Gone Blue has a country-mariachi-trio feel to it with some excellent lyrics–and it sounds like it could have been picked up off the cutting-room floor of a Raul Malo CD and given its own flavor.

Let’s Try seems to have a style all its own with a slow rock groove, and is a good introducer to The Who’s Mama’s Got a Squeezebox. The Who could have used a Michael Guerra back then, who really shows off his technique on this tune, as done Ybarra on the guitar solo. On the next tune, Guerra returns to a country-esque/mariachi style with Break Away. The old-style music with modern lyrics make this a favorite.

Guerra does not forget the music that put him on the map–conjunto. And Que Viva Mi San Antonio provides a nice tune with quite the visual of partying in San Anto. Showing his partiality to trio/mariachi stylings, Guerra belts out the classic La Barca backed up by his acordeon, guitars and requinto, showing off his vocal abilities.

The bluesy-rock tune You Set Me Free shows off Ybarra’s guitar again, while telling the story of being set free by a woman who seems to have made the wrong choice. Ain’t it always the way?

Guerra’s biggest influence and the reason for his music career is his dad Elias. Mike began toiling on various instruments before picking up the instrument that set the path for his career–the acordeon. That said, Mike brings in his dad for the final tune, Dame Un Nuevo Corazon, a gospel song with an acordeon-heavy bolero feel.

It is safe to say that this production is a venture through Guerra’s various influences, yet, it is his signature accordion which sets it apart. This is a great first full production for Guerra. Of course, he’ll have a hard time touring to support it since he’s working hard with The Mavericks at the moment. No doubt, he is going through some career-building experiences. - Dos Centavos