Among many other alt-rock acts from the flourishing Mexico City scene is the four-piece band The Americojones Experience, whose burgeoning brand of rock and roll sounds like a band on their tenth album. Leading the charge is singer and guitarist Americo Hollander, with their name coming from Hollander’s 2017 album The Americojones Experience under his Americo Jones pseudonym.
Some years later, he decided to form a band with the same name alongside guitarist Sebastian Rojas, bassist Maximo Hollander, and drummer Raul Ponce joined, as well as various other contributors from and outside of Mexico. All four had previously worked together, which explains why their debut album Contradicciones is confident and appropriately pristine, heard in tracks like the unfulfillment ballad “Heroína.”
Their latest album, El Jugador, continues their self-assured sound and exemplifies why they might be one of the best rock bands coming out of Mexico.
“Sicario” stands out from the eight-track crop of songs from El Jugador, slowly building up and allowing Americo to shine as a frontman. Most of the runtime keeps a cool composure, never getting too excited or taking a sudden creative detour. It isn’t until the climax that the song climbs in intensity, where the drums and guitar fight for dominance after Americo’s yelps fade from earshot.
In addition to performing with his brother Maximo, Hollander finds other avenues to get his family, many of whom are artists in their own right, involved in the music. For El Jugador, his grandfather Irwin drew the album cover while his mom oversaw the design.
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Notably, The Americojones Experience performs about as much as they put out music, a substantial tendency considering they have three full-length albums to their name since forming in 2020. They frequently play at bars and cantinas within the Mexico City area but have performed at local festivals in the past. While they haven’t toured in the U.S., it wouldn’t be a shock for their music to crossover in the near future.
Words: David Sosa
El Jugador via Arts and Crafts by The Americojones Experience is out on streaming services. For more on new music and potential shows, follow them on Instagram and Bandcamp.
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