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Lead guitarist Julian Jimenez and drummer Grant MacDonald of Albuquerque’s Los Domingueros never miss a beat, leaving room for bassist Dino Andino to be much busier on the bass than most of the band’s upbeat ska-punk contemporaries. The band’s been getting dance floors in full motion with a melodic fusion of Latin ska and punk since 2021, but what sets them apart from other leaders in the scene is the extra fuel they use to douse that Cali-style fire: high-octane, high-energy cumbia, salsa and reggae. Guitarist, vocalist and principal songwriter Josué Urrutia ties it all together with some wicked pipes, ridiculously hopeful lyrics and a smile you can spot from the back of a sold-out show.
Will you describe your sound for us?
The easiest way to say it is we’re doing Latin ska, Latin ska-punk and Cali reggae. I used to tell people [our music has] everything to do with reggae and everything to do with Latin music, but lately, we’re focusing more on the rockbound sound in us and with brewery shows. Your Revolutions and your Dirty Heads and whatnot.
What are your favorite venues to play and why?
Any venue that’s going to have good sound, good people, and who take care of you and treat you right, those are my favorite places. I love the Lobo Theater. We played a sold-out show there with The English Beat a few years ago. I love Marble Brewery. Carlos does a phenomenal job with the sound there.
What are your lyrics about?
Most of my lyrics are about fighting to go forward. A lot of them are about mental struggle and about accepting your issues. A lot of them are hopeful. One of my favorite songs is “Tal Vez” which is kind of for people who are in impossible situations — if you’re dying of cancer, if you’re living in poverty — it’s a song about ridiculous hope. One of my lyrics says, “It’s simple to think that you can do the things that you wanted when your hands don’t want to obey you.” And it’s about a lot of my injuries. Even though a lot of my lyrics are very dark, every one of my songs has a hopeful answer. I’m not going to just complain, I’m going to say, “Yes things suck, but let’s kick some ass, right?”
What bands or genres inspire your music?
You know, it’d be the East LA ska scene — which, by the way, we’re playing in June — and then the Mexico City scene, those are my favorites. And then I love Cali reggae, man. I mean, a lot of what Los Domingueros does is [similar to] a Cali-reggae band. So I love ska because it’s the music of the people. It’s the music of counterculture, the music of freedom.
What is the best show you have ever played and why?
Panteón Rococó. I worked my ass off to get on that one and Panteón Rococó is one of the biggest ska bands on Earth. The show was a dream come true. We were able to get in with their people in Mexico City and we played the El Rey last year to a sold-out crowd. We absolutely killed it, and it was an honor to not only play for one of my idols, but also to play with my raza. The sound was great, everything was amazing, it was just a dream come true.
Check out the official video for “Back to You” and maybe spot some familiar locations around town:
For something a little slower and more romantic, enjoy Los Domingueros performing “La Luz” live at The Backstage at Revel here.
Listen to their music on Spotify here, or visit them on their official website at losdominguerosband.com.