A subset of our music scene has been growing in size and popularity—the Coachella Valley hardcore scene. One of the bands responsible for this surge is Bronca, a hard-hitting and powerful punk-rock band that combines political themes and Mexican pride—and Bronca’s live show is not to be missed live show. For more on Bronca, visit www.instagram.com/broncacvhc. Guitarist/backup vocalist Leopoldo J. Treviño is the latest to take The Lucky 13.
What was the first concert you attended?
Funnily enough, it was the band I named this band after, the Mexican norteño banda Bronco. It was the early ’90s and I was around 4 years old. Music was very important to my mom, and I was fortunate enough to share that passion with her since day one.
What was the first album you owned?
The first CD I took ownership of, I stole from one of my older brothers and it was Warren G, Regulate … G Funk Era. The first CD I actually purchased myself was System of a Down’s self-titled album in the early 2000s. The first 12” LP I purchased was Allegiance, Overlooked, that I got when I saw them live at Chain Reaction in the summer of 2006. I also picked up Have Heart’s The Things We Carry LP that same night, because they opened for Allegiance. (I was very fortunate to not know who they were at the time and was so blown away by their live show that I immediately hit their merch table.) Have Heart is still one of my biggest influences to this day … actually, all four of these artists are.
What bands are you listening to right now?
Current active bands: Locals Face Facts; Movements; Citizen; Kublai Khan TX; Harm’s Way; Koyo; Hot Mulligan; Mindforce; Incendiary; Terror; The Black Dahlia Murder; Underoath; Berthold City; Inclination; Knocked Loose; and No Pressure. No longer active but always on rotation: Bronco; System of a Down; Get the Most; Have Heart; Allegiance; local legends ITNC; Trapped Under Ice; Mindset; Go It Alone; Miles Away; Down to Nothing; Minor Threat; The Beautiful Ones; In My Eyes; Carry On; Ceremony; and Blacklisted. Artists you might not expect on this list: Bad Bunny; Peso Pluma; Grupo Frontera; Los Enanitos Verdes; Maná; Silk Sonic; Harry Styles; City and Colour; Circa Survive; Vince Staples; Kendrick Lamar; Denzel Curry; J. Cole; Oddisee; and Baby Keem.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
I get all things pop culture, and at 35 years old, I try really hard to fight the whole “kids these days” trope, but if I had to pick one of the few trends I just don’t understand, and probably never will, it would have to be rap country/MAGA rap. I typically am down for anything, even country/bluegrass, but, man, I just don’t get the blending of hip hop culture (a counter culture music movement just like punk and hardcore) with fascist messages like closing borders or seeing immigrants as nonhuman, and sheer stupidity like championing another U.S. civil war.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
I’ve been very fortunate to see every band I love live and have even have shared the stage with some of them. If I had to pick one of the few bands I was not able to see live, I would say Minor Threat, but, like, the early ’80s version. I don’t know if current-day Ian (MacKaye) would be able to pull it off.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
Listening to artists like Peso Pluma, Bad Bunny and Grupo Frontera. I’m an ASB teacher here in Indio, my hometown, and I DJ all of my school’s dances. To tell you the sheer pride and emotion I feel when I play those artists, and I see all the kids just completely lose their minds—it’s something I never thought I’d see. My community has always loved Latin and Mexican music, but to see my culture represented on the world stage like this is inspiring—plus the music is actually really, really good.
What’s your favorite music venue?
Local: Up until Nov. 25, I would say the homie Miguel (Arballo)’s house from Analog Lab, but, man, Little Street Music Hall is just amazing. To say I’m excited that place exists is an understatement. Shout out to Avenida Music! Those foos had the courage and drive to do what many of us in the local scene wished we could. In SoCal: It’s a toss up between the Glass House in Pomona and Chain Reaction in Anaheim. Overall: Acrisure Arena, not just out of convenience or local pride, but I’ve been to concerts … at venues like the T-Mobile Arena, Staples Center, Madison Square Garden, BMO Stadium, etc., and Acrisure Arena was really designed with concerts in mind—not just an afterthought for a sports arena. The sound treatment and just sound quality doesn’t even compare. It’s insanely good.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“Foundations crumble; structures rust; but I’d rather be ashes than a pile of dust,” Mindset, “One Step Beyond.” I actually have these lyrics tattooed on my arm.
What band or artist changed your life? How?
Probably System of a Down. I’ve always enjoyed music my entire life, largely due to my mom’s passion for it, but it wasn’t until I heard System of a Down that I wanted to play the guitar like my mom. I mean, I literally got a guitar, and tuned it to CGCFAD, and learned every SOAD song. I didn’t start actively playing guitar in standard tuning until about 12 years ago, when I started to write Bronca songs and wanted it to be a straightforward punk/hardcore band. From 2001 until Bronca, I played my guitars in dropped or downturned guitar tunings and never messed with standard tunings one bit. Long story short, if it were not for Daron Malakian, the guitarist of SOAD, I probably wouldn’t have picked up the guitar or gotten into hardcore and the DIY music scene in high school, and I definitely wouldn’t be this version of myself.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
I’m asking Chalino Sánchez: “What did the note say, foo?!” IYKYK.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
“As Much as I Ever Could,” City and Colour.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Histories, Go It Alone.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
The song that started it all for me and the idea for starting this band: “Que No Quede Huella” by Bronco.
