Los Hermanos Alacranes Takes Over the Richmond Scene

Los Hermanos Alacranes bring an electrifying fusion of ranchera, cumbia, and classic Colombian melodies, all supercharged with the raw energy of American rock and roll. Formed in early 2023 at a holiday gathering hosted by singer-songwriter Paulo Franco and drummer Rob Lytle, the band quickly grew to include guitarist Paul Pearce and bassist Brian Martin. While the lineup has evolved—most recently with bassist Chad Bennett joining in late summer 2024—their commitment to crafting unforgettable performances has remained constant.

The band’s members are no strangers to Richmond’s music scene, having played in storied acts like The Bopcats, Freightliners, and Vexine. Drawing inspiration from influences as diverse as mariachi, rockabilly, and the cinematic worlds of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, Los Hermanos Alacranes have developed a sound that resonates deeply with audiences. Fans of The Mavericks, Tito & Tarantulas, or Chingon will find much to love in their vibrant mix of big, genre-defying sounds.

Their debut album, Uno, released on October 8, 2024, showcases the band’s dynamic style and growing chemistry. From the fiery single “Burn Me” to its expansive 11 tracks, the record is a testament to their creative evolution. Whether playing intimate Richmond venues or festivals that draw diverse crowds, Los Hermanos Alacranes aim to connect listeners with the soul of their music—one note at a time.

With their distinctive bilingual repertoire, the band shines a spotlight on the spaces between cultures and genres, all while representing Richmond’s growing Hispanic influence. As the band gigs across central Virginia, their performances are a testament to their roots, their shared history, and the city that continues to inspire them.

How has being based in Richmond shaped Los Hermanos Alacranes’ sound and style?

Along I-95 are hundreds of small towns, bedroom communities for worker bees in DC, historic insofar as people doing the same for centuries. Company towns. Richmond, named for the town west south-west of Charing Cross in London, is one such place. The James River winds through, sleepy on hot dry days, replete with bikers, kayakers and hikers skipping across boulders and sand bars in the shadow of ruins from the Civil War.

Richmond churned out tobacco for the Old World – Chesterfields, Lucky Strikes, Marlboros and all the rest – a cash crop for the ages. Almost as big as cotton.

Amidst this abundance shadows fell, cold pragmatism, greed and cruelty the foundation of a million American Dreams, stirring the troubled sleep of its descendants. This inchoate mixture of emptiness, heartbreak and rage, unbidden and unknown are embedded within our genes, coated in the whisky of Founding Fathers. Our Brave New World made manifest in Central Virginia echoes across the American South isolated in the binary prison of black and white.

Our music tries to give voice to the spaces in between.

Richmond is known for its vibrant and diverse music scene. How do you feel Los Hermanos Alacranes fits into this community?

We are a naturally occurring spring of singer / songwriters, steeped in traditional American music, north, central and south.

Are there any Richmond venues that feel like a “home base” for the band?

We have enjoyed playing on Shockoe Sessions Live, a weekly showcase put on by our label Shockoe Records every Tuesday night that features original music from Central Virginia. We recently played a gig at a great neighborhood joint called Northside Grille. They really liked what we were doing and have approached us about playing there on a regular basis in 2025. We really hope that pans out!

How do Richmond audiences respond to your mix of Latin and rock influences? Have you noticed any differences compared to other places you’ve played?

We are surprised at the buzz that’s grown up around us. After playing thousands of shows all over as separate musicians, this band seems to put it all together. We are delighted that people find us compelling. Richmond’s Hispanic community is growing rapidly, and it’s great to see them connecting with what we are doing. Especially when we perform what is becoming our signature song – a cover of La Malagueña Salerosa. It’s an old Mariachi classic that is beloved in the Spanish speaking world. The director, Robert Rodriguez performed a cover that blended the Mariachi element with the searing electric guitars of the Del Castillo Brothers of Austin, TX. You can hear that version on the closing credits of the Quentin Tarantino film, Kill Bill, Vol. 2. That version is what really inspired Paulo to delve into that approach to his songwriting.

What is the best part about being a Latin fusion rock band in central Virginia?

Watching eyes light up across Latin faces in the crowd when they realize half the songs are Spanish and all of them drawing from traditional South American musical heritages.

Can you tell us about some local artists or bands that inspire you or that you’d love to collaborate with?

We have a couple of guest musicians on our record – members of Love Redemption, Vexine, Ramona and the Holy Smokes and the incredibly talented Charles Arthur. Charles knows how to play every stringed instrument that has ever been invented, and even those that have not yet been invented! They are wonderful musicians.

In this band we draw inspiration from The Mavericks, Los Lobos, Alejandro Escovedo, Quentin Tarantino movies, mariachi and cumbia music, Chingon, Tito Tarantula and more.
We were lucky enough to open for Los Lobos at the Broadberry a year or so ago. We hit it off together –spontaneous mutual admiration. We’d love to tour with them! It would be a lot of fun. Definitely The Mavericks. Raul Malo is probably the biggest influence on Paulo’s vocals.

What is something unique about playing in Richmond versus other cities, especially when it comes to the connection with the audience?

Richmonders love drinking outdoors and are very serious about watching bands. After so many years here, we realize that the human crescent shape in front of the stage is a sign of approval – not ambivalence. Some bands from out of town sometimes talk about this. It’s ok to rush the stage, y’all!

How have Richmond’s music festivals and events, like the Richmond Folk Festival or Dominion Energy Riverrock, influenced the band’s growth?

Our first gig as a band was at the Irish Festival downtown. More recently we played High on the Hog in Church Hill. Those shows attract a lot of random walk-ups, people that don’t hit the clubs, bars and breweries or cloister within a block of their homes, never getting outside of their comfort zones – except at the many festivals held across the city all year long. We’ve been very lucky in that way.

Are there any favorite spots in Richmond or central Virginia that inspire your songwriting or help you get into a creative flow?

Watching people is always a great way to get into the zone. Richmond is an outdoorsy place and there is a lot to see.

What are some aspects of Richmond’s history or culture that you feel align with the music of Los Hermanos Alacranes?

The Hispanic community is a growing force in Central Virginia, both in numbers and influence. We are enriched by it. Getting bilingual music in front of people is provocative – it doesn’t cater to the lingua franca of American culture. And that is intentional.

Because our songs are about love, yearning and hope for a brighter future you can sing along – even if you don’t understand the words. 😊

Although it isn’t by way of alignment, one of the band’s songs, La Pared de Piedra has a direct connection to an historic Richmond landmark. La Pared de Piedra literally means “the Stone Wall” and the song tells the tale of the burning down of Stonewall Café in 1991. It was one of Paulo’s haunts in the 80s while he attended law school at the University of Richmond. Stonewall Café was the home of the 32 oz. Long Island Iced Tea. For happy hour, you could leave with a gallon of Long Island Iced Tea in your belly for about $10 bucks.

The bar was located in the building that housed the old Stonewall Jackson School. It was built during the Reconstruction Era in 1886 about 21 years after the burning of Richmond during the Civil War. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. In 1991, the were repairs being made to the roof. One of the painters left a blow torch on unattended and the roof caught fire. It spread quickly and destroyed interior of the building. The song tells the story of the café’s regulars lamenting the fact that their watering hole is burning down and that someone should call the fire department to rescue the liquor and the police department to arrest the negligent painter. Paulo’s inspiration for lyrics the lyrics came from El Cuarto de Tula, off of the Buena Vista Social Club record of the 90s. So that’s how you can combine Civil War/Reconstruction history with Cuban Son Music.