There were no maracas in Paxico via Mexico’s set on Saturday. None of the band members were wearing sombreros.
But a young woman in the crowd eager to find a Hispanic beat shook her empty, plastic beer cup with so much purpose and enthusiasm I wondered if she thought she was actually holding the gourd-shaped rattle.
Looking around I noticed the Atlantic’s crowd was drifting into a trance.
Two girls to my left were moving slowly and touching their hips slightly, making sure not to spill a drop of their cranberry-vodka drinks. A boy wearing a backward plaid baseball cap swayed and sang along with his eyes closed.
All the while, Paxico via Mexico, a local Gainesville band, sang lyrics swathed in quiet emotion with undertones of folk and rock.
Ricky Kendall, the lead singer, said it took around two weeks to finish the band’s second EP, “Under the Mountain,” which the band debuted at the show. He said the band sold about 60 EPs that night.
Jared Groom, the band’s animated drummer, sang along to every song even though he had no microphone.
“I’m a pocket drummer,” he said. “I like to groove a lot.”
Two years ago, the band played its first show as Ricky Kendall and the Spooky Divide. The original idea was to change the name of the band for every show. Instead, fans voted on 120 names the band posted on its Facebook page.
While in a Mexican restaurant, the band downsized the list fans had voted on. It came down to “The Paxico Kids,” but the band was not satisfied.
John Dunne, lead vocalist and guitarist, is from Kansas, where Paxico is a city. Thus, Paxico via Mexico was born.
Three hours before they went on stage the band members and friends went to their favorite bar in downtown Gainesville, Alcove. Bass player Tony Cordova drank a Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball, a seasonal malt ale, and we talked about upcoming events for Paxico via Mexico.
Kendall said the band hope to release its first full-length album in August. Band members have been able to produce the album thanks to donations from fans and friends. Kendall said in less than three months they raised $943.
Although three of the six members will no longer play in the band, fans will still hear them on the album.
Groom said he will miss the members who are leaving.
“I think what makes it even more of a struggle is that we’re all like a family,” he said.
Kendall, Groom and Cordova said they aren’t looking to replace John Dunne, Daniel Cummings, the keyboardist, or Stacie Cummings, who plays the cello, tambourine and sings. The three band members are moving on after they graduate.
Daniel and Stacie Cummings were not at the show. Jason Sanders, a friend of the band, filled in on keyboard and tambourine.
As members of the crowd closed their eyes, tapped their feet and moved their hips, the sensation from the intimate lyrics pouring from the stage grabbed hold.
“There is something really cool going on in Gainesville, and we are a part of that,” Kendall said. “It’s nice to feel welcomed into the music scene.”
Paxico via Mexico was more than just welcomed at the show. After the crowd repeatedly chanted “one more song,” Dunne picked up an acoustic guitar and began to play Hallowed Ground, a song from the newly released EP.
Fans can buy the EP at Paxico via Mexico’s next show or online at its website, paxicoviamexico.com.
Kendall said songs should be available on iTunes and Pandora in a couple months.
Near the end of the show, Dunne thanked the crowd and Gainesville for a good ride. Although half of the band will be gone by summer, I have no doubt that Paxico via Mexico will continue to captivate a crowd with its unique groove and Folk Americana melodies.
“People feel what we do,” Kendall said. “We have a lot of really good friends and supporters.”
