The Squeezebox Bandits return with I’mma Music Man
By Alan Shipston for Country Music News International Magazine
The Squeezebox Bandits have returned with a brand-new Texi-Tonk radio single, I’mma Music Man. This up tempo song hits exactly where you want it to with Abel Casillas’ signature accordion up front, honky-tonk grit in the middle and a groove built for dance floors and barrooms across Texas. From the first squeeze, it plants its flag in true honky-tonk territory with a Waylon-leaning edge that feels road-tested and radio-ready. Lyrically, it’s the working musician’s story; loving the road, the miles and the music because it’s not a phase, it’s who you are. Driving the rhythm section on Music Man are Ty Ybarra on drums and Austin Gardea playing bass, while Vincent Saldivar lays down the guitar work with a super charged solo.
The accordion playfully weaves its way through the tune while the clean electric guitar offers a counter rhythm to the bouncy squeezebox riffs. Casillas reinforces the title with, “I’ll always be a music man, because that’s who I am.” As with all bands who live on the road, the inevitable homelife juggle has to be explained as Abel supports his musical lifestyle, singing in his halting style,
There’s a few things I know I could change
But things will never be, things will never be the same
I understand you want to change your last name
You’re tired of all the games and tired of all the pain
The Squeezebox Bandits, formed in 2017, are a Fort Worth-based quartet known for their unique Tex-Mex with a twist sound, blending traditional country music with Tejano and Tex-Mex influences. Led by accordionist and singer-songwriter Casillas, the band creates a sonic cuisine that highlights the rich musical tapestry of Texas. They describe their sound as similar to Spanglish, mixing honky-tonk country relatable to fans of Hank Williams with accordion-heavy Tejano rhythms.
In a Texas Monthly interview, Casillas reminisced about recent triumphs, “He named a show he played in Luckenbach, signing with Texas centered State Fair Records and sharing the stage with Jack Ingram, but he lingered on the smaller victories. “Getting people to like what we do, that’s a great feeling,” Casillas said. “They might chuckle and say, the accordion? Then, before you know it, they’re following us and I see them at another gig because they never heard anything like it.”