Bianca de Leon

Love, Guns & Money

BIANCA DeLEON
Loveove, Guns & Money
(Lonesome Highway - 4 STARS)

Her fourth album features a photo of her standing in front of a Dutch club’s chalkboard that reads ‘de Texaanse Troubadour Bianca DeLeon.’ If her name isn’t high on your list of Texas singer-songwriters, or doesn’t even appear on it, this is most likely because, until a recent life-altering health scare softened her stance, she long disdained playing for Austin’s pitiful rates and went where people valued her art, which means she’s much better known in Europe than in Texas. Like David Rodriguez, DeLeon is rooted in and lives in two different worlds, the Texas-Mexico borderlands in which she was born and raised, and which, in my experience, few Anglos seem to be able to write about convincingly, and the national and international singer-songwriter venue circuit, so, again like Rodriguez, she’s a bit different from your average troubadour. How many of them could write I Sang Patsy Cline (“the night Noriega fell’)? As always, DeLeon travels first class, with backing by guitar great John Inmon, Radoslav Lorkovic on piano, B3 and accordion, The East Side Flash resophonic guitar, David Carroll bass and Paul Pearcy drums, on a set that includes a song in Spanish, Buscando Por Ti, a honky tonker, The Bottle’s On The Table, striking observations on love and loss, Independence Day, This Time and Silence Speaks Louder Than Words and ends with a medley of Townes Van Zandt’s Nothin’ and Hank Williams’ Ramblin’ Man.

John Conquest
- 3RD Coast Magazine

This is John Tortosa emailing from Barcelona, Spain. I got Bianca's CD "Outlaws & Lovers" and i must say it's a hell of an album! I'm just listening to it as I write this and I find it absolutely marvelous...
You can be sure that this CD will get it's good share of country radio in my shows for the Spanish National radi Network which coves the whole of the Spanish territory. My show's called the "Country Express" and airs on Sundays 10 a.m. The catalonian edition of same airs for Radio-4 only for the Catalonia Region, northeast of Spain.
But I also intend to showcase it on "Rouye 66" a daily 1 hour show from 14:00 - 15:00 Mon thru Friday.
So Thanks a lot for this beautiful record; maybe Biancca should know that somebady here in far away Spain likes her record.
John Tortosa
Director/Presenter
country Express
RNE Radio.3 & 4
P. De Gracia 1
08007 Barcelona, Spain - Country Express, John Tortosa, Barcelona, Spain

This is John Tortosa emailing from Barcelona, Spain. I got Bianca's CD "Outlaws & Lovers" and i must say it's a hell of an album! I'm just listening to it as I write this and I find it absolutely marvelous...
You can be sure that this CD will get it's good share of country radio in my shows for the Spanish National radi Network which coves the whole of the Spanish territory. My show's called the "Country Express" and airs on Sundays 10 a.m. The catalonian edition of same airs for Radio-4 only for the Catalonia Region, northeast of Spain.
But I also intend to showcase it on "Rouye 66" a daily 1 hour show from 14:00 - 15:00 Mon thru Friday.
So Thanks a lot for this beautiful record; maybe Biancca should know that somebady here in far away Spain likes her record.
John Tortosa
Director/Presenter
country Express
RNE Radio.3 & 4
P. De Gracia 1
08007 Barcelona, Spain - Country Express, John Tortosa, Barcelona, Spain

AMG REVIEW: A longtime cohort of southern Texas musicians such as Townes Van Zandt and Joe Ely, Bianca DeLeon paints a lovely series of heartbroken portraits with a style that is equal parts country & western mixed with "Tex-Mex" instrumentation. The use of flamenco guitars and accordion on Spanish ballads like "Carlos" is evidence of the fine musicianship on naked laments on loss, liquor, and love. "Mr. Whiskey" and "Merle," while not the crème de la crème within, are superb if formulaic country songs from the old pre-Stetson school of Merle Haggard and Dottie West. Backed by a large contingent of seasoned musicians, DeLeon saves the best for "Si Me Requerdas (If You Remember Me)." There is also a touch of humor included in the long-titled "Don't You Hate It When Your Date Gets Shot," but it doesn't cloud how attractive the performances are. A must have.
— Jason MacNeil, Billboard Magazine, No Depression.
AMG rating - 4 stars.
- All Music Guide, Jason MacNeil

AMG REVIEW: A longtime cohort of southern Texas musicians such as Townes Van Zandt and Joe Ely, Bianca DeLeon paints a lovely series of heartbroken portraits with a style that is equal parts country & western mixed with "Tex-Mex" instrumentation. The use of flamenco guitars and accordion on Spanish ballads like "Carlos" is evidence of the fine musicianship on naked laments on loss, liquor, and love. "Mr. Whiskey" and "Merle," while not the crème de la crème within, are superb if formulaic country songs from the old pre-Stetson school of Merle Haggard and Dottie West. Backed by a large contingent of seasoned musicians, DeLeon saves the best for "Si Me Requerdas (If You Remember Me)." There is also a touch of humor included in the long-titled "Don't You Hate It When Your Date Gets Shot," but it doesn't cloud how attractive the performances are. A must have.
— Jason MacNeil, Billboard Magazine, No Depression.
AMG rating - 4 stars.
- All Music Guide, Jason MacNeil

Bianca "Outlaws and Lovers"
Not that Bianca De Leon needs any validation as a singer of Tex-Mex songs.
But, It doesn't hurt that she's joined on her new disc by Joe Ely. And, there she is (in) and old photo on the back of the c.d. being hugged by an open-shirted Townes Van Zandt.

Even without those endorsements, Bianca is about as authentic a border-line crooner as you can get. She sings the lonely "Si Me Recuerdas", in Spanish, and the gut string guitars, accordions, and slide guitars make every song leap and dance.
Bianca's dark voice is deceptively plain. There is a power in her vocals that gathers over the course of these songs like a West Texas thunder storm. Still it's a voice that never overpowers a good story, especially in songs like "Ballad of Dylan Thompson" and "Merle" and in her aching run through Van Zandt's "Waiting Round To Die".
Her duet with Ely on "Carlos" is, not surprisingly, the finest cut of the collection. It's a long, rambling cautionary tale about pride, greed, revenge and betrayal. Imn other words, the classic border ballad.
— Billings Montana Gazette
- Billings Montana Gazette

Bianca "Outlaws and Lovers"
Not that Bianca De Leon needs any validation as a singer of Tex-Mex songs.
But, It doesn't hurt that she's joined on her new disc by Joe Ely. And, there she is (in) and old photo on the back of the c.d. being hugged by an open-shirted Townes Van Zandt.

Even without those endorsements, Bianca is about as authentic a border-line crooner as you can get. She sings the lonely "Si Me Recuerdas", in Spanish, and the gut string guitars, accordions, and slide guitars make every song leap and dance.
Bianca's dark voice is deceptively plain. There is a power in her vocals that gathers over the course of these songs like a West Texas thunder storm. Still it's a voice that never overpowers a good story, especially in songs like "Ballad of Dylan Thompson" and "Merle" and in her aching run through Van Zandt's "Waiting Round To Die".
Her duet with Ely on "Carlos" is, not surprisingly, the finest cut of the collection. It's a long, rambling cautionary tale about pride, greed, revenge and betrayal. Imn other words, the classic border ballad.
— Billings Montana Gazette
- Billings Montana Gazette

Over the years, there've been more than a few times when someone I've sat with in the cheap seats suddenly gets up on stage and it's always a bit of a shock. So when a woman I've known on and off for year in Townes Van Zandt and David Rodrigue's social circles, with no hint that she was any kind of performer, presented me with a CD, I have to admit I was kinda nervous, and somewjat amazed when it turned out to be really shit hot, though there are a few clues, such as a duet with Joe Ely (Carlos) and supportive quotes from Guy & Suzanna Clark amd Eric Taylor, that this isn't your normal debut album. Turns out Bianca De Leon knew Townes and David from appearing on shows with them, but though she's been living in Austin for many years, her disdain for the almost cash-free virtual career Austin offers singer-songwriters led her to keep her musical identity a secret, even though they know her well as close as Houston's Anderson Fair. De Leon's affectation im using one name, always, in my experience, deeply suspect, is my only reservation about her album. Born in Corpus Christi, she conveys the same sense of uneasy assimilatiomn as David Rodriguez, like him, giving the impressionthat though she writes in English, she thinks in Spanish (her origins are underscored with Marco Antonuoi Solis' Si Me Recuerdos). Backed, but far from overwhelmed, by such A Teamers as Joel Guzmamn, Marvin Dykhuis, Paul Pearcy, David Heath, Marty Muse, Redd Volkaert, gene Elders, Erik Hokkanen and Steve Carter, De Leon soars through 13 songs that range from Townes Van Zandt's bleak Waitin' Round To Die to the sardonic humor of Don't You Hate It When Your Date Get's Shot, but it's the South Texas backdrop that gives this its special flavor, 'border ballad' has become such a loathsome cliche that I'd like to send a copy of Outlaws & Lovers (and Rodriguez' Man Against Beast) to everyone who's written or plans to write one to show them why they shouldn't. Add De Leon to your list of true Texas singer-songwriters.
— John Conquest, 3rd COAST MUSIC - Third Coast Magazine, John Conquest

Over the years, there've been more than a few times when someone I've sat with in the cheap seats suddenly gets up on stage and it's always a bit of a shock. So when a woman I've known on and off for year in Townes Van Zandt and David Rodrigue's social circles, with no hint that she was any kind of performer, presented me with a CD, I have to admit I was kinda nervous, and somewjat amazed when it turned out to be really shit hot, though there are a few clues, such as a duet with Joe Ely (Carlos) and supportive quotes from Guy & Suzanna Clark amd Eric Taylor, that this isn't your normal debut album. Turns out Bianca De Leon knew Townes and David from appearing on shows with them, but though she's been living in Austin for many years, her disdain for the almost cash-free virtual career Austin offers singer-songwriters led her to keep her musical identity a secret, even though they know her well as close as Houston's Anderson Fair. De Leon's affectation im using one name, always, in my experience, deeply suspect, is my only reservation about her album. Born in Corpus Christi, she conveys the same sense of uneasy assimilatiomn as David Rodriguez, like him, giving the impressionthat though she writes in English, she thinks in Spanish (her origins are underscored with Marco Antonuoi Solis' Si Me Recuerdos). Backed, but far from overwhelmed, by such A Teamers as Joel Guzmamn, Marvin Dykhuis, Paul Pearcy, David Heath, Marty Muse, Redd Volkaert, gene Elders, Erik Hokkanen and Steve Carter, De Leon soars through 13 songs that range from Townes Van Zandt's bleak Waitin' Round To Die to the sardonic humor of Don't You Hate It When Your Date Get's Shot, but it's the South Texas backdrop that gives this its special flavor, 'border ballad' has become such a loathsome cliche that I'd like to send a copy of Outlaws & Lovers (and Rodriguez' Man Against Beast) to everyone who's written or plans to write one to show them why they shouldn't. Add De Leon to your list of true Texas singer-songwriters.
— John Conquest, 3rd COAST MUSIC - Third Coast Magazine, John Conquest

WHAT A REFRESHING ALBUM! I must confess that I am overwhelmed by your Great Great work! The richness of writing and musical diversity give your albums an impression of grand style and of perfection. All the songs are an unusual boldness and richness. You turn what is elementary into something organic, original, immaculate...With fragility and tactfulness, beauty and sensitivity, delicaty and genuineness, you infuse your album with a soul and modesty that can only make it extremely lovable.
Your records are not a jewels, but a jewely case, a superb and wonderful jewelly case,for the TRUE JEWEL IS YOUR HEART BEATING INSIDE THE CENTER!! GIANTESS...
Being the Dj there,I am also active in the drafting of Country Music Gazette.I would be very happy if I could release for publishing your interview through the Email.

Many thanks for all.
Dominique Costanoga - Radio Marseillette
4 Jan 2003 - Country Music Gazette, Dominique Costanoga-Radio Marseillette

WHAT A REFRESHING ALBUM! I must confess that I am overwhelmed by your Great Great work! The richness of writing and musical diversity give your albums an impression of grand style and of perfection. All the songs are an unusual boldness and richness. You turn what is elementary into something organic, original, immaculate...With fragility and tactfulness, beauty and sensitivity, delicaty and genuineness, you infuse your album with a soul and modesty that can only make it extremely lovable.
Your records are not a jewels, but a jewely case, a superb and wonderful jewelly case,for the TRUE JEWEL IS YOUR HEART BEATING INSIDE THE CENTER!! GIANTESS...
Being the Dj there,I am also active in the drafting of Country Music Gazette.I would be very happy if I could release for publishing your interview through the Email.

Many thanks for all.
Dominique Costanoga - Radio Marseillette
4 Jan 2003 - Country Music Gazette, Dominique Costanoga-Radio Marseillette

The Tex-Mex border ballad is a specialized genre, and there are only a few artists who excel at it. Bianca De Leon, who was raised near Corpus Christi, is one of them and therefore nearly in a class of her own. On "The Long Slow Decline of Carmelita", her third and best album, De Leon proves once again that she's as good a singer as she is a songwriter, and she gets very strong support from an all-star cast of Austin and Tejano musicians, including Bobby Flores, Joel Guzman, and Redd Volkaert. Some of the most-compelling tracks include "Don't Drink the Water Pancho, "Nowhere Mexico," In the Shadow of a Sagebrush," "Six Pak of Misery," Muy Cerca De Mi," (the only bilingual song), "Guitarra Mia," and the title song, which features Flaco Jimenez. The album is a consistently strong collection of south Texas songs with a borderlands flavor. - Dirty Linen

The Tex-Mex border ballad is a specialized genre, and there are only a few artists who excel at it. Bianca De Leon, who was raised near Corpus Christi, is one of them and therefore nearly in a class of her own. On "The Long Slow Decline of Carmelita", her third and best album, De Leon proves once again that she's as good a singer as she is a songwriter, and she gets very strong support from an all-star cast of Austin and Tejano musicians, including Bobby Flores, Joel Guzman, and Redd Volkaert. Some of the most-compelling tracks include "Don't Drink the Water Pancho, "Nowhere Mexico," In the Shadow of a Sagebrush," "Six Pak of Misery," Muy Cerca De Mi," (the only bilingual song), "Guitarra Mia," and the title song, which features Flaco Jimenez. The album is a consistently strong collection of south Texas songs with a borderlands flavor. - Dirty Linen

(Four Stars) Reviewing her 2001 debut (#52/140), I remarked that ‘border ballad' has become such a loathsome cliché that I wanted to send a copy of the album (and David Rodriguez’ Man Against Beast) to everyone who’d written or planned to write one to show them why they shouldn’t. However, DeLeon obliges me to substitute her new album for Outlaws & Lovers. Just from song titles like Don’t Drink The Water Pancho, Nowhere Mexico, Somebody Shot Manuel, The Long Slow Decline Of Carmelita, the bilingual Muy Cerca De Mi and Guitarra Mia (which is actually in English), and the influx of Tejano musicians, it’s clear that DeLeon, born in Corpus Christi, is staking out her South Texas territory even more clearly. Obviously a believer in travelling first class no matter what, DeLeon brings back some of the Austin-based players on the earlier album, Redd Volkaert, Marty Muse, Erik Hokkanen, Teye, but relies mainly on Max Baca bass/bajo sexto, Michael Guerra or Joel Guzman accordion, Bobby Flores fiddle/pedal steel and Eddie Cantu drums. With a deceptively simple sounding style, DeLeon has a very finely tuned awareness of how much of the work her words can do on their own, but she can pump in the drama when it’s needed. In an homogenized America, the Mexican border is just about the last area that provides a sense of place and difference (for some reason, the Canadian border doesn’t seem to have as much appeal to songwriters), and few people convey that sense of place and difference as well, certainly not, at least since Rodriguez emigrated to Holland, as consistently, as DeLeon. - John Conquest, 3rd Coast Music

(Four Stars) Reviewing her 2001 debut (#52/140), I remarked that ‘border ballad' has become such a loathsome cliché that I wanted to send a copy of the album (and David Rodriguez’ Man Against Beast) to everyone who’d written or planned to write one to show them why they shouldn’t. However, DeLeon obliges me to substitute her new album for Outlaws & Lovers. Just from song titles like Don’t Drink The Water Pancho, Nowhere Mexico, Somebody Shot Manuel, The Long Slow Decline Of Carmelita, the bilingual Muy Cerca De Mi and Guitarra Mia (which is actually in English), and the influx of Tejano musicians, it’s clear that DeLeon, born in Corpus Christi, is staking out her South Texas territory even more clearly. Obviously a believer in travelling first class no matter what, DeLeon brings back some of the Austin-based players on the earlier album, Redd Volkaert, Marty Muse, Erik Hokkanen, Teye, but relies mainly on Max Baca bass/bajo sexto, Michael Guerra or Joel Guzman accordion, Bobby Flores fiddle/pedal steel and Eddie Cantu drums. With a deceptively simple sounding style, DeLeon has a very finely tuned awareness of how much of the work her words can do on their own, but she can pump in the drama when it’s needed. In an homogenized America, the Mexican border is just about the last area that provides a sense of place and difference (for some reason, the Canadian border doesn’t seem to have as much appeal to songwriters), and few people convey that sense of place and difference as well, certainly not, at least since Rodriguez emigrated to Holland, as consistently, as DeLeon. - John Conquest, 3rd Coast Music