The Altons & Thee Sinseers play sunset sets in Pioneertown

On May 17th, Pappy + Harriet’s in Pioneertown became a heartfelt haven as Los Angeles’ finest, The Altons and Thee Sinseers, brought their Club Heartache Tour to the high desert, with a backdrop against the Joshua trees and dusky rays. Both bands, which are side-projects of one another for some members, brought in a new generation of oldies and wowed the crowd with a performance that felt equally like a time capsule and a love letter.

As golden hour hit the large outdoor patio of the venue, Thee Sinseers took the stage.

Their East LA smooth, passionate, and modern-day oldies sound (and frontman Joey Quinones’ soulful vocals) was the perfect soundtrack to peak sunset hours in the heart of the romanticized Wild West town. Playing fan-favorites from across their discography, Thee Sinseers had the audience, including many of the adorable couples, stepping with the rhythms of love.

Headliners The Altons then came on as the night breeze started to roll in. Performing their newest album Heartache In Room 14, as well as many other classics, the band performed a set of chill vibes with a hint of psychedelic cumbia in each track. Lead singer Adriana Flores’ lush vocals were a standout and illustrated the very essence of the band’s Latin-rooted rhythm & blues theme.

What made this show unforgettable was not only the Chicano soul music, but the setting.

Pappy + Harriet’s is a tucked away indoor and outdoor music venue between large boulders and sagebrush in a remotely historic town outside of Yucca Valley. The old desert vibes couldn’t have felt more complete with what both bands brought to the stage. Together, The Altons and Thee Sinseers reminded us why we dig deeper into classics our parents grew up with: because this genre of music is absolutely timeless.

Words can’t describe how immaculate this night was… the modern-day oldies sound in an off-the-grid desert space. With Pioneertown being their first stop of the Club Heartache Tour, I’m sure the rest of the tour will simply be unmatched. SoCal residents need to check out Pappy + Harriet’s for a show at least once this summer, especially if the show is early enough to catch one of the most stunning sunsets the high desert has to offer.

The Altons and Thee Sinseers will be making their way back to SoCal later on this summer, but check out their Europe and other US tour dates by clicking here or following them on Instagram @thealtons and @theesinseers.

Photography by Celeste Basich

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