Los Texmaniacs: Tiny Desk Concert

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From jazz and Tejano to norteño and ska, 'El Tiny' returns with a takeover from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 for Latin Music Month.

Felix Contreras | October 8, 2026
Los Texmaniacs' music is a living history lesson. The conjunto sound is driven by the button accordion, a mid-19th century instrument that made its way to the U.S.-Mexico border by way of German, Czech and Polish immigrants. But this music is also just perfect for twirling on the dance floor to songs about true love, heartbreak, folk heroes and reflections on life.

In this band, everything goes back to Flaco Jimenez, the late Tex-Mex accordion master whose rootsy sound came to define conjunto. Los Texmaniacs band leader and bajo sexto player Max Baca had a long-standing musical partnership with Jimenez — they played the Tiny Desk together in 2012. And accordionist Josh Baca, Max's nephew, studied at the feet of Jimenez.

As Los Texmaniacs kick into "Boom and a Bang" at El Tiny, we're reminded just how close conjunto is to both Cajun music from Louisiana and the blues-driven rock and roll of Texas. The polka that closes out this set, too, is just another example of how this musical hybrid of cultures became a cultural tradition on both sides of the border.

"Ay Mama"
"Boom and a Bang"
"Herido"
"Déjalo (Let It Go)"
"Como Te Quiero"

MUSICIANS
Max Baca: vocals, bajo sexto
Josh Baca: vocals, accordion
Noel Hernandez: bass, background vocals
Chris Rivera: drums, background vocals
Felix Contreras: güiro

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Felix Contreras
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Director/Mix: Josh Newell
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Maia Stern
Audio Engineer: Hannah Gluvna
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Translator: Nuria Net
Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton

#nprmusic #tinydesk #lostexmanics
Category
Youtube Live & Streamers
Tags
NPR, NPR Music, National Public Radio
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