St. Pocho’s Day! Chicano Folk Punk Band Ollin Honors Mexican-Irish Connection With Pogues Tribute for 21st Year
The story below was originally published in 2021. This year L.A. TACO has confirmed that Ollin will be performing their legendary annual Pogues tribute set at Blipsy's Bar at 369 N Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004 in Koreatown on Friday, March 17 at 10 PM. The cover will be $10. For more information, follow the band's account on Instagram.
--
[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap]n an undisclosed backyard along Monterey Pass Road’s industrial stretch in the San Gabriel Valley, members of the 90s Chicano punk band Ollin performed their annual St. Pocho’s Day show to a crowd of about a dozen people—mostly family. Since the early 2000s, the Chicano folk-punk band has performed their Mexican American Spanglish versions of famous Celtic-punk ballads by The Pogues.
Led by East Los Angeles hardcore punks-turned-teachers and twins Randy and Scott Rodarte, the band only gathers and performs the powerful tribute on St. Patrick’s Day. Throughout the years, this project has received many accolades for their ability to emote the working-class connection and immigrant struggles shared by both Mexican and Irish Mexican immigrants. The project also honors the captured soldiers from El Batallón de San Patricio, or the Saint Patrick’s Battalion, that were hanged after fighting alongside Mexicans during the Mexican-American war in 1847.
This year’s performance was stripped down due to the pandemic but rest assured that come St. Pocho’s day 2022, the band will reunite and play as loud as ever.
Photos and video by Erwin Recinos.
[gallery type="rectangular" columns="4" ids="117621,117620,117619,117615"]
[gallery type="rectangular" columns="4" ids="117607,117606,117601,117592"]
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from L.A. TACO
We Tried Five Hand Roll Bars in Los Angeles. This One Was the Best.
The simple hand roll is decidedly egalitarian and its etiquette straightforward. Now that Los Angeles has become an unofficial hand roll capital outside of Japan, we decided to try five popular concepts across the city and rank them accordingly. Here’s what we found.
Which Car Brand Has L.A.’s Worst Drivers? Let Us Know Your Thoughts And Win Our New Bota Mug
Is it that Tesla driver that just cut you off? An Altima with bald tires? That privileged 18-year-old new driver who barely knows how to maneuver his Land Rover Defender? Or that overwhelmed Van Lifer circling the same block 69 times trying to find parking? Comment on our post to win your free bota mug! Note: Comments on social media will not be entered in contest. Only members can comment on our website. Join now!
Straight From Lebanon’s Streets, These Juicy Sandwiches Are Reviving Eagle Rock Plaza’s Lonely Corner Strip Mall
This new family restaurant offers Lebanese-style "rosto" or roast beef, as well as tender beef tongue, rich stewed chicken liver, maanek and sujuk sausages, and infamously pungent basturma. 95% of their spices come from Lebanon.
Annual Cinco de Mayo Lowrider Cruise Shutdown by LAPD Before Sold-Out Dodger Game, Causing Confusion and Frustration
"Was really bummed to see a dead park with cops standing by today,” an Elysian Park resident told L.A. TACO. “Like, what’s the point of the park?? Also, why do the Dodgers call the shots? They made the calls [to] shut it down,” the resident speculated.
‘We Will Win:’ USC Students Won’t Back Down, Committing To Their Fight For Palestine Despite Arrests
One of their main demands is for the school to not only commit to a complete academic boycott of Israel and their killing of Palestinians, but also to be transparent about how much the school is investing.
