The Altons Bridge Stage and Crowd at Paper Tiger
The Altons at Paper Tiger. Photo by Alejandra Sol Casas
On a night when much of San Antonio was splitting its attention between the Spurs' second game of the NBA Finals and a sold-out concert across town, a devoted crowd gathered at Paper Tiger for an evening of sweet soul and aching romance courtesy of Los Angeles soul outfit The Altons.
Currently touring behind their latest album, Heartache in Room 14, The Altons have built a devoted following in the Alamo City by blending classic Motown influences with Chicano soul, bolero, and oldies. Over the years, they've become familiar faces in San Antonio, performing at West Side staples such as Jaime's Place and the Guadalupe Theatre.
Co-lead vocalists Bryan Ponce and Adriana Flores shared center stage, supported by drummer Caitlin Moss and bassist Chris "Bolillo" Manjarrez. Absent from the tour was founding member Joey Quinones, who also fronts Thee Sinseers.
Opening with "Show You Love," The Altons wasted little time settling in. Throughout the night, Ponce emphasized the reciprocal relationship between band and audience, telling concertgoers, "The energy you give to us, we give right back to you."
Flores' rich vocals provided the perfect counterpart to Ponce's smooth delivery, particularly during the band's Spanish-language selections, including a cover of Pedro Infante's "Amor Indio" and "Del Cielo." The latter was recently released on a 45 RPM single featuring cover art by San Antonio artist Galileo Gonzalez, who received a shoutout from the band on stage.
The evening's setlist balanced newer material with fan favorites such as "Tangled Up," "Soon Enough," and "When You Go."
For the encore, The Altons returned with "Over & Over," one of the band's most recognizable songs thanks in part to its appearance on Euphoria. Rather than remain on stage, Ponce tested how much energy the audience had left and stepped directly into the crowd, weaving through audience members while singing and dissolving any remaining barrier between performer and fan.
Opening the evening was the Los Angeles duo, Introverted Funk, and their backing band, whose blend of groove-heavy rhythms and infectious stage presence proved an ideal complement to The Altons' sound.
On a night when many San Antonians were torn between basketball and live music, those who chose Paper Tiger were rewarded with harmony, romance, and soul. Fortunately, fans didn't have to choose entirely. Paper Tiger streamed the Spurs game on the venue's outdoor big screen, allowing concertgoers to keep one eye on basketball and the other on one of soul music's fastest-rising acts.
