Lone Pinon bringing musical mix to CSPS in Cedar Rapids

Don't tell the members of Lone Pinion that their music is past its prime.

"You can't make old music just like you can't make old food," multi-instrumentalist Jordan Wax said by phone from Lone Butte, N.M. "Music can be older but fresh — and that's what our music is."

Young, fledgling musicians have a tendency to embrace contemporary music. Not so for Wax, who came of age during the 1990s in Missouri.

Wax, 39, passed on grunge in favor of old timey fiddle-driven tunes and world music.

"I grew up in Missouri and learned the regional music with elders," he said. "I learned things from my grandparent's generation and I found it fascinating. I learned about Jewish music and Mexican music, and then I moved to New Mexico and started making musical connections with elder musicians."

After studying with master Ozark fiddler Fred Stoneking, Wax formed Lone Pinon in 2014. The New Mexican string band digs deep inside the regional roots music from prior generations.

Lone Pinon, armed with violins, guitars, accordions, an upright bass, a vihuela and bilingual vocals, plays an array of catchy and compelling traditional music.

"We're so passionate about this style of music," Wax said. "I love the immediacy of acoustic roots music. We try to capture the intimacy of roots music."

Lone Pinon — which also includes bassist-vocalist Tanya Nunez, violinist Karina Wilson, guitarist and vihuela player Santiago Romero — captures the authenticity of norteno music, too. The band melds the sounds of Mexico and New Mexico in an exquisite manner.

The under-the-radar act, which makes its local debut Sunday at CSPS Hall in Cedar Rapids, has made a splash. Lone Pinon, named after a New Mexico storage facility that Romero thought would make for a cool band name, has played New York's Kennedy Center and The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Wax is a one-man wrecking crew, playing violin, piano, accordion, mandolin and guitar while singing his beloved traditional songs in English, Spanish, Nahuatl and Purpecha.

"I've never stopped wanting to learn," he said. "I enjoy learning more and it comes out in our music."

Lone Pinon never wants to stop tipping its cap to its sonic ancestors. The song "Juarez," is a tribute to Tejano icon, accordionist Flaco Jimenez.

"El Mosquito" is a regional polka smash, recorded during the 1950s.

"It was a huge hit in New Mexico and it resonates with the baby boomer generation," Wax said. "It's a fun song to play. Music like that, and even songs that are much older, have stood the test of time. They have this power, this potency, which appeals to so many people. If you open yourself up to the music, you'll get it. We see it when we perform, since those who come out to our shows range from those who are young to the elders."

The band’s music even has a splash of blues and country.

"We're all about the diversity in our sound," Wax said. "It feels like you get a bit of everything when you hear our music."

Lone Pinon, which is working on a new album, is kicking off its first tour since COVID canceled its plans nearly two years ago.

"It's been too long of a time," Wax said. "Our show in Iowa will only be our third date since before the pandemic. I can't tell you how much we miss playing out in front of people. We miss that exchange of energy. We're long overdue to get up there and perform. We'll make the most of it."