Pop Pistol to Visit Chicago Mid-October for El Movimiento Tour

While in San Antonio, Texas, just a few hours before hitting the road to Houston, the guys of Pop Pistol were preparing to kick off El Movimiento—a cross-country tour that will lead them to Chicago this month.

El Movimiento is a collaborative effort in which Pop Pistol (made up of singer Alex Scheel, bassist George Garza and drummer Jorge Gonzalez) will share the stage with Latin-rock band Making Movies for most of the tour. El Movimiento will allow the bands to not only perform in different cities but also visit grassroots youth organizations including the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective in the Bronx, Mattie Rhodes in Kansas City and the Network of Young Artists in their hometown of San Antonio. Much of the tour will even be featured on a video series that fans can watch on the band's website. Being able to do outreach work is something that Pop Pistol prides itself on.

 "Music is culture, so being a musician is a huge part in shaping the world and creating a better future," said Garza in a phone interview. "You don't exist if you're not doing something."

  Although it's mainly rock, Pop Pistol is a band with different faces and influences, giving it an eclectic sound.

 "We've got a groovy and spacey sound that's based on generating a feeling-every song is a journey that takes you to a different world," said Garza. "While rock is the core, there's still an experimental and pop sound to our music."

 Even if Pop Pistol can't be defined concretely, what works for the band members is that they are continuously evolving and learning about the world.

 "It's not just about the music; this is our opportunity to expand our minds locally and on a bigger scale," Garza said. "We can connect with and appreciate other musicians who we meet that are similar to us, which allows us to always be inspired."

Touring has been a key element in Pop Pistol's craving for travel and knowledge.

 "We hear a lot about other bands' bad experiences with touring but it's been generally positive for us," said Garza. "All of us [in Pop Pistol] have day jobs, but when we're on tour, we make the most of it as a band and individually; we read great books, visit awesome places in town and learn more about the communities-while also being able to network."

Since performing tracks from their first album, "Angelus," during their last Chicago concert this past September, Pop Pistol signed with indie label ‘Texas is Funny' and released its most recent EP, "Disappearing Edges." The guys have also been working on a new full-length album and are planning on making music videos for tracks off of "Disappearing Edges."

Garza and Scheel are known for taking off their shoes and getting into a groove during shows.

 "Performing is more of a tribal experience for us where we can be really in sync with the music," said Garza. "When our socks and shoes are off, we're able to feel comfortable while playing and just get into another frame of mind."

With a line up of cities including Austin, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and St. Louis, the guys are excited to come back and play in the Windy City.

 "We love Chicago, it really helps us appreciate our city," said Garza. "We're Chicanos, so we especially love checking out the art in Pilsen-it makes us feel at home."

For those lucky enough to check them out, Garza promises them a chance to let loose.

 "When we play, we want you to let your hair down and just go with it," he said. "We want you to really dive inside the music so that the flow of energy that you'll feel is one that everyone can be a part of."

Pop Pistol will be playing a 21+ show at 9 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Junior's Sports Bar, located on 2058 W. Cermak Road. They will also be performing with Purple Tongue, Les Animaux and DJ Angelfuck. For more information, check out the band's website at http://www.poppistol.com.