Not all Tex-Mex music comes from the American Southwest, and Los Pacaminos are a group who show the sound has more than its share of admirers in the United Kingdom. Led by soulful pop singer Paul Young, Los Pacaminos have carved out a niche for themselves on the British Americana scene for their atmospheric, boldly romantic sound that blends country, blues, and pop with accents of Mexican folk styles, and a blend of electric and acoustic instruments adds to their distinctive tone. The group had been together for nearly a decade when they released their self-titled debut album in 2002, but they were a stronger, more experienced band by the time they recorded their next LP, 2014's rollicking and heartfelt A Fistful of Statins. A pair of singles, 2020's "When It's Christmas on the Range" and 2022's "Bitter Blue," demonstrated their acumen in the studio.

British vocalist Paul Young first made his name singing with the stylish, R&B-influenced band the Q-Tips before going solo and enjoying massive international success with his first two solo albums, 1983's No Parlez and 1985's The Secret of Association. Young's blend of vintage soul melodies coupled with polished modern production led to a solid and long-running career in the United Kingdom, but his tastes were more eclectic than his solo discography suggested. A fan of acts like Calexico, Doug Sahm, and the Texas Tornados, Young wanted to form a group that would allow him to sing the Tex-Mex music he loved, and he teamed up with a handful of friends to play some live shows in the Southwestern style. With Young on vocals, guitars, and keyboards, Jamie Moses on guitars and vocals, Drew Barfield on acoustic guitar and vocals, Matt Irving on accordion and keyboards, Steve Greetham on bass, and Mark Pinder on drums, the new band started booking shows under the name Los Pacaminos, choosing not to give Young top billing so fans would not expect one of his typical performances. All parties involved initially regarded Los Pacaminos as a fun side project that would likely run its course after a few gigs, but the group and their fans were wildly enthusiastic about the music, and the players continued to book shows as often as their schedules would permit.

In 1997, after five years together, Los Pacaminos added a seventh member when pedal steel guitarist Melvin Duffy was invited to sit in one night and the instrument's lonesome sound was a perfect match for their arrangements. With the group now writing their own material as well as playing a variety of covers, they decided it was time to get into the studio, and 2002's Los Pacaminos was a lively set of their self-penned tunes. While the busy careers of the seven members of the group made their recording schedules unpredictable, they continued to tour when the stars aligned, and in 2014, they released a second studio album, A Fistful of Statins. The following year, the group experienced their first lineup change since Melvin Duffy joined -- Matt Irving died in 2015 after being diagnosed with cancer, and Steve Woody Oakman came aboard to take his place on accordion and keys. The group reissued their debut album in 2016 under the title The Early Years, with the addition of three bonus tracks. Los Pacaminos documented the fun and excitement of their concerts with 2018's Viva: Los Pacaminos Live. The group got into the holiday spirit with their 2020 single "When It's Christmas on the Range," and offered their fans a fresh original song with 2022's moody and dramatic "Bitter Blue." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi