(photo: Farrah Skeiky)

I have never felt so at home on nepantla, the bridge between where I live and where my family emigrated from, than I have in the past year.

Downtown Boys externalizes this feelings, empowering me and all my friends who obsess over the way Victoria Ruiz takes control of the stage with her voice. In this past year, many latinx have been left feeling powerless or left feeling like they hold the burden of the world on their shoulders. Downtown Boys takes the restless energy that comes from being expected to be the only source of emotional labor as a femme of color and lets it out in a way that makes you want to join in. I am so excited to see them live this weekend because I need to join in and release my own restless energy.

Downtown Boys may be based in Providence, but Victoria Ruiz is from San Jose, making this band much more important to catch live when they are in the Bay. Also, both Bay Area shows have the best lineups. The Bottom of the Hill show has Pumpkin and Blues Lawyer (members of the World, Mall Walk, and Preening). The Starline show has Soar and Spellling, and we’re giving away tickets to that one.