Joaquin and the Glowliners keep the soul of San Antonio alive with their West Side Sound. Credit: Chris Hernandez

San Antonio Chicano soul ensemble Joaquin and the Glowliners will be ever-present at upcoming City Council meetings.

That’s because the act’s new single “¡Hijole!” will play at the start of each session for the month of June, according to city officials.

The song will be played as part of the city’s Local Music Spotlight program, a cultural initiative that features local musicians.

So far this year, the program has also featured Kris Cari, Baldemar Esquivel, Shannon Siona, SOCO / Richard Lara, Daniel Romero and Patricia Torres. The full list of honorees can be played in the city’s Local Music Spotlight playlist on Spotify.

Joaquin and the Glowliners is helmed by Joaquin Muerte, who also sings in Eddie and the Valiants and performs drums and vocals in the spaced-out psychedelic cumbia outfit Combo Cosmico.

With the Glowliners, Muerte is one of the modern evangelists shepherding a renaissance of San Antonio’s West Side Sound, the Chicano “brown-eyed soul” movement of the ’50s and ’60s produced timeless classics by the Royal Jesters, Sunny and the Sunliners and more.

Joaquin and the Glowliners released “¡Hijole!” — a high-energy, feel-good anthem — in March. The band recorded an equally upbeat video to accompany the single release announcement on Instagram, though the clip isn’t yet available on YouTube. The video was shot in soon-to-close institution Oscar’s Taco House, giving it a distinctly South Side flavor.

In the video, Muerte sways and grooves wearing sunglasses and a smile a la Stevie Wonder, an obvious influence for the tune. The influence is especially apparent with the Spanish chatter at the beginning of Muerte’s tune, which is reminiscent of Wonder’s fast-talking attempt at Spanish at the beginning of “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing.”

“Hijole! I’m feeling all bad ass,” goes the song’s infectious hook. We defy you not to sway and groove yourself.

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This article appears in May 29 – Jun 11, 2025.

Stephanie Koithan is the Digital Content Editor of the San Antonio Current. In her role, she writes about politics, music, art, culture and food. Send her a tip at skoithan@sacurrent.com.