ION INDIE MAGAZINE September 2017, Volume 40 | Page 7

In my time with ION Indie Magazine, I’ve had the pleasure of photographing many well-known household names
in music, but our focus with this publication is primarily on those hard-working independent artists that are
grinding it out in an industry that is not only fiercely competitive, but requires the sort of talent and grit to rise
above the fray. Thus, when the opportunity to do this feature story presented, I knew in an El Paso minute that I
would be honing in on the band Fixed Idea, a band that truly personifies the independent spirit and who are
definitely worthy of the cover slot honors. Not that they are “newbies” to the music game. Hardly. In fact, on
August 12, 2017, they stormed the stage at Tricky Falls in El Paso, Texas, in celebration of 25 years of staying power
as a band. There are seven current members, but for the commemorative show, many former members were in
attendance – close to 30 in all. Yet, as is the case with many bands, those revolving doors have seen as many as
60 members pass through them. For the purposes of this article, I was joined by founding member PANCHO
MENDOZA (guitar/vocals), DANIEL VILLASENOR (keyboardist), and former bass player, PHIL HEIMER, who left in
’96, but rejoined the band for the big anniversary reunion.
No strangers to touring, the band has played out extensively, including “south of the border” – with stop-offs in
Juarez, which is next door neighbor to El Paso, and Mexico City, which Poncho calls a “mecca for ska music.” In
fact, the band had just come in off of a 10-city tour of the Southwest, including a couple of dates in California, San
Francisco and Pacifica. The tour produced some of their most memorable shows in respect to the energetic
reception of the audiences. But Fixed Idea tends to have that effect on those within earshot. Those that are fans
know what to expect at a Fixed Idea show – and it’s what keeps them coming back, again and again. And those
that were unfamiliar with the Fixed Idea sound before the show, will leave the premises as new-found fans, and
no doubt return for another dose of this Latin-infused ska/reggae/punk band with the 60’s rock ‘n’ roll influences.
Fixed Idea is a much sought-after addition to popular festivals, including the El Paso Downtown Street Festival,
Neon Desert, the El Paso Mardi Gras event at the El Paso County Coliseum, Music Under The Stars at Chamizal
National Memorial, Tattoo conventions at the El Paso Civic Center – and even El Gymnasio Municipal (a Luchador
wresting venue in Juarez, Mexico). The band has also received their share of worthy accolades – garnering awards
from the “What's Up Weekly Best of the Best 2013," in 2014 for “Best Local Original Band,” and as a runner up
for “Best of the Border 2014.” The have also appeared on the “small screen” on televised shows
such as Good Morning El Paso and on a TV sitcom on a Monterey, CA station.