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Nov 14, 2019 By Christopher Roberts Neon Indian

Neon Indian (aka Alan Palomo) has returned with a brand new song, “Toyota Man.” It’s a Spanish language track (a first for Neon Indian) that’s a satire of the immigration crisis and comes via an amusing self-directed video that was filmed on the U.S./Mexico border and features kids with bats chasing a man with a Trump piñata head, among other things. Watch it below, followed by Neon Indian’s upcoming tour dates.

The song’s translated lyrics include such lines as “We came here to study, we want to work.” Musically the track works in hints of “La Cucaracha” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Palomo had this to say about the song and video in a press release: “‘Toyota Man’ was filmed along the road map of what essentially was my path to American citizenship: Monterrey, the Nuevo Laredo border, San Antonio, and finally Austin. The process is a multiple decade commute known by many Latinos and other Americans. Though my music has always been generally apolitical, I realized when recording this song that it was impossible to write biographically (in the rhetorical context of the Trump administration) without being entirely that: political. The story of my family, which before felt commonly American, was suddenly politicized. Recognizing the absurdity of it all, I thought it would be refreshing to address the social narrative around immigration through comedy - nods to Benny Hill, misremembered San Antonio car commercials, and School House Rock. My family and I had a ton of fun making this and I hope it’s equally as fun to watch. Enjoy!”

Neon Indian’s last album, VEGA INTL. Night School, was released back in 2015 via Mom + Pop. It was #20 on our Top 100 albums of 2015 list. It seems like he’s due for a new album.

Read our 2015 print article on Neon Indian, as well as our 2015 bonus digital mag Q&A with Neon Indian.

Also read our review of VEGA INTL. Night School.

Neon Indian Tour Dates:

11/14 - Brooklyn NY @ Elsewhere * [SOLD OUT]
11/16 - Washington DC @ 9:30 Club *
11/17 - Boston MA @ Big Night Live *
11/20 - Montreal QC @ L’Astral #
11/21 - Toronto ON @ Velvet Underground # [SOLD OUT]
11/22 - Detroit MI @ El Club +
11/23 - Chicago IL @ Metro +
11/24 - St. Paul MN @ Turf Club +
11/26 - Omaha NE @ Slowdown +
11/27 - Denver CO @ Bluebird Theater +
11/29 - Salt Lake City UT @ Metro +
12/31- Brooklyn NY @ Elsewhere DJ SET

* = with Sateen
# = with Sauna
+ = with Lou Rebecca

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