Heartache in Room 14: Altons Album Review & Upcoming Tour

Last week on Valentines day, The Altons set the tone for Retro soul records in 2025 with the debut of their sophomore record Heartache in Room 14, a fitting name for the release date. After interviewing members of the Altons on February 1st prior to the release of Heartache in Room 14, Lead singer Bryan Ponce revealed that the correlation between the record title and the release date was merely coincidence. Room 14 refers to the room number where Penrose Studios, the Altons’ record label, is located within the building they record in, and not just a festive nod to the Valentine’s Day release date. However the valentine’s atmosphere did not stop the Alton’s from strumming listener’s heart strings through heart-wrenching symphonies. A clash of myriad sounds in this album produce a unique blend representative of the Chicano population native to the Altons’ hometown of Los Angeles. Dialogue with Ponce helped me describe Heartache in Room 14 as a collection of “sounds from the barrio.” Running through the record, Chicanos will hear familiar sounds from Motown, soul, oldies, boleros, and cumbias. Though Chicanos will enjoy the familiar sounds, any old soul will enjoy spinning this record. 

Club Heartache Tour

The Altons will be showcasing their new tracks from Heartache in Room 14 on their Club Heartache tour with their sister band Thee Sinseers. They will have two shows in Houston on April 30th and May 1st at the Heights Theatre. I was at the Heights Theatre last year during the Sinseerly Yours tour, again with their sister band, Thee Sinseers, and it was an amazing event. The intimate art-deco atmosphere of Heights Theatre provides the perfect vibe to take in the smooth soul sounds of The Altons. The highlight of the night was when Brian Ponce came off stage into the crowd to sing the high notes of “Over and Over“. In my interview with the Altons, vocalist Adriana Flores expressed excitement in coming back to Houston because of the crowds reminiscent of those back home in Los Angeles, describing them as a “slice of home away from home.” Flores speaks on the love and southern hospitality the group receives from the Texas crowds. Ponce recalls the group’s last visit to Houston where native Houston rapper Bun-B catered them with burgers from his own burger establishment Trill Burgers. I will most definitely be in attendance once again and I look forward to hearing new favorites and classic anthems from the Altons. 

Courtesy of Pearl Brewery

Track Ratings

Heartache in Room 14 includes ten songs with three familiar tracks including fan favorite, “Over and Over.” Here are my ratings for Heartache in Room 14’s tracks:

To hear my interview with The Altons, click this link below!!

Sounds of the Barrio: An Interview with the Altons