Los Poncho Tones
Los Poncho Tones play The Copper Room as a three-piece: Denny Weston Jr. on drums, Jon Ossman on bass and Josh Sonntag on guitar. The High Desert group built its early work largely around instrumentals, with all three members now bringing more vocals into the mix. Expect their own blend of blues-rock grooves and desert twang, which the band calls “Greasy Tumbleweed.”
The trio comes from the High Desert and has become a regular backing band for the area’s original artists. They have supported performers including Matt Ellis, Rosa Pullman, C’est Claire, Jesika Von Rabbit, Parker Ainsworth, Jessie Payo, Brad Byrd, John Curry, Reuben Bullock and Pat Kearns at a local fundraiser. The Joshua Tree Voice recognized Los Poncho Tones as Outstanding Instrumental Group at The Joshuas in 2022. The Coachella Valley Independent calls them “impeccable” accompanists, describes their recordings as “tight, well-produced gems,” and hears their live sets as “a sonic journey” through originals and reworked covers.
The Copper Room’s defining feature is its history as a 1950s airport dinner house, revived beside Yucca Valley Airport after years closed. Its restored dining room combines wood paneling, stonework and copper details, with broad windows facing the runway and high desert beyond. It is a restaurant and cocktail lounge as well as a place for live music, so an evening can include dinner or a martini alongside a set, with the occasional small plane landing outside. The calendar lists recurring jazz and blues evenings, old-timey music and DJ nights; many shows begin around 6 p.m. and run for three hours. The venue says events are free unless otherwise specified. You’ll find it at the airport in Yucca Valley, a High Desert town near Joshua Tree.