Though its name evokes a Nuevo Leon city, Banda La Trakalosa de Monterrey comprises an 18-member ensemble drawn from locales across northern Mexico. The group delivers an eclectic modern fusion that spans traditional banda and alternative corridos to romantic rancheras and norteño material rendered in the alterna movimiento manner.
Edwin Luna, a professional musician since age 15 who had performed with Cadereyta's Don Arsenio Jimenez and Banda Sinaloa as well as Virgilio Canales y Liberacion and the Piricuaco Band, founded Banda La Trakalosa. After former members of La Real Banda Chilera invited him to build a new outfit, he launched the first lineup of Banda la Escandalosa in 2010. Remex Music signed him that October. A setback arrived in March 2011 when half the members left to form another group; he promptly enlisted players from Sonora, Oaxaca, Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Monterrey and renamed the unit Banda La Trakalosa.
The refreshed ensemble recorded its debut Remex single, "Después de Ti No Hay Nada," which appeared in June and reached the Top 20 on multiple Mexican radio charts. Its follow-up, "San Lunes," arrived in November and highlighted a sharper Monterrey character, topping Northern Mexico radio charts while gaining nationwide and Southwestern United States airplay. Banda La Trakalosa also supported El Pelon del Mikrophone on the hit dance track "La Cumbia Tribalera."
Early in 2012 the band issued a cover of Salvador Aponte's "Doble Vida" within a month of the composer's version; both climbed to the top of the charts. Later that year they released the compilation Doble Vida, which collected prior singles, the new track "Concha del Alma," and several fan favorites.
As a preview of the proper studio debut De Monterrey a Sinaloa, Banda La Trakalosa offered the pre-release single "Un Par de Cerdos" in 2013. Extensive radio play together with internet and television video exposure propelled the group onto the charts, secured widespread airplay, and launched extensive touring throughout Mexico and into the United States.
The single "Broche de Oro" appeared under the billing Edwin Luna y Banda la Trakalosa de Monterrey and was followed quickly by the album La Banda Grande de la Sultana del Norte in early 2014. Later that year the collaborative remix collection Reto de Exitos ReMex with Tierra Sagrada emerged. Both albums charted strongly on Mexican Regional lists across print, online, and radio formats. The 2016 compilation Asi Cantaba Mi Padre marked the final studio appearance of El Palomo y El Gorrion. Luna returned in 2017 with the CD/DVD set 10+10 and the studio album Mi Otro You. After serving as a judge on the Mexican talent program La Academia in 2018, he and Banda La Trakalosa de Monterrey issued Me Hicisite un Borracho early the next year. The group marked its tenth anniversary in 2020 with performances at Arena Monterrey and National Auditorium.
