Los Lonely Boys (LLB) prove that something good can come out of Texas. The three Garza, Henry on guitar, Jojo on bass and Ringo on drums, make up this band that released their debut self-titled album back in August 2003.
"Heaven" has been getting a lot of airtime on local radio stations recently. As a song with an edgy, swinging Latino rock beat and well put together lyrics, I was curious if they would be a one-hit wonder. I liked the one song so much however that I took a chance and spent the near $20 to buy their CD to hear if they were as talented as I suspected they may be. The purchase was worth every penny!
With the first listening, I was struck by the sequencing of their twelve tracks that gave the impression of experiencing a concert. From the beginning, this trio gets things rocking with their first track "Señorita" building to a crescendo of excitement through each subsequent track to "Onda" (Wave).
An extended acoustical piece, the boys show off their musical depth and expertise. The CD concludes with a ballad titled "La Contestación" (The Answer) and left me wanting to listen to the CD again and again.
Eldest brother, Henry, in an interview with USA reporter Brian Mansfield, described their music with a burrito metaphor, "A burrito is filled with a bunch of stuff. We [the brothers] are the tortilla. Inside the tortilla, we've filled it with all the knowledge that we gathered from our influences. Our biggest influence is our father, then come all the others: The Beatles, Ritchie Valens, Willie and Waylon, Ronnie Milsap, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana. We fold it up and we feed it to the world" (USA Today, May 17, 2004).
All those influences blended well on the Garzas' musical palette resulting in a refreshing sound that has crossed over from country to rock 'n' roll. In August, "Heaven" reached number 9 on VH1 and number 1 on CMT in August and Sept. Billboard charts for Oct. 16 showed that the group peaked at number 9 and are currently at number 37.
The fact that many of their songs are bilingual has not deterred from their growing popularity. In fact, the Spanish lyrics typically mirror the English lyrics within the song. This proves that music can transcend the language barrier and still be enjoyed, feeling the passion and focusing on the well-articulated musical composition.
The boys began singing, playing and writing songs at a very young age. They come from a family where music has been the primary focus. Their father was part of a band made up of his seven siblings during the 70's and 80's, but eventually struck out on his own, pursuing a career in country music.
During the 1990s, LLB played back up to their father in Nashville. At that time teenagers, they went to school during the day and played at bars during the evening. Eventually, the boys dropped out of school to pursue music full-time.
In 1996, LLB realized they had a sound of their own they wanted to develop and therefore amicably split from their father. Having played together for so many years, the brothers do it all: writing, singing and playing. They provide a smooth harmony that is reminiscent of the Allman Brothers.
Currently, LLB is on tour, but unfortunately they do not have the Pacific Northwest listed in their upcoming concert dates. The enhanced CD version however does have a live concert video from The Heart of Texas concert. LLB are explosive on stage, exuding infectious energy. The performance is proof that indeed these guys are truly multi-faceted and more than one-hit wonders. The second release from their debut album has just come out.
"More Than This" is a sweet ballad recounting middle brother Jojo's junior high breakup and eventual reunion. The romantic lyrics, 'I can't be alone anymore/I know it's more than love/Baby, I can feel it/When I'm close to you/I know it's more than love/Baby do you?' are heartfelt and sentimental.
It's been a long road for LLB. Track five titled "Hollywood" expresses that journey: 'I'll be shining bright for all the world to see/I know I can't go wrong/Because I finally found my song/I'm headed where I belong' I believe they truly are.
Check out their official web site for more information: www.loslonelyboys.org
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