Los Lonely Boys: In a family way
Published in Berkshire Eagle, 6/18/10
By Jeremy D. Goodwin
PITTSFIELD—Making music is a family affair for Los Lonely Boys. The trio of Garza brothers—Henry (guitar and vocals), Jojo (bass and vocals) and Ringo (drums and vocals)—grew up playing in The Falcones, the conjunto band of their father, Ringo, Sr. before forming their own group and releasing a self-titled debut album in 2004.
The brothers, who grew up in Texas with family roots stretching into Mexico, have honed a radio-friendly stew of influences they call Texican rock and roll. They bring it to the Colonial Theatre tonight.
Rock history is dotted with brother combos who made great music out of their clash of personalities. Yet the Los Lonely Boys exhibit a remarkable rapport, claiming to wake up the morning after a long tour and call each other to make plans.
"We get a little surprised when we hear other siblings don't get along so well," Henry says in a telephone interview shortly after arriving at the venue in Annapolis for a gig that night. "We find that hard to understand. We just continue to work together and be happy doing it. That's what makes us stand out from a lot of bands that have brothers. We're not like Oasis," he continues, referencing the famously fractious Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam.
When you look at their life stories, there seems little doubt they'd end up in a rock and roll band, touring the world and having a great time doing it. But though he concedes he was "born into it," Garza stresses that each of the brothers made individual choices that led them here.
"We weren't being forced to play music or practice music. Our father basically showed us what he knew, and we loved it so much we just took to it like ducks to water. We just all seemed to be hitting the same spot where we all like to play music. We made the choice and we've been happy with the choice to this day."
Published in Berkshire Eagle, 6/18/10
By Jeremy D. Goodwin
PITTSFIELD—Making music is a family affair for Los Lonely Boys. The trio of Garza brothers—Henry (guitar and vocals), Jojo (bass and vocals) and Ringo (drums and vocals)—grew up playing in The Falcones, the conjunto band of their father, Ringo, Sr. before forming their own group and releasing a self-titled debut album in 2004.
The brothers, who grew up in Texas with family roots stretching into Mexico, have honed a radio-friendly stew of influences they call Texican rock and roll. They bring it to the Colonial Theatre tonight.
Rock history is dotted with brother combos who made great music out of their clash of personalities. Yet the Los Lonely Boys exhibit a remarkable rapport, claiming to wake up the morning after a long tour and call each other to make plans.
"We get a little surprised when we hear other siblings don't get along so well," Henry says in a telephone interview shortly after arriving at the venue in Annapolis for a gig that night. "We find that hard to understand. We just continue to work together and be happy doing it. That's what makes us stand out from a lot of bands that have brothers. We're not like Oasis," he continues, referencing the famously fractious Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam.
When you look at their life stories, there seems little doubt they'd end up in a rock and roll band, touring the world and having a great time doing it. But though he concedes he was "born into it," Garza stresses that each of the brothers made individual choices that led them here.
"We weren't being forced to play music or practice music. Our father basically showed us what he knew, and we loved it so much we just took to it like ducks to water. We just all seemed to be hitting the same spot where we all like to play music. We made the choice and we've been happy with the choice to this day."
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"She Came In Through
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Los Lonely Boys are best known for the breezy-but-swampy hit "Heaven" from their debut album, a song that hit #1 on Billboard's adult contemporary chart. They've released three studio albums, plus a live effort and a 2009 EP 1969 featuring five songs released in that landmark year.
Along the way the group has been able to work with legendary influences like Carlos Santana and Willie Nelson, while honing their own mix of influences. Henry, for instance, is often cited as a disciple of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan as well as bluesman Albert Collins. They've also attracted a new generation of music fans ignited by their amiability and enthusiasm toward the whole enterprise.
"To play music with your brothers and to write songs and create a sound that can touch someone's heart, someone' soul, that can make them dance or bring a tear to their eyes—that's what it's all about," Garza says.
In an industry that stresses easily recognizable genres, Los Lonely Boys have been able to succeed by blending styles, sounds and even cultures, while wrapping it in a commercially appealing sheen.
“Every musician struggles to figure out if they're writing songs that come straight from their heart. It's hard to categorize something that comes straight from the heart. The songs we write, some sound like blues, some sound like country, some sound like pop, some sound like all of these things mixed into one. Then there's the Mexican part, which his our heritage and gets mixed into the songs as well. We just try to put all aspects of us into the music.”
Along the way the group has been able to work with legendary influences like Carlos Santana and Willie Nelson, while honing their own mix of influences. Henry, for instance, is often cited as a disciple of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan as well as bluesman Albert Collins. They've also attracted a new generation of music fans ignited by their amiability and enthusiasm toward the whole enterprise.
"To play music with your brothers and to write songs and create a sound that can touch someone's heart, someone' soul, that can make them dance or bring a tear to their eyes—that's what it's all about," Garza says.
In an industry that stresses easily recognizable genres, Los Lonely Boys have been able to succeed by blending styles, sounds and even cultures, while wrapping it in a commercially appealing sheen.
“Every musician struggles to figure out if they're writing songs that come straight from their heart. It's hard to categorize something that comes straight from the heart. The songs we write, some sound like blues, some sound like country, some sound like pop, some sound like all of these things mixed into one. Then there's the Mexican part, which his our heritage and gets mixed into the songs as well. We just try to put all aspects of us into the music.”
