Review: Los Lonely Boys (self-titled Debut)

Not very often these days, does a band come along whose album I really enjoy front to back. Well. a band from San Angelo, TX changed that. :) Los Lonely Boys are a blues-rock group comprised of three brothers: Henry (guitar), JoJo(bass), and Ringo (drums-and yes that’s his real name!) Garza. All three brothers hail from San Angelo, and they all sing. 

They came up through the local Texas scene, blending rock, blues, pop, country. folk, Gospel, and Mexican styles into a unique style all their own. Their father, Enrique Garza, sr, was a Mexican musician in the cojunto style. The brothers picked up their respective instruments and honed their skills with their dad through a number of gigs in the area.

The brothers’ commitment to faith and family shows in their music. Their songs are tight and loose all at the same time, with deep grooves and tight-yet-natural vocal harmonies. They are all fine musicians, but never let their “chops” get in the way of the tunes. Willie Nelson took them under his wing and gave them studio time and exposure. (at least a year before their debut album, I remember seeing them on Farm Aid). Their 2003/2004 debut album was a surprise sleeper hit, on the strength of the hit single “Heaven” which was a smash hit (and later covered by Latino Christian band Salvador). Soon LLB was off and running, with appearances and concerts all over and a Grammy award to boot.

Their debut album shows a tight band that is naturally adept at what they do. They blend all kinds of styles, but the end result never sounds contrived. Blending Stevie Ray Vaughan with The Beatles and Ritchie Valens, LLB has arrived at their “musical burrito theory”. Aided by Nelson and Double Trouble keyboardist Reese Wynans, Los Lonely Boys serve up a surprisingly strong debut album. Singles released from the album are “Heaven”, “More Than Love”, and “Velvet Sky”. Live At The Fillmore and Sacred followed in 2005 and 2006 respectively. This is a band to watch out for. 

((review of Sacred - 2006 forthcoming)