When they struck success with their 2004 song “Heaven,” Los Lonely Boys might have looked like an overnight sensation. But the Texas-based trio of brothers – Jojo, Henry and Ringo Garza – had been together as a band for a decade. And now, more than ten years after the success of “Heaven,” the group is touring in belated support of its most recent album, 2014's Revelation.
The past few years have been difficult for Los Lonely Boys. On tour in early 2013, guitarist Henry Garza fell from a stage and suffered serious injuries than would necessitate a long period of recovery. Bassist Jojo ran into some trouble with his vocal cords; that sidelined him for awhile as well. And in 2015, the brothers' mom passed away.
All those events caused Los Lonely Boys to take stock of their lives. “When things like that happen, we see it as a sign from our Father up above,” says Jojo. “He's kind of telling us either to speed it up or slow it down, or maybe to stop, listen, look and observe.”
But after time spent back home in Texas doing just that, Los Lonely Boys have returned to the concert circuit, determined to pick up right where they left off. Last year they took part in Quiero Creedence, an all-star album featuring bands and artists from the Latino community. Their reading of CCR's classic “Born on the Bayou” is a highlight of that disc.
The trio's current tour will feature not only songs from Revelation, but from their breakthrough 2004 self-titled album. “To be honest with you, everybody really likes to hear the first album,” Jojo says. “We like to please as well, and when it comes to live shows, we try to blend all of our albums.”
Bands of siblings often have a reputation for internal disharmony: the Everly Brothers, the Kinks' Ray and Dave Davies and the Gallagher brothers in Oasis are all legendary for their in-fighting. “I'd be lying if I said it was all peace and harmony,” laughs Jojo.
“The truth is, without those dark times and those hard times, you can't really find the peace and harmony. Being that we've been [together] all our lives, there's a little bit of butting heads here and there. But for the most part, we've all been on the same path for as long as I can remember.”
On past tours, Los Lonely Boys have played everything from small clubs to festivals. But on this run of nearly three dozen dates, the group plays mostly so-called showcase venues: concert halls and theaters. Jojo says the band intentionally set out to schedule in those kinds of rooms.
“That's why it's called a showcase venue,” he says, “because you're there to showcase something specific, and people are in the mindset that that's what they're there for. There's not going to be a lot of talking, eating and things like that. And even if there is, it's all just based around having a good time.”
Los Lonely Boys
More info: local.cltampa.com
