The music created by Los Lonely Boys – brothers Henry, Jojo, and Ringo Garza – is an amalgam ensuing from a deeply musical upbringing fostered by boundless influences. Combining components of rock, Texas blues, brown-eyed soul, nation, and tejano, they name it “Texican rock and roll,” its sound the product of three lifetimes spent taking part in collectively and growing a language that makes use of no phrases however is, as Jojo says, “…constructed by way of vibrations and sound.”

“We will have a look at one another and never say something, as a result of we instinctively know the place we’re going,” provides Ringo. “It’s exhausting to clarify. Actual blood is thicker than music.”
Raised in San Angelo, Texas, their father, Ringo Garza, Sr., additionally grew up in a sibling band, the Falcones, taking part in conjunto music throughout Texas within the ’70s and ’80s. After they break up, he went solo, backed by his three sons, none of whom had but reached their teenagers. Within the ’90s, they moved to Nashville, the place the sons finally stepped out on their very own; their first album was recorded at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studio, in Austin.

In 2024, the band is concurrently marking the twentieth anniversary of that debut (which reached double-platinum standing and yielded the Grammy-winning hit single “Heaven”) whereas additionally celebrating a brand new album, Resurrection, its title symbolic in additional methods than one.

“That’s what we really feel has occurred, that we’ve been resurrected as a unit, as brothers, as a household doing music and hoping to proceed the legacy,” stated Henry Garza of its timing. “I feel every thing is written within the stars and the heavens above. We by no means anticipated any of the success we’ve skilled – we had zero expectations – so when it occurred, it was fairly overwhelming. The music enterprise can drain you.”

The Garzas have paid the toll caused by creating, recording, and touring; in 2010, medical doctors found lesions on Jojo’s vocal cords, inflicting the band to cancel concert events within the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Then, after a present in February of 2013, Henry was on his technique to shake fingers with followers when he fell 12 toes from the darkish entrance fringe of a stage into the orchestra pit, struggling a fractured neck together with herniated discs. In 2019, they collectively stepped away from music. Then got here the pandemic. They returned in Might of ’22, prompted by an invite to open exhibits for The Who.

We caught as much as Henry Garza after he’d returned dwelling from Austin, the place their father was starting restoration after concurrently struggling a stroke and coronary heart assault. They had been on a tour cease in Cleveland when he was stricken, and dropped every thing to be with him, which meant cancelling a handful of East Coast dates.

Impressed by his “academics” – SRV, B.B. King, Clapton, Cesar Rosas, David Hidalgo, Chuck Berry – the 41-year-old describes his personal taking part in type in lyrical phrases moderately than evaluating tones or licks. Primarily a Strat man (strung .013 to .054 with an unwound G), he’ll additionally seize a 335 or anything that quells his curiosity. By the years, his highway rig has consisted of blackface Twin Reverb reissues and a Marshall JCM2000, operating by way of reissue Ibanez TS-9s and a Vox wah, with a Leslie speaker or Echoplex generally including spice.

Our dialog began at his beginnings.

When did you begin taking part in an instrument?
I picked up guitar and wrote my first music once I was 4 years outdated. It was known as, “She Left Me” (laughs). It was a few lady, despite the fact that I’d had nothing to do with ladies (laughs). That was the sheer affect of our father. I used to be desirous to be like him, and each music he confirmed us, from “La Bamba” to the Beatles, was a few lady. I performed it with this little bitty classical guitar dad had gotten me, with coloured dots on the fretboard and numbers underneath the frets. I keep in mind it effectively.

We inform folks on a regular basis about how, as children, we thought Dad wrote all of the songs that he was exhibiting us – “She Loves You, “Assist!” “Lengthy Tall Texan,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Kansas Metropolis.” We’d hear them on the radio and we inform him, “Hey, they’re taking part in your music, Daddy!” And he wouldn’t deny it (laughs).

However yeah, music was very regular and pure in our household, and everyone picked up a guitar, accordion, bajo sexto, or drums, they usually sang. And that was on each side – mother’s and pa’s. As quickly as Jojo was sufficiently old to choose up a guitar, he began taking part in. He’s left-handed however discovered to play righty.

How about Ringo?
Ringo was destined from delivery, man (laughs) – he was going to be a drummer! Had no alternative. As a child, he was a hyper little dude – the one who jumped on the trampoline and did flips. Once we began to play with Dad, he sat Ringo on the drums and he took to it like a duck to water. Dad was doing rhythm guitar and I used to be doing leads, so Jojo stated, “Properly, I assume I’m taking part in bass,” and he grew to become a monster at it. He’s an amazing guitarist as effectively. He can jam.

How outdated had been you if you began backing your dad?
I feel Ringo was seven, so Jojo was 9 and I used to be 10.

What kind of gigs did you play?
We had been doing gigs round San Angelo, taking part in all of the little bars we may and passing the hat, tip jar, and guitar case (laughs).

Do you keep in mind a few of the songs you had been taking part in?
Oh yeah! We performed every thing from Willie and Waylon to The Beatles, Fat Domino to Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley tunes, each High 40 nation tune you can consider, and Mexican music. We had been a bit of Mexican-American household jukebox.

What was your guitar again then?
I had a Kalamazoo, a Concord, an Applause acoustic that I performed that like a lead guitar, plugged into Boss pedals (laughs).

I used to be taking part in no matter my dad may decide up at a pawn store or borrow from a good friend. It was at all times an affordable guitar. The primary electrical I thought-about mine was a Silvertone amp-in-case.

Did it play fairly effectively? Was it comfy?
It was like the right dimension for me – had a short-scale neck and the white tape across the physique, the lipstick pickup. I performed the crap out of that guitar and discovered quite a lot of issues on it.

How lengthy did you guys again your dad?
We performed with Dad ’til I used to be 18, Jojo was 17, and Ringo was 15. We began doing our personal factor as a result of Dad at all times taught us to consider that the sky’s the restrict.

What do you recall about your first gig?
The primary present we did was in a spot in Atlanta known as Jocks and Jills, and we had been terrified. Dad was the entrance man who at all times spoke on the mic and was actually good at it. However we by no means spoke, so we had been crapping our pants onstage, making an attempt to determine what to say and what to play (laughs). We simply type of winged it. I keep in mind being super-nervous.

That was proper after my first son handed away from SIDS. I had simply turned 18, and Dad at all times instructed me, “Son, make that guitar cry!” I used to be at all times making an attempt to do this, nevertheless it wasn’t till I went by way of that that I actually had an actual motive to make that factor cry. That guitar grew to become the outlet for my emotional ache. It actually saved me. After all it was household first, man, however the guitar… she means loads to me as a result of she saved me from quite a lot of dangerous, ugly, darkish issues. From that time on, I put every thing I had of my soul and my life drive into the guitar.

Had been you writing songs on the time?
Yeah, it was at all times a pure factor. Generally I might write a complete one, and generally me and Jojo would get collectively and write one, or it may very well be me, Jojo, and Ringo. Dad and Mother would even become involved. It was one thing we did as a household.

Did you’ve got a full set of authentic music, or had been you mixing in covers?
We had been mixing in stuff that we knew rising up – “Johnny B. Goode” “La Bamba,” “Voodoo Chile,” “Pleasure and Pleasure” and any blues we may do.

We finally received the itch to current our personal tackle our influences and write songs that injected our tradition. With my guitar taking part in, I at all times attempt to incorporate my heritage and tradition. There’s quite a lot of bajo sexto chords and timing issues we’ve at all times executed naturally. We needed to make a degree with our music and do one thing that was from us however on the identical time paid homage to our academics – Stevie to Ritchie to Stevie Marvel, together with Ronnie Milsap, Mel Tillis, Willie Nelson. We’re simply college students of the commerce, making an attempt to go it on. Actually, we had been simply making an attempt to be like Dad. It was his dream to do what we’re doing. He fell in love with nation music and Elvis Presley, and began taking part in guitar when he was eight years outdated. He needed to be these guys, and we needed to be like him and make him proud. That’s the place all of it comes from, and that’s what we had been making an attempt to be as we discovered ourselves and our sound.

There’s a bittersweet story behind your first hit.
Yeah, “Heaven” wasn’t meant to be a music. A yr or so after I’d misplaced my son, I used to be nonetheless going by way of a troublesome time. I keep in mind being on my knees, praying, and it was like a bolt of lightning hit me. The person upstairs instructed me, “Write this down!” So I did. After all I didn’t realize it was going to turn into what it did. To me, it’s one of many world’s loudest prayers, and it nonetheless will get performed fairly a bit.

I can’t take credit score for something that has occurred in our lives. To me, it seems like a film. It’s unreal, being Mexican-American, coming from a really poor life-style to expertise any type of success. The tragedies and trials we’ve been by way of as a household and as people… it has simply been loopy.

Musicians who play with household learn about “blood concord” and the way siblings talk in a different way than most different musicians, particularly onstage.
I consider in that, but additionally there’s one thing within the water and the air and the filth within the nice state of Texas. From Buddy Holly to Stevie Ray to Willie Nelson, quite a lot of cats have this intuition for music.

What does your guitar type draw out of your academics?
I attempted to be taught every thing rising up, so once I’m up there taking part in, with out desirous about it, I’m making an attempt my greatest to imitate Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray, Chuck Berry, and quite a lot of nation guitarists I didn’t even know the names of once I began. I’m making an attempt to sound like Carlos Santana once I’m getting in that route. If you observe a lot, it begins to turn into what Bruce Lee known as “unnatural naturalness,” which is a mixture of intuition and management working in concord. Issues hit all by themselves. And I feel that’s what all musicians and all artists do. Music is positively like that, and I give all credit score to all my academics, and pay homage to them. I hope folks hear that in my taking part in.

Are you a Strat man due to any sure participant?
Yeah, the primary person who I noticed taking part in a Strat was Ritchie Valens, and I felt a connection with that cat rising up as a result of he was Mexican-American and performed rock and roll in Spanish. I keep in mind Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba, with the sunburst Strat. I needed one so dangerous. However in fact there was no approach I may afford a Strat.

I consider each guitar has its place, and now I play something from a Gretsch to a Gibson 335 to a Tele to Strat. I’ve at all times liked the flexibility in a Strat; you may’t make all the opposite guitars sound like a Strat, however a Strat can sound like all the opposite guitars. That’s what I really like about it.

When did you get your first Strat?
Let me see… it was my fourteenth or fifteenth birthday. We had been dwelling in Lubbock at the moment and I keep in mind coming dwelling from faculty and discovering one laying on my mattress. I walked in and, man, I used to be simply in tears. She was Sweet Apple Purple, so I assumed, “Oh, her identify was Sweet!” I at all times identify my guitars. However I feel it was only a Mexico Strat; all my Strats gave the impression to be Mexico Strats. And I do what all Mexicans do with our automobiles – we customise ’em a bit of bit, put some hydraulics on it, paint job, completely different guts and every thing (laughs).

What do you usually do to decorate them up?
Properly, I used to alter the necks; I’d put jumbo frets on them, some heavy pickups – I like good, thick-sounding pickups; I’m a giant Texas Particular man. However yeah, I’d pull issues aside and put ’em again collectively, despite the fact that I didn’t know what the hell I used to be doing (laughs), and I’d should take them to Ish Flores, who’s been my guitar physician for 20-plus years.

What’s your most popular neck form?
Oh, I really like a giant fats neck from the late-’60s – ’67, ’68. Spherical and fats is my go-to and there was a time once I at all times tried to get a particular factor, however I’ve discovered to understand all of ’em.

What conjures up the names of your guitars?
The guitar itself, and I often identify a guitar immediately once I first see it. My primary is Tejana, which implies “Texas girl.” I even have Pink, one known as Blue Haven, one known as Marilyn that’s a white Strat with lipstick pickups. I’ve Sweet, and I’ve one named after my spouse, Roxy. Amber has a tiger-stripe flamed high with an attractive amber end.

Why did you all resolve to step away from the enterprise in 2019?
It’s loopy, from the time I used to be 18 all the best way up till then, we hadn’t had a break our entire lives. It was pedal to the metallic, giving all of it we received within the music enterprise. Covid was spooky, and what was principally a curse was additionally, for us, a blessing as a result of we’d by no means had time like that – ever – to simply sit and replicate.

I feel again about how we’d been taking part in and taking part in and taking part in and taking part in, not likely understanding what was happening. It was like we had been zombies. I jammed with Carlos Santana? No approach, man. I jammed with Dickey Betts? No approach. I jammed with Willie Nelson? No approach, man. However we did all this stuff with our heroes. It was a loopy, loopy trip.

Let’s dig into the brand new album, Resurrection.
I really like the file and actually loved doing it, getting to precise myself and the influences I really like.

How did the songs come collectively?
For us, every music is sort of a child being born. I’ll begin one then Jojo and I’ll sit down and end one thing. A few of the songs on Resurrection had been within the vault for years; “Pure Factor” has been round no less than 20 years and we introduced it to life with Ringo singing. A few of the songs I’d began and confirmed Jojo and he was like, “Yeah, this can work nice,” and he’d throw some modifications in it. Our course of is only a bouncing-off-each-other type of factor.

Everyone does every thing.
Yeah, and we credit score one another even when one among us solely provides one phrase to a lyric, as a result of we do it collectively out of our love and respect for one another. Sure, generally I’ll write a music and my brothers will come over and need to change the hell out of it (laughs), however generally Jojo will write a music and I’ll need to change the hell out of it. Generally we’ll simply put the music to it and it simply works.

You talked about that’s the first time you used your individual studio…
By Covid, we had been capable of put one collectively and get a bit of tech savvy. We’ve got 16 channels of Rupert Neve preamps, Professional Instruments, in fact. There’s a lot at your fingertips now versus tape, man.

Are there just a few songs that you just take heed to extra usually since you particularly dig the guitar components – solos, or melodies?
“Can’t Get No Love” is a cool one as a result of my taking part in mixes issues I discovered from Vince Gill, Mark Knopfler, Stevie, and Chet Atkins. I just like the solo.

I’ve listened to “Pure Factor” again and again as a result of it got here to fruition after so lengthy. It’s an attractive music and I really like listening to Ringo sing it. My oldest son, who can also be a guitar participant, watched me doing the solo. I used to be tearing up, crying, and I checked out him and he was tearing up. Each time I hear that music, I get this psychological image of him me with tears in his eyes, telling me “That’s the one, Daddy.”

There are different songs on the file that do this for me. And all the solos have particular which means; I do know the place I used to be, what was happening within the studio with my brothers. It hits, and there’s an actual emotional connection.

I don’t learn music or actually write issues. I sit and hit “Go” after which attempt to discover one thing. Generally it’ll take without end and I’ll should take a break then come again and provides it one other go. Every part relies on really feel and listening to a second in time. That’s one factor I hate about recording – making an attempt to seize a spontaneous second, and it’s exhausting to catch or put it on proper, you understand? It’s exhausting to simply seize it. “That’s the take.” Generally it’ll occur. On our first file we did the instrumental in a single take.

However when you’ve got the entry to your individual studio, you don’t really feel a lot strain over paying 1000’s of {dollars} for each hour. So there’s quite a lot of consolation.

Discuss “I Let You Assume That You Do,” which is among the harder-rocking songs, with that shuffle and a few kick-ass slide taking part in.
That got here from simply sitting round, jamming. I used to be really working a unique music when that one was born. I used to be like, “This sounds cool! I’ve simply received to consider one thing cool to say.”

I’ve at all times needed to experiment extra with slide, and having our studio let me do this. The slide is a bit again within the combine, nevertheless it’s received all of the affect of Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray in there. I’m a giant George Harrison slide fan, man; I love his slide taking part in, and I integrated quite a lot of that on this file.

I consider within the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and whereas writing it, I considered Jesus singing: “Hey, I allow you to suppose that you just do. Ain’t no refusing me.” That’s the place it was going, nevertheless it may be about talking to a girl, saying, “You ain’t fooling me. You strive, however you lose.” So I assumed it was cool. The music has an amazing bluesy really feel and I liked when Jojo put bass to it. The half the place it goes to the solo has this Hendrix vibe that jogs my memory of “Freeway Chile.” Writing it, I had that in thoughts. It’s only a enjoyable music and provides what we name “Texican rock and roll.”

How did the groove come collectively for “See Your Face”?
That’s a narrative and a half. I keep in mind sitting in my bed room; I had the window open and I used to be considering of my son who handed away. He lived for 5 months, so I’ve a reasonably good reminiscence of his face and his smile. I used to be desirous about him, but additionally desirous about Mother (Ed word: their mom handed away in 2017). I needed to say one thing about the way you don’t need to overlook somebody. You understand how if you miss anyone for thus lengthy you generally overlook what they appear to be? However then a reminiscence can pop up and also you get to see ’em once more… however you’re not accountable for the reminiscence, and one thing else is available in and also you type of hate that. We want we may preserve it there without end or have management of it

With the riff, I used to be going from a Spanishy/Mexican type of really feel, and I began taking part in the opening on an acoustic.

That’s one of many songs the place Jojo confirmed up and was like, “Man, let’s end that sucker!” And he added all of the “Take me, take me again dwelling.” As a result of that’s what reminiscences do – they take us to a spot that we keep in mind and love and want we had been nonetheless there. That’s the cool factor about reminiscences – you’re happening reminiscence lane and also you don’t need to get off.

How about “Dance With Me”? That lead break has a unique sound and really feel.
That’s Jojo letting free on that solo! We let him take a little bit of the guitar work on that music so folks may hear his type. And I find it irresistible. He did an amazing job and I can solely take credit score for hopefully being considerably of an inspiration. He tells me, “I used to be making an attempt to play what you play, bro!”

I really like for folks to know that my brothers might be versatile, so no person can say, “He’s only a bass participant” or “He’s simply the drummer,” which is why we gave Ringo a lead vocal. “Pure Factor” is him singing his coronary heart out. It’s enjoyable, and it feels good.

Which guitars did you employ on the album?
I used my principal Strat, my blue Gretsch, my 335, and a Tele. I used to be digging the completely different pickups.

Are there any classic devices in your studio?
The one factor that I do have that’s classic is one my brother gave me – a Silvertone 1448 amp in case, as a result of I misplaced my first one years in the past. I’ve a ’77 Telecaster and a ’78 Telecaster that got to me.

I’ve by no means had sufficient cash to spend on a classic guitar versus spending it on diapers (laughs). Possibly within the close to future one will fall in my lap one way or the other, however I’m pleased with what I’ve.

Which amplifiers can we hear most on the file?
It’s a Fender Blues Junior III with only a 10″ speaker. And man, like I stated, I used to be capable of have my fingers on our personal studio and I experimented with microphones and placement. On some tracks, I used 4 mics – two growth mics, a Shure SM7 proper above it, and naturally I had the traditional SM57 proper on the cone of the speaker.

By the years, I’d often go massive within the studio. I’ve used my Marshall cupboard with 4 12s and my two Fender Twins, however for this file I used to be capable of work with simply this little tube amp and make it sound like 10 billion bucks. I had enjoyable making an attempt to attain that. Principally, you’re listening to simply that.

It sounds very cool.
Yeah, I had enjoyable doing it. If you begin studying the recording course of, you see that it’s not a lot about having your full rig, it’s about microphones and mic placement. That’s what you’ve received to mess around with relating to recording. I didn’t know that rising up. I used to be at all times making an attempt to arrange a wall of amps like Carlos Santana and Stevie Ray. I used to be like, “I received to have this, I received to have that.” However with immediately’s know-how and mics, I could make a Pignose sound prefer it’ll fill Wrigley Discipline (laughs), which is actually enjoyable to do. It’s actually neat to share with the world.

Are you getting set to return on the highway?
Yeah, we’re doing a Brotherhood tour with Los Lobos once more, beginning on the West Coast. We’re going to maintain taking part in and letting folks know that Los Lonely Boys are nonetheless round. The identify of the file is Resurrection. That’s what we really feel has occurred – that we’ve been resurrected as a unit, as brothers, as a household doing music and hoping to proceed the legacy.

Resurrection

After an 11-year hiatus, the Grammy-winning Texican trio returns with a brand new album and a renewed sense of objective. Resurrection finds the brothers Garza once more leaning into Tejano-infused soul, blues, rock, and uplifting pop. Drummer Ringo, bassist Jojo, and Henry on guitar and lead vocals, have matured and developed, making a sound that’s acquainted and recent. Ear-friendly snatches of SRV, Santana, and The Beatles might be heard all through, however the trio’s homegrown household type yields wonderful songs.

Tantalizing grooves, catchy hooks, and badass blues licks permeate – add to this resonant lyrics that encourage and uplift. “See Your Face” is about remembering those that have moved on spiritually or geographically. The groove is funky and hypnotic because the rhythm part digs deep in opposition to bodacious Strat tones and Texas angle. “I Let You Assume That You Do” is assured to be a pageant favourite with its blues-rock snarl and relentless Southwest shuffle. Henry is unchained with wonderful slide taking part in. On “Dance With Me,” the stylistic variety continues with this romantic dance minimize and Santana-style guitar phrasing by means of San Angelo, Texas. Henry performs for the music with a less-is-more strategy that favors satisfying style and guitar tones over fretboard extra. “Want You Would” is an on-the-nose positive-message ditty. The sentiment is, “Watch out what you would like for. There may very well be a false gentle, and we don’t need you to get harm.” With modern pop radio airplay in thoughts, it options an upper-atmospheric vocal line, sugary-sweet vocal harmonies, and a slide guitar solo that hits all the precise spots.

Resurrection marks a robust return for the band. In a world of hermetic musical branding, Los Lonely Boys’ honest mix of blues, pop, soul, and Latino roots music is a welcome return to the music world.

This text initially appeared in VG’s September 2024 concern. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.