Live music review: Los Lonely Boys played a lovely acoustic show at O4 Center
On occasion when you write about music, it’s easy to stay in your comfort zone and write about the bands and musicians you have a current relationship with, but where’s the fun and creative stretch in that? Had I stayed firmly planted in the Comfort Zone, I’d have gone grocery shopping after dinner on Sunday night instead of being treated to a really lovely concert at the church-turned sweet-sounding concert venue, The 04 Center with the Los Lonely Boys and Lisa Morales.
Many, many moons ago I was married to a man who had a guitar-playing therapist for a stepdad with decent music taste who really loved the Los Lonely Boys and sent us their first album for a Christmas present. I’ve kept up with them through the years out of curiosity and my appreciation for Texas music, or as the LLB’s call it, Texican. A serious mix of rock n roll, blues, Tejano, country, cumbia, jam band and a healthy side of harmonies from three brothers that just so tightly fall in line with one another vocally and instrumentally.
So I took the opportunity to see them play a sold-out acoustic set at The 04 Center this past Sunday night and was handsomely rewarded.
Lisa Morales (½ of the band Sisters Morales) and her extremely talented guitar player son took the stage before LLB and literally filled my heart with warmth from the sound of her voice, both guitars and the stories she shared about her songs and her family. Sometimes being in the deep throes of perimenopause alter how you hear things and I listened in silence smiling and wiping away tears of musical appreciation.
The Los Lonely Boys came out to a packed house and were clearly stoked and energized even after playing two shows prior to Sunday’s acoustic set. The Los Lonely Boys launched into the first songs each of the brothers first learned to play and then played the songs they wrote as children. Pretty deep stuff about love and loss from a four year old Henry along with all three brothers being taught “Peter Gunn Theme” by their famous dad (Enrique Garza of the Falcones).
They ran through some great songs including my new favorite, “16 Monkeys” from their 2011 album, ROCKPANGO! Give that jam a listen – the brothers spoke of how it made no sense aside from the Batman line, but this stoner vehemently disagrees, this song completely made sense to me, especially after my smoke break between Lisa and LLB’s sets.
Listening to LLB play their songs from the 90s on, I was struck by how sweet their harmonies are after all this time and just how tight these guys are! I mean, they were joking around, telling stories, none of it seemed rehearsed and yet when they turned to play a song they were talking about, it was so ridiculously tight. You can tell they’ve been playing together forever and I hope they continue to do so. It’s truly a gift to get along with your siblings and be able to make such beautiful music with the people you love and trust the most. Love was the overarching theme through the entire performance. I’m willing to bet that everyone left The 04 Center on Sunday night feeling that love.
Be sure to check out “Resurrection”, the latest release from the Los Lonely Boys and go see them if they come through your town!
Photos and video by April Riggs
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