STG Presents Los Lonely Boys “Acoustic Brotherhood Tour” at The Moore Theatre in Seattle on Wednesday, February 24, 2010.
 

The essence of Forgiven, the gripping third album by Texas trio Los Lonely Boys? “Familia! That’s what I think it represents. Three brothers. True American spirit – or Texican spirit.”

It’s as simple as that, says guitarist Henry Garza of the artistic and emotional breakthrough achieved by him and his siblings, bass player Jojo and drummer Ringo Jr. From the bluesy groove of the opening song “Heart Won’t Tell a Lie” through the yearning plea of the title song, the heartfelt faith of “Love Don’t Care About Me” and a rollicking version of the Steve Winwood/Spencer Davis Group chestnut “I’m a Man,”

Los Lonely Boys has fully realized the potential shown as its first two studio albums, the multi-platinum 2003 debut Los Lonely Boys and 2006’s Sacred (a No. 2 arrival on the Billboard albums chart), made the Texas trio one of the most beloved and acclaimed new arrivals in rock. Each of the three reaches new levels in their playing and singing, Henry and Jojo alternating lead duties and all three joining in both the group musical dynamics and vocal harmonies that can only come with genetic bonds. And there are some new turns as well, including Ringo’s recording debut as a lead singer on the song “Superman.” Powered by passion and true brotherly love, Forgiven is in every note a rock ‘n’ roll classic.

But getting it in the grooves is not a simple matter at all. And that’s where producer Steve Jordan (John Mayer’s Continuum, Herbie Hancock, the music for the upcoming movie Cadillac Records) came in. The plan: Forget the conventional recording studio. Book a soundstage, have the band play. A quick three weeks of sessions, and that’s it! Jordan assembled an ace team of sound artists, headed by renowned engineer Niko Bolas (producer of various Neil Young albums, engineer for Melissa Etheridge, James Taylor, Billy Joel and many others). Together they designed a series of set-ups specifically built to get the most out of the Boys.

“When I saw the room and the whole set-up I was really excited,” Jojo says. “ It was kind of like scientists, a whole new experiment. The vibes we got playing the songs were so much more live, able to be more in tune with each other rather than focusing on other things. It came down to having a good time and being able to play without playing, kind of like the theory of Bruce Lee and martial arts – playing without playing, thinking without thinking, knowing without knowing, being fluid like water.” Certainly it’s no surprise to anyone who embraced the band’s initial, global hit “Heaven,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart and earned a Grammy Award for best pop performance with vocal, or who has seen the group tear up concert stages around the world.

Forgiven is what Los Lonely Boys has been building toward, the fulfillment of the belief and support of not just millions of fans, but such notable mentors as Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana (joining him on tour, as well as writing and playing with him on “I Don’t Want to Lose Your Love” on his 2005 album All That I Am) and Los Lobos (with whom they’ll team for the 2008 edition of the Boys’ Brotherhood Tour). And it builds on the expanding breadth and range shown on such spotlights as their searing version of “Whatever Gets You Through the Night” for the 2006 John Lennon tribute album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. “They’re for real – the Brothers Garza are for real,” Jordan exclaims. “When they play they only play what they really believe in. Nothing’s ever contrived.

And they have the support system to help them get where they’re going. They love making music, really love to do it, and are only getting better.” For Jordan, the course of action was clear.

“Obviously from ‘Heaven’ we knew what great songwriters they are and what kind of sound the group has,” says Jordan, who in addition to his status as an in-demand producer is an elite drummer (Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and too many others to mention). “They sing wonderfully together, three brothers with this chemistry. I went to see them live at the Fillmore last year and it was a great show. They play all-out live. So I thought the best way to capture them, where I would be satisfied and to instill some fun in the process was to capture that live energy and the groove of them playing.” And Jordan stepped right in with the same passion.

Los Lonely Boys formed when the Garzas were in their teens, moving briefly from their home in San Angelo, Texas, to Nashville. After returning to their home state, the trio recorded its first album at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studio, the redhead making a guest appearance (as well as on the follow-up album, on which Ringo Sr. also guested with a featured vocal). But with all the heights they’ve reached, they’ve never taken for granted what they view as blessings from above manifest in both their talents and the affection for them from millions of fans.