I was more into the new wave and punk sounds of the ’80s, but over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate the spectacle that is spandex-clad, big-haired ’80s rock ’n’ roll, and if it’s your jam, there’s a new band in town that you’re going to want to meet.
“I started a new band called Rock Lord. Nothing pretentious with that name of course,” quipped drummer Ray Rocha, who’s perhaps best known as drummer of the AC/DC tribute act High Voltage. “We’re playing rock hits and anthems relating to big hair, spandex, and MTV’s glory years. I’m talking Whitesnake, Ozzy, Def Leppard, Dokken, Ratt, Bon Jovi, and the like.”
True to the era, Rock Lord is loud and proud.
“It’s a five-piece, two-guitar attack,” Rocha continued. “This is a celebration. Traveling heavy, and true to the period, I am bringing a 10-piece drum set! So fun.”
Sounds very Tommy Lee and Mötley Crüe of Rocha. Lee and Rocha both play DW drums, so it makes sense. Rocha’s been drumming since he was a kid. His pops, Ernest Rocha, was an accomplished pianist and arranger in LA, so he comes from a musical background.
“Rock Lord is a high-energy rock band dedicated to bringing the thunderous sound and unforgettable spirit of ’80s arena rock back to the stage,” their website said. “Rock Lord encourages the audience to come dressed to impress with outfits of the era. Aqua Net is a thing!”
Rock Lord hits the stage at The Pour House on Saturday, Aug. 1 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; tickets starting at $12.56 at my805tix.com).
Real brothers and metaphorical brothers
Whether we’re talking the actual brothers of Los Lonely Boys (Henry, Jojo, and Ringo Garza) or the metaphorical brothers of Los Lobos (David Hidalgo, Louie Pérez Jr., Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano, and Steve Berlin), both acts embrace their Chicano heritage—cultural pride and a devotion to social justice and political consciousness.
Nederlander Concerts presents both bands at Vina Robles Amphitheatre on Saturday, Aug. 1 (doors at 6:30, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $47 to $172 at ticketmaster.com).
Los Lobos are the elders, a legendary band that formed more than 50 years ago in East LA and grew into a global phenomenon. Over the years, they’ve expanded far beyond their rock early days and debut 1978 album, Just Another Band from East L.A., stretching into Tex-Mex, zydeco, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional music such as cumbia, boleros, and norteños. With 17 studio albums to their credit, they have a deep catalog from which to draw. My personal favorite remains 1992’s Kiko, which I’m happy to listen to again and again.
Compared to Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys are relative newcomers, having formed in San Angelo, Texas, in 1996 and playing actively until 2019, when they took a hiatus to focus on their families before returning to the road in 2022. They call their bluesy sound “Texican rock ’n’ roll,” but you’ll also hear elements of soul and roots music.
These two bands deliver.
Welcome to the Sage Motel
Good Medicine and Numbskull present Monophonics at The Siren on Sunday, July 26 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $30.08 at goodmedicinepresents.com), and the band’s not shy about singing its own praises.
“The world’s premier psychedelic soul band, Monophonics, cordially invites you to attend the grand re-opening of the once thriving, once vibrant establishment, the legendary Sage Motel. A place where folks experience the highs and lows of human existence. A place where big dreams and broken hearts live, where people arrive without ever knowing how they got there. It’s where individuals find themselves at a crossroads in life,” their bio reads.
Sage Motel is the title of their 2022 concept album, their sixth studio album, that weaves the fictional tale of a motel and the travelers it welcomes.
“What started as a quaint motor lodge and a common pit stop for travelers and truckers in the 1940s morphed into a Bohemian’s hang by the 1960s and 1970s. Artists, musicians, and vagabonds of all types would stop there as seedy ownership pumped obnoxious amounts of money into high-end renovations, eventually attracting some of the most prominent acts of the era. But when the money ran out, The Sage Motel devolved into a place where you rent by the hour,” their bio continued.
Come on in and meet your fellow travelers. Kendra Morris opens.
Local dance-off
Get ready to shake your moneymaker, your groove thang, your on-duty booty on The Siren dance floor when Funk Junket and Loving Mosh share the bill on Saturday, July 25 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $8.44 at tixr.com). Both these local acts bring danceable grooves to people ready to move.
“Funk Junket formed in 2023 to celebrate the timeless grooves of African funk, Latin jazz, and world beat musicians such as Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, Willie Colón, and Art Blakey,” their bio explains. “Our funk set features unique interpretations of global beats alongside our original music, highlighting the power of music to unify, inspire, and elevate.”
“The Loving Mosh Band emerged from the chaos of the pandemic, the looming threat of global conflict, and the deep divisions within our communities,” their bio reads. “TLM seeks to create a space for reflection and healing through music. TLM’s music encourages us to embrace our imperfections, see the humor in our struggles, and connect on a deeper level. TLM is a uniting force in the community.”
Also this week at The Siren, Glowing Off the Rails: A Drag & Burlesque Experience comes on Friday, July 24 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $23.77 at tixr.com). “Step into the neon haze and let yourself glow off the rails—a high-energy, blacklight-fueled night of drag, burlesque, and unapologetic self-expression,” organizers announced.
Bridges Band plays on Saturday, July 25 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; free). Expect blues, R&B, jazz, and rock.
Lefty Gunplay brings his “Bona fide Grammy-winning hardcore hip-hop” on Wednesday, July 29 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $35.41 at tixr.com). The LA rapper was born Franklin Holladay; he came onto the scene in 2023 and has been very prolific since.
Frankie & The Pool Boys plays on Thursday, July 30 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $18.47 at tixr.com). The Siren said to expect an evening of funky surf and rockabilly tunes. They play originals instrumentals in the first wave SoCal beach music style. Instrumental garage surf rock act Trabants opens.
Psyche out
SLO Brew Live at Rod & Hammer Rock has just one show lined up this week: Meatbodies on Sunday, July 26 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $27.21 at ticketweb.com).
“Formed in Los Angeles by guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Chad Ubovich, Meatbodies have become one of the defining acts in the modern West Coast psych-garage underground,” their bio explains. “Blending fuzzed-out riffs, heavy psych, punk energy, and sprawling neo-psychedelic textures, the band channels influences ranging from classic garage rock and proto-metal to noise rock and cosmic psychedelia.”
Local favs Pancho & The Wizards opens.
Hip-hop and chillwave
Good Vibes has two very cool but very different shows at the Fremont Theater this week starting with rapper Chris Travis on Friday, July 24 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $54.56 or $127.69 VIP at prekindle.com). Hailing from Memphis, the rapper and producer began his career in 2012 and then joined the hip-hop collective Raider Klan in 2013. He’s also a former member of Seshollowaterboyz, a collective with fellow rappers Bones, Xavier Wulf, and Eddy Baker.
Toro y Moi, aka Chaz Bear, plays on Thursday, July 30 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $42.40 at prekindle.com). This highly versatile, impossible to pigeonhole artist began his career in the early 2010s as a chillwave pioneer but has since released indie pop, psyche pop, synth funk, alt-R&B, dance music, and more. CASI opens.
On a Mission
This Friday, July 24, Concerts in the Plaza continues with opening singer-songwriter Jineanne Coderre at 5 p.m. followed by headliner Resination at 6. Coderre has a lovely voice and blends R&B, pop, and jazz. Go online and find her video for “Cool.” Local reggae heroes Resination keep the street party going with their socially conscious sounds. These concerts are always a blast.
Trumpet’s call
Former The Tonight Show Band member Kye Palmer plays the next Famous Jazz Artist Series at the Woodlands Concert Hall (715 Main St., Cambria) on Sunday, July 26 (5 p.m.; $35 tickets, reservations at (805) 935-9007 or charlie@talsanmuic.com). He’ll be joined by Dylan Johnson (bass) and Darrell Voss (drums) as well as series producers Charlie and Sandi Shoemake (vines and vocals respectively).
Go big!
The Basin Street Regulars Hot Jazz Club presents Brasscals! at the Pismo Beach Vets Hall on Sunday, July 26 (11 a.m. jam; concert at 12:30 p.m.; all ages; $15 at my805tix.com). They call themselves “Santa Barbara’s one-and-only street brass band.” “Our unique sound gets any crowd moving with an explosion of acoustic joy that spans a variety of genres, from funk and jazz to klezmer, Balkan, pop, Latin, and even some originals.”
The group boasts 15 or more members ages 25 to 89. Expect woodwinds, brass, a banjo, a washboard, and one bull horn.
Full Swing from Los Osos opens the show after the open jam. ∆
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
