Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2012

Chicano power trio Los Lonely Boys make their Japan debut in a Tokyo one-off slated to assess the possibilities created by their first record release in Japan.

Formed in San Angelo, Texas by brothers Henry (guitar), Jojo (bass), and Ringo (drums) Garza, Los Lonely Boys play a brand of music they call “Texican Rock n’ Roll,” blending aspects of rock, Texas blues, soul, country and Mexican pop.

The group has just released its first album in Japan in the form of Rockpango, which in Spanglish translates loosely to “rock party.” The trio’s sparkling three-part harmonies form the basis of the band’s rootsy sound along with Henry’s scintillating guitar work.

Emerging in Nashville in the ’90s, Los Lonely Boys made their first splash with their 2004 self-titled debut recorded at country legend Willie Nelson’s Austin, Texas studio. The album went double platinum and garnered a Best Pop Performance Grammy for the No. 1 hit single “Heaven,” after which the Garza brothers toured the world.

Although excellent songwriters, singers and musicians, Los Lonely Boys’ appeal in Japan is hard to gauge. They seem neither Latin enough to appeal to the salsa dance crowd, nor rock enough to find fans among the skinny jeans set.

Still, the sheer quality of their musicianship seems likely to at the very least get them a spot on the bill at promoter Smash’s Fuji Rock or Asagiri festival.

Club Quattro, Feb 7 (listing).