By GREGG WILLIS Special to the Daily Press
The Delgado Brothers band blew the blues away last Friday night at Harvelle’s Blues Club in Santa Monica, with their superior musicianship and soul stirring songs keeping the dance floor packed with sweaty happy people all night long.
Early in the evening, drummer-vocalist Stevie Delgado commented on the reasonable $10 cover charge and promised that the band would give $200 worth all night long. Delgado, his friends and brothers made good on that promise.
They played with self assurance — as if they were seasoned pros. Combined with an enthusiastic crowd, the Delgado Brothers made for a classic night at Harvelle’s.
The sound and continuity of the group has a lot to do with their roots in El Monte and at Rosemead High. Brothers Bobby, Joey and Stevie Delgado are joined by childhood friend Ray Solis on percussion and Dave Kelley on the Hammond B3 organ. They have played together for almost 20 years.
Guitarist Joey credits older brother Bobby with providing their early musical influences.
“He turned us on to all the great stuff when we were kids,” Joey said, adding the list includes Freddy, B.B. and Albert King, Little Milton, Eric Clapton, Peter Green from early Fleetwood Mac and of course John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.
“Growing up in El Monte we didn’t really get a lot of Latino influence, we all spoke English and it wasn’t until we played in Northern California that people started calling us that Latino blues band,” Joey laughed.
“Growing up in El Monte we didn’t really get a lot of Latino influence, we all spoke English, and it wasn’t until we played in Northern California that people started calling us that Latino blues band.” — — JOEY DELGADO Delgado Brothers guitarist
The Delgado Brothers’ musical stew has been simmering for quite awhile and some very tasty music is the result of years of playing together. Their music calls to mind early Fleetwood Mac, Santana, Los Lobos, Stevie Winwood, or even the J. Geils Band, yet their music is distinctive and unique.
Joey Delgado is one of the finest guitar players in LA, or anywhere else for that matter. He provides the stellar musicianship that places this band into an elite status. Joey is a stylist, capable of playing any type of music, with an awesome technical talent, backed up by passionate playing that comes straight from the heart.
Little brother Stevie has a wonderful voice, full of feeling, sweet and spiritual, with a playful side that is endearing and fits the spirit of their music so well. He writes the lyrics and Joey writes the music to their songs. Older brother Bobby has the wisdom and musical chops to hold it together on bass guitar and Dave Kelley on the Hammond B3 is sublime as an accompanist and incredible as a soloist. Ray Solis tops off the musical mix with a frenzied, rhythmic style of percussion that anchors, energizes and flavors the music.
British Blues musician John Mayall’s last album, “Along For The Ride,” contained two songs by the Delgado Brothers — “If I Don’t Get Home” and “Something About My Baby.”
The band used the royalty money to self produce a CD, which was recorded in the living room of the family home in El Monte.
“My mom was in the nursing home and we wanted to do something special there before we sold the house,” Joey recalled.
Joey doubled as production coordina-tor and John Avila served as recording engineer. True to family, the band’s label is called “Bell Asher,” after the nickname of the Delgado Brother’s mother and to acknowledge the street that they lived on.
The resulting CD, “A Brothers Dream,” could be the key element that ensures that the Delgado Brothers take their rightful place in the national and international music world. Make no mistake, this is a band that is capable of blowing away any crowd, anywhere, anytime.
The music of the Delgado Brothers has a universal appeal that will captivate any music lover.
There are currently labels interested in the CD, but no firm offers have been made yet. That could change soon, as the nationally syndicated radio show, “Blues Deluxe,” will feature a song off the CD, “Leave Me Alone,” on the Sunday, July 6 broadcast, which ensures national exposure.
The band also is excited about the Aug. 1 CD release party at the Mayan Theatre in LA, which will be sponsored by Latino Weekly.
“We have never played before a primarily Latino audience before,” Joey said. “And we are very excited about the opportunity.”
The band also is scheduled to appear at a festival in British Columbia over the Labor Day weekend.
Hats off to Harvelle’s for once again providing world class entertainment at local prices. Proprietor Cevin Clark continues to prove that he’s committed to bringing the best entertainment possible to Santa Monica. Let’s hope that the future success of the Delgado Brothers doesn’t keep them from coming back to Harvelle’s again and again. (Gregg Willis has toured as a driver for bands such as Jack Bruce, Dave Mason, David Bowie, The Who, REO, Def Leppard, Prince, Van Halen, George Benson, J. Geils Band and many more.)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 4, 2003. Read the original PDF.