Los Lonely Boys

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.

“He had ways to keep the flow going, capture the mood,” Jojo says. “He’d be there with us, standing there and jamming with this percussion thing he made, like a microphone shaker thing. And he’d play football with us and everything! When we got together with him he was one of the guys. His last name when he was with us wasn’t Jordan. He was Steve Garza!” It wouldn’t have mattered who he was, though, if Los Lonely Boys couldn’t deliver. And in this batch of songs they’ve established their own distinctive voices as writers and performers, while staying connected to the solid grounding of their musical roots. Though reluctant to single out any one song as the keystone, the brothers all say it’s no accident which one provided the collection’s title.

“They were all so magical, but for me the one that is the foundation is the name of the album, ‘Forgiven,’ ” says Henry. “When we played that song, for me in my heart and I hope my brothers too, I got that vibe that we knew what this was all about again, what we’re all about. It’s an actual prayer that’s turned into a song, purposefully made that way. For me it was just that whole experience. Felt like a cleansing.”

Typically, the Garzas each speak of their achievements in terms of the others’ contributions.

“Whenever my brothers would come and show me melodies they were coming up with, they were amazing,” says Ringo. “We’ve been playing a long time, but they still amaze me with things that are in their souls and hearts and minds. There’s one song, ‘Love Don’t Care About Me,’ that Jojo wrote. That song is something else! I can literally see my brother’s heart, where he’s coming from. It makes me cry. It’s crazy about how they can create a song and it’s what I feel, when I pray or am talking to myself.”

Of “Staying With Me,” the album’s first single, Henry says, “I went to Jojo’s house and he showed me this song. I got goose bumps. My brother had created something right from the soul.” For Henry and Jojo, the proudest moment on the album may be “Superman,” Ringo’s lead singing debut. “Ringo’s gonna be heard now!” Henry says.

“It’s a song I wanted to write for my wife,” Ringo explains. “And Henry suggested the Superman theme, and I took if from there. I never sang lead vocals before. I enjoy singing with my brothers. They would always ask me if I wanted to sing lead, but I just wasn’t ready. Third album, I guess.”Another very brotherly instance came with the roaring version of “I’m a Man” – this time with “brother” Steve Jordan fully in the fold. “That was one of those moments – it was just ‘Holy crap, man!’ ” says Henry. “We were jamming on something we had been working on and all of a sudden I started singing ‘I’m a Man.’ I was just joking around. And Steve was there freaking out.” Explains Jordan, “It was one song I always thought they could do that was really cool. But I was going to take my time approaching them with it – they’re songwriters, and you don’t want to go in pitching a tune when they haven’t finished their own yet. But one day we’re setting up, and Henry started playing if and I said, ‘I can’t believe you’re playing this tune!’ Henry said, ‘My dad used to play this for us.’ So it was incredible.”

That the song came to them via their father ties everything together for Los Lonely Boys. While they cite a wide range of influences, from Buddy Guy and Texas icon Stevie Ray Vaughan to mentors Santana and Nelson to the Beatles (listen to “Make It Better” for a taste of how they blend the Fab Four into Texas blues), the biggest influence on them will always be Enrique “Ringo” Garza Sr., who had his own group, the Falcones, with his brothers playing the Texas conjunto circuit in the ‘70s and ‘80s. His sons’ first public performances, in fact, came singing backup with their father as children. “Our father is our big inspiration, of course,” says Ringo. “We had a picture of him taped up through the whole recording process. I just kept staring at it, thinking what kind of sounds he’d hear. I do all this to impress my father and my brothers.”

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.

“We want to let everybody know that we’ve worked the hardest, really trying to please each other and the fans,” says Ringo. “We thank the good Lord that we’re able to. Out of all the success we’ve had, it’s still amazing to hear fans sing the words to the songs we’ve written with our hearts. We write them and think probably nobody will like this. But we play them and people sing them back to us! Amazing! It’s pretty crazy and we appreciate it so much. If I could give a hug to every crowd member, it wouldn’t be enough.”

He pauses to consider the journey.” We came from a town with nothing. Came from nothing but love – and brotherhood. Familia. That’s what drove us.”