Los Abandoned
Encyclopedia
Los Abandoned was an American alternative rock
band from the Los Angeles
, California
area. The band's lyrics were in Spanish
and English
, or a combination of the two known as Spanglish
. Their biggest hits were "Panic-oh!," "Van Nuys (es Very Nice)," and "Stalk U." They released two EPs and one LP, and in 2005, were signed with Neil Young
's Vapor Records.
The band performed with artists such as Zoé
, Café Tacuba, The Breeders
, Calexico, Julieta Venegas
, Molotov
, and Aterciopelados
, and participated in the South by Southwest
festival in Austin
, Texas
. In 2005 they participated in the Latin Alternative Music Conference on the Santa Monica Pier, along with Ely Guerra
and Andrea Echeverri
. They also opened the Bridge School Benefit
for Paul McCartney
, Neil Young
, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
.
On October 5, 2007, the band released a statement on their Myspace page, saying that they had decided to go their separate ways. Their final show was a free performance on October 7, 2007, at TarFest, a film, music, and art festival held at the La Brea Tar Pits
.
Not long after the breakup, Gustavo Arellano wrote that Los Abandoned "reflected the postmodern Latino experience better than any band ever."
Lady P (Pilar Diaz) was the lead singer of Los Abandoned, and played the ukelele, keyboards and rhythm guitar. She was the creative force behind the songwriting, in conjunction with lead guitarist Don Verde. Vira Lata played the bass guitar
, and Dulce, the last addition to the band, played the drums
.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
area. The band's lyrics were in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, or a combination of the two known as Spanglish
Spanglish
.Spanglish refers to the blend of Spanish and English, in the speech of people who speak parts of two languages, or whose normal language is different from that of the country where they live. The Hispanic population of the United States and the British population in Argentina use varieties of...
. Their biggest hits were "Panic-oh!," "Van Nuys (es Very Nice)," and "Stalk U." They released two EPs and one LP, and in 2005, were signed with Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
's Vapor Records.
The band performed with artists such as Zoé
Zoé
Zoé is a Latin Grammy Award-winning Mexican alternative/psychedelic band. They initially formed in Mexico City in 1994, although membership started to stabilize in 1997...
, Café Tacuba, The Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
, Calexico, Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas Percevault , known professionally as Julieta Venegas, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, who sings pop-rock in Spanish. She speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish fluently. She has a twin sister, Yvonne, who is a photographer...
, Molotov
Molotov (band)
Molotov is a four-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Mexican rock band formed in Mexico City on September 23, 1995. Their lyrics feature a mixture of Spanish and English, rapped and sung by all members of the group. Musically, Molotov blends heavy basslines with heavy guitar riffs...
, and Aterciopelados
Aterciopelados
Aterciopelados , also referred to as los Aterciopelados on some albums and other promotional materials, are a rock band from Colombia. Led by Andrea Echeverri and Héctor Buitrago, they have been one of the first rock bands from Colombia to gain international notice and is among the country's top...
, and participated in the South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
festival in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In 2005 they participated in the Latin Alternative Music Conference on the Santa Monica Pier, along with Ely Guerra
Ely Guerra
Ely Guerra is a Mexican singer-songwriter who was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.- Biography :...
and Andrea Echeverri
Andrea Echeverri
Andrea Echeverri is a Colombian rock/pop singer and guitarist, born in Bogotá in 1965. She is the lead singer in Aterciopelados where she also plays the acoustic guitar. Echeverri has long captivated audiences with her potently melodic brand of feminism...
. They also opened the Bridge School Benefit
Bridge School Benefit
The Bridge School Benefit is an annual non-profit charity concert held in Mountain View, California, every October at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. The concerts are all organized by musician Neil Young and his wife, Pegi....
for Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
.
On October 5, 2007, the band released a statement on their Myspace page, saying that they had decided to go their separate ways. Their final show was a free performance on October 7, 2007, at TarFest, a film, music, and art festival held at the La Brea Tar Pits
La Brea Tar Pits
The La Brea Tar Pits are a cluster of tar pits around which Hancock Park was formed, in the urban heart of Los Angeles. Asphaltum or tar has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with water...
.
Not long after the breakup, Gustavo Arellano wrote that Los Abandoned "reflected the postmodern Latino experience better than any band ever."
Members
Chilean AmericanChilean American
Chilean Americans are United States citizens or residents of Chilean origin. They number about 124,116 in 2009.In 2000, close to 14,000 lived in the states of Florida and California, while around 16,330 lived in the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other New England states...
Lady P (Pilar Diaz) was the lead singer of Los Abandoned, and played the ukelele, keyboards and rhythm guitar. She was the creative force behind the songwriting, in conjunction with lead guitarist Don Verde. Vira Lata played the bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, and Dulce, the last addition to the band, played the drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
.
Discography
- DemotapeDemotape (EP)Demotape is an EP debut by the alternative rock band Los Abandoned.-Track listing:# "Stalk U" # "Thais" # "Ojos" # "Electricidad"...
(2002) EP - Los AbandonedLos Abandoned (EP)Los Abandoned is the self-titled EP by the alternative rock band Los Abandoned.-Track listing:# "Van Nuys " # "Blindness" # "Como La Flor"...
(2004) EP - Office Xmas Party (2005) 7 in. Vinyl
- Mix Tape (2006)