by Sophie Block
While waiting for our table at Homeslice Saturday night, my friends and I trotted across the street to Guero’s Taco Bar to have a drink and check out that night’s band. Los Flames, a blues/classic rock/soul band was playing. I’m not sure if they identify themselves as a cover band, but I’m pretty sure all the songs I caught that night were covers. I feel like that label gets a bad rap, but here in Austin our cover bands are just as good as artists with their own material! Los Flames played everything from Chuck Berry to The Rolling Stones, adding their own flair and flavor to the songs they covered.
For example, the band played Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” and threw in their own twist on the lyrics:
I bet there's rich folks eatin',
In a fancy dining car,
They're probably eatin’ tacos,
And smokin' big cigars
(Note: Johnny sang “drinkin’ coffee,” not eating tacos.)
It was their originality with the songs, extremely talented musicians, and drummer/MC Bobby Fuentes’s little quips that made the band such a fun band to listen to. At one point his phone rang. “It’s probably my wife,” Fuentes said into the mic. (answers phone) “What?!” The audience laughs. He talks to her for a few seconds, and tells the crowd she was calling to see what time he’d be home--so she knows what time to get home! Laughter filled the yard and Fuentes gave himself a little punchline noise on the drums.
Some of my favorite songs included “Carol” (originally by Chuck Berry) and “Let It Bleed” (The Rolling Stones). All the musicians--including two saxophonists, two guitar players, a bassist and drums-- were on their game. They switched from genre to genre without showing weakness in any form. According to their website they have guest musicians that play with them from time to time, so who knows what big guns Los Flames will be pulling out next! The band plays every first Thursday and every Friday at Guero’s, so next time you’re walking around SoCo (South Congress), stop in for a margarita and check out Los Flames.
While waiting for our table at Homeslice Saturday night, my friends and I trotted across the street to Guero’s Taco Bar to have a drink and check out that night’s band. Los Flames, a blues/classic rock/soul band was playing. I’m not sure if they identify themselves as a cover band, but I’m pretty sure all the songs I caught that night were covers. I feel like that label gets a bad rap, but here in Austin our cover bands are just as good as artists with their own material! Los Flames played everything from Chuck Berry to The Rolling Stones, adding their own flair and flavor to the songs they covered.
For example, the band played Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” and threw in their own twist on the lyrics:
I bet there's rich folks eatin',
In a fancy dining car,
They're probably eatin’ tacos,
And smokin' big cigars
(Note: Johnny sang “drinkin’ coffee,” not eating tacos.)
It was their originality with the songs, extremely talented musicians, and drummer/MC Bobby Fuentes’s little quips that made the band such a fun band to listen to. At one point his phone rang. “It’s probably my wife,” Fuentes said into the mic. (answers phone) “What?!” The audience laughs. He talks to her for a few seconds, and tells the crowd she was calling to see what time he’d be home--so she knows what time to get home! Laughter filled the yard and Fuentes gave himself a little punchline noise on the drums.
Some of my favorite songs included “Carol” (originally by Chuck Berry) and “Let It Bleed” (The Rolling Stones). All the musicians--including two saxophonists, two guitar players, a bassist and drums-- were on their game. They switched from genre to genre without showing weakness in any form. According to their website they have guest musicians that play with them from time to time, so who knows what big guns Los Flames will be pulling out next! The band plays every first Thursday and every Friday at Guero’s, so next time you’re walking around SoCo (South Congress), stop in for a margarita and check out Los Flames.
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