 Los Lonley Boys |
 Marc Broussard |
Story and Photos By Andy Argyrakis
When a bill sports the likes of Texas' rockers Los Lonely Boys and Louisiana singer/songwriter Marc Broussard, diversity is a guaranteed trait of the combination. After all both acts' birthplaces are known for their incredible blending of styles that transcend geographic locations, cultures and races to provide the means to groove and make listeners feel just plain good inside.And considering each artist is on the rise at the current moment and had a sold out show to boast about, these players smiled wide as they cruised through their latest radio ready projects.
Out of the two, Broussard actually executed his blending the best, curling together textured acoustics, introspective lyrics and a deep throated soul one wouldn't normally expect from a white guy that's only 22 years old. However, given the youngster's influence pool (from Stevie Wonder to Donnie Hathaway to Brian McKnight) he's sure had solid training and was able to carry his vast range on record over to the stage. Throughout his opening set, Broussard featured much of his major label debut record Carencro, which hit streets late summer on Island. The punchy "Where You Are" was greeted with elevated cheers and justifiably so given the troubadour's husky delivery and relatable message of longing for romance. "Lonely Night In Georgia" continued on the path of wanting to settle down with a lovely lady, and given a few slick tips of his bureau and the occasional wink, he could've certainly had anyone of the female gender in the audience. On a more musically intricate note, "Rocksteady" scooted with blue eyed soul presence, a rustling bass line and a gumbo of percussion noises. It was the apex of a short but sweet set from a developing artist poised to break even bigger.
Though Los Lonely Boys also held true to their Tex-mex influences and heritage, much of their pleasant but similar sounding material seemed to blur together. But what they might not have gained in distinctive quality members were at least able to compensate for with powerful playing and dueling harmonies. Watching the band unfurl much of its recent self-titled album was reminiscent of a developing Los Lobos, but like those Latin-tinged legends, the jamming can get a bit long winded at times. Besides that key factor, there was also the occasional swampy rendering ("Senorita") down home American rock and roll ("Hollywood") and even blues tipped gospel (the mega hit "Heaven"). With continued development and a more streamlined approach to live shows, Los Lonely Boys could also be around for a bit and possibly break beyond one hit wonder stature.
Los Lonley Boys
Marc Broussard
