#19: Left Alone

I can still see my name up in the marquee lights

First entry in the teens is Left Alone, and I wore one of their shirts to the gym earlier today

Wiki Says: Left Alone is a punk rock band from Wilmington, California. They were formed in May 1996 by lead vocalist and guitarist Elvis Cortez. Cortez formed his own label, Smelvis Records, to release Left Alone's records, and has since expanded the label to include numerous other underground bands. Cortez was also the owner of the PCH Club in Wilmington, which is now defunct. Left Alone's music has ska influences, and the band is notable for adhering to a do it yourself ethic by avoiding major labels, booking their own tours, and making their own merchandise.

After releasing numerous demos, splits, and EPs, Left Alone released their first full-length, Streets of Wilmington, in 2002. A year later, the band compiled their earlier, out-of-print recordings on the anthology Left Alone: 1996-2000. In 2003, Cortez went on the Warped Tour as a roadie. After Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman heard Left Alone's music, he chose the band to be the Warped Tour BBQ band for the 2004 tour. The band were invited back to be the BBQ band for the 2005 tour. While on the Warped Tour, Tim Armstrong of Rancid heard Left Alone's 2004 album, Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts. Armstrong signed the band to his label, Hellcat Records, and re-released Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts. The band released their third full-length album, Dead American Radio, on August 8, 2006, which features guest appearances from Tim Armstrong and Patricia Day of the Horrorpops.

The band released their self-titled album on April 7, 2009.

They will be touring with the Vans Warped Tour 2010.

Discovery: Streets of Wilmington (2002)

Lonely Starts and Broken Hearts (2004)

Dead American Radio (2007)*

Left Alone (2009)

*Best Album

Other Releases: Left Alone: 1996-2000

Favorite Songs: 10. Branded

9. Every Night

8. Spiked With Pain

7. La Pregunta (featuring Patricia Day)

6. The Sinner

5. Done Wrong

4. By My Side

3. Dead Red Roses

2. City to City (Featuring Tim Armstrong)

1. 4 Weeks

Years Active: 1996-Present

Seen Live: One time (October 2007, Baltimore)

Appropriately following in Rancid's style of punk and ska, Left Alone has done just a fantastic job of playing hard music, often with important messages (alcoholism, dreams, abandonment, hating emo). They were excelled live, and from what I've heard (and experienced) are very down to earth and cool guys. Wish they kept more horns in their music though.

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