And that’s what fans of Los Lonely Boys will see – that spirit of family – when the group comes to the Keswick Theatre for one show at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11.
“It’s always got a family feel because we’re three brothers doing the same thing,” said Henry Garza, who along with Jo Jo and Ringo forms Los Lonely Boys. They are the sons of Ringo Garza Sr., who also was in a band made up of his brothers called the Falcones, which played in southern Texas in the 1970s and ’80s.
“We see ourselves as brothers who are blessed from the good Lord above. We were never trying to be anything. We’re proud and happy to be where we are, playing music.”
Los Lonely Boys burst onto the scene in 2003 with a self-titled album that featured the mega-hit “Heaven,” which catapulted them into prime time and made the Texas trio one of the most acclaimed new acts in rock music.
The multi-platinum album, which was recorded at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales recording studio in Austin, Texas, produced a No. 1 song in “Heaven” and notched the group a Grammy Award for “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group” in 2005.
“The first album was really positive and felt very good and we had our whole lives to prepare for it,” said Henry Garza during a recent telephone interview from his bus on the way to kick off a three-month tour at the Harley Davidson 105th Celebration in Milwaukee, Wis.
“The second album (“Sacred” in 2006) was kind of rushed. We’re still proud of it, but it was nowhere near as successful as the first album,” said Garza.
The group’s third studio album, “Forgiven,” which was released July 1, “just shows a different side of our lives, the bumps in the road, so to speak,” said Garza.
“The name of the album, the artwork on the album, the songs on the album – it all just kind of unfolded naturally,” said Garza. “It’s a time in our careers where we’re saying, ‘Hey, we’re still here, we’re not going anywhere.’
“Music is what we do and we love doing it. At the same time, we try to make it feel positive and spread the message that we can do the music that we believe in our hearts,” he said.
And whatever happens with the successes and albums and touring, it always comes back around to family, according to Garza.
“Being brothers, it’s a beautiful thing, man,” he said. “It’s just something that we do naturally and the audience that sees us feels that when they’re around us. They feel that family essence, that strength of spirit.”
That’s why at the Keswick gig – even though Garza said to expect the unexpected – the family theme will be evident.
“What I can tell you, what you’ll see is Los Lonely Boys doing what they do best, and that’s playing music together and being in front of people,” said Garza. “Expect to have a good family time. Good heart, good feelings and good music.”
Garza said it’s not the first trip to the Philadelphia area for Los Lonely Boys.
“We love Philly,” he said. “But it’s a lot more city than where I grew up.”
at the Keswick Theatre,
Easton Rd. & Keswick Ave.,
Glenside, PA 19038,
Thursday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $38 & $29.50.
Info: 215-572-7650 or
www.keswicktheatre.com.