Left Alone (Wilmington, CA punk)

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 for the band Destruction Made Simple. After a few weeks of doing nothing as a roadie other than promoting his own band, Elvis was forced to return to LA because his dogs needed surgery. 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 were touring with the Vans Warped Tour 2010. Since 2011, Elvis Cortez has been a touring member of Tim Armstrong's band Transplants. Elvis Cortez – lead vocals, guitar Jimmy Jam – Bass Ben Shaw – Drums Pablo Fiasco - Organ Nick Danger – Bass Wallace Tenenbaum! – Bass Ruben Medina – Bass, Vocals Salvador Ibarra, Jr. – Drums Lawrence Sanchez – Saxophone Alfredo Quinonez – Trumpet German Castellanos – Trombone Ramrod – Drums Jonathan "Be@t$" Contreras – Drums Billy Lopez – Drums Ricardo Cruz- Bass Armando Garduño-Guitar Streets of Wilmington, Smelvis Records, 2002 Left Alone: 1996–2000, Smelvis Records, 2003 Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts, Smelvis Records, 2004 Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts (re-release), Hellcat Records, 2005 Dead American Radio, Hellcat Records, 2006 (vinyl release by Durty Mick Records, 2007) Streets Of Wilmington, (remastered w/bonus tracks, vinyl only), Blackbird Music, 2009 Left Alone, Hellcat Records, 2009 (vinyl release by Blackbird Music, 2009) Harbor Area, Hellcat Records/Smelvis Records, 2014 Checkers & Plaid, Smelvis Records, 2021 Live at the Roxy, Smelvis Records, 1997 Stranded Again, Counterfeit Records, 1998 My Mistake, Smelvis Records, 2000 Anything for the Kids, Smelvis Records, 2004 Hate the Day, Hellcat/Smelvis Records, 2013 Left Alone/Snap Her Split, One Shot Records, 2001 Voodoo Glow Skulls/Left Alone Split, Smelvis Records, 2004 Left Alone/Mastema Split 7" (limited edition colored vinyl release) Smelvis Records No. 20, 2005 Left Alone/Far From Finished Split, Do Tell Records, 2005 Left Alone/Deadly Sins Split 7" (vinyl release) Durty Mick Records, 2008 Left Alone/Potato Pirates 7" (vinyl release) Smelvis Records, 2011 Left Alone/Argyle Street Split 7" (vinyl release) Smelvis Records, 2011 Left Alone/China Wife Motors Split 7" (vinyl release) Smelvis Records, 2011 Left Alone/Peaceable Jones Split 7" (vinyl release) Smelvis Records, 2011 Hooligans United a Tribute to Rancid, Smelvis Records, 2015 Manic Hispanic/Left Alone Split 7" (vinyl release) Smelvis Records, 2016 Rare and Unreleased Tracks 2016 The Question, Smelvis Records, 2001 Wilmington, CA, Smelvis Records, 2002 Lonely Ride (acoustic demo), Smelvis Records, 2002 "4 Weeks" "Every Night" "I Hate Emo" "Would You Stay Now" "Sad Story" "Broken Promise" "Leather Bound Book" "Black Derby Jacket" Proctor, Susan (August 9, 2014). "Left Alone: Elvis Cortez Interview". www.bythebarricade.com. Retrieved November 24, 2024. Left Alone at Myspace