Vallejo is an American rock band founded by three Vallejo brothers: AJ Vallejo (eldest twin), Alex Vallejo (younger twin) & Omar Vallejo (youngest brother) (in Austin, Texas, but born & raised in El Campo, Texas later moving to Alabaster, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama during their pre-teen years. The band has released 12 full-length albums starting back in 1991 with their self-titled debut 'Sins' on the now-defunct Birmingham, AL indie label, Chapel Lane.
Vallejo | |
|---|---|
| Origin | El Campo, Texas Austin, Texas, U.S. (since 1995) |
| Genres | Alternative rock, indie rock, pop rock, Latin rock |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | TVT, Epic, Sony, VMG |
| Members | A.J. Vallejo Alejandro Vallejo Omar Vallejo Bruce Castleberry Alex Geismar |
Not long after their move in January 1995 to Austin, TX, the group was signed to a multi-album and exclusive co-publishing deal to Chicago inde, imi Record's Bobby Francavillo, with producer Steve Peck signed on as the debut album's producer. Gaining an impressive amount of Active Rock radio airplay from their 1997 debut album "1969" featuring singles "Boogieman" and "Just Another Day", imi signed a major distribution and marketing deal with TVT Records in New York, where the debut album was re-released - gaining more rave reviews, kicking open many doors for Vallejo who went on to tour nationwide becoming a 'dangerous live act' as described by AustinLive. The followup to "1969", Beautiful Life, engineered, produced, and mixed by Neiil King, was recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito, CA, and released in 1998. Now on imi/TVT, the album was received with less enthusiastic radio response resulting in TVT's decision to pull back promotion after a timid reaction to the single released by the band with Beastie Boys' DJ Hurricane. Bittersweet perhaps that this single, 'Snake In The Grass' would later resurface a decade later on two episodes of HBO's hit-series True Blood to much renewed airplay worldwide.
After catching a High End Lighting showcase in Orlando, Florida by Vallejo at the House of Blues, Miami producer Emilio Estefan immediately signs Vallejo releasing Into the New, released by Sony in 2000. The album garnered mixed reviews but did well on the Rock Charts getting the band invited on nationwide US tours by Stone Temple Pilots, Linkin Park, Fuel, Disturbed, Blues Traveler, Matchbox Twenty, The Black Crowes. Prior to releasing their second single to national radio, an unfortunate one-two knock out combo of bad luck catches up to Vallejo with a complete label-heads change at Sony and weeks later the world-stopping distraction of 9/11. Sony cuts half of the artist roster with Vallejo on the list halfway into their summer tour. The weary brothers and band honor their remaining dates, head home strung out and drained spending over a year tangled in legal battles.
In 2002, as free agents, Vallejo launches their own label VMG and releases Stereo, to overwhelming positive reviews becoming what many know to be as the Vallejo fan favorite. Over the next decade, the band continues releasing a healthy offering of albums to their loyal fanbase: 2004's trilogy-archive-releases: Black Sky, Leftovers, and Steamboat Live 97, Acousta (2006), Thicker Than Water (2008) and Brothers Brew (2014). Shortly after the release of Brothers Brew sources of the band mention artistic differences and/or a bit of inevitable burnout from two decades of non-stop touring becoming the main reason for the Vallejo brothers' gradual transition from touring artists to producers with a seemingly effective presence in the music industry. AJ Vallejo goes on to win Austin Chronicle's Guitar Player of the Year in 2016 and Producer of the Year three years in a row in 2014-2015-2016, launching indie label 10X Music Group and continues with both Bruce Castleberry on guitar and Alex Geismar on drums as roots-rock group, Brodie Lane. Alex Vallejo becomes director of Austin's School of Rock facilities, co-producer at EPS and Manager at Austin Music Foundation. Omar Vallejo opens 512 Studios in Austin, TX winning Austin Chronicle's Producer and Studio of the Year in 2018-2019.
In 2021, after a seven year recording hiatus, Vallejo releases Amigos on their VMG label, an album composed of collaborations with Texas staples and Grammy artist including Flaco Jimenez, Ray Benson, Dale Watson, Grupo Fantasma, and Gina Chavez to name a few.
Members
editCurrent members
edit- A.J. Vallejo – Lead Vocals/Guitar
- Alejandro Vallejo – drums
- Omar Vallejo – Bass guitar/backing vocals
- Bruce Castleberry – Guitar/backing vocals
- Alex Geismar – percussion/backing vocals
Former members
edit- Michael Panepanto – percussion
- Steve Ramos – percussion
- James "Diego" Simmons – percussion
- Heath Clark – Guitar
- Jeff Hartsough – percussion
- Angel Ferrer – Guitar
- Zach Baker – Guitar
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Sins | VMG |
| 1997 | Vallejo | TVT |
| 1998 | Beautiful Life | |
| 2000 | Into the New | Sony |
| 2002 | Stereo | VMG |
| 2003 | Black Sky | |
| Steamboat Live '97 | ||
| 2005 | Leftovers | |
| 2008 | Thicker Than Water | Quadra Entertainment / VMG |
| 2010 | Acousta | VMG |
| 2012 | Brother's Brew | VMG |
EP
edit| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Temporary Thing | Quadra Entertainment / VMG |
Non-album tracks
edit| Year | Track | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Against the Grain/Gypsy Queen" live – 7:13 | From the KLBJ Local Licks Live '95 album |
| 1998 | "Forever (Is a Long Time)" live (A.J. Vallejo, Alejandro Vallejo, Bruce Castleberry) – 4:33 | From the KLBJ Local Licks Live '97 album |
| 1999 | "Feliz Navidad" – 3:47 | From the KLBJ Local Licks: Yule Rock! album |
| 2001 | "La Familia" live (A.J. Vallejo, Alejandro Vallejo, Omar Vallejo) – 5:55 | From the KLBJ Local Licks Live XII album |
| 2002 | "I Go On" live (A.J. Vallejo, Alejandro Vallejo, Omar Vallejo) – 4:18 | From the KLBJ Local Licks Live 13 album |
| 2007 | "Move On" – 3:09 | From the INsite Austin Magazine This Is INsite Austin Music I album |
| 2008 | "Sweet Maria" – 3:36 | From the Austin Latino Music Association Austin Music Mezcla 2008 album |