The debut of the Seattle rock group Los Bastardos was one of the most anticipated shows of 2007 in Seattle. The former members of legendary bands like Go Like Hell, Betty X and The Pleasure Elite chose Guitar Doug’s Rock and Roll Sunday for July 2007 as the premier concert for the band.

Everyone from magazine publishers to video technicians to the city’s most well-known rock photographers were on hand to witness history in the making. Members of bands such as Drag Strip Riot, The Greatest Hits, Gene’s Addiction and many others were also in the house for the much talked about show. It was the single largest audience I have ever seen at the Funhouse for a Sunday night concert. The Internet was full of speculation about the show for weeks before the actual concert. Los Bastardos knew what was at stake and knew they had better deliver the goods.

Los Bastardos at that point was an unheard and unproven band and therefore was put first on the bill. They were scheduled to open for Evil Twin, Plaster and the monster rock trio Mos Generator. Not only did Los Bastardos hold their own against three of Seattle’s biggest names in rock, they electrified the audience from the very first note until the last.

There was not a person in the crowd that did not have the same initial reaction to the band. “Stunned”, “Blown away”, and “Totally shocked” were common terms used to describe the set. The set was way beyond what anyone expected. The audience was totally out of control during the entire set.

John Voge, publisher of Exotic Underground magazine, was standing close by after the set. I asked him what his reaction to the show was and he was smiling from ear to ear. “That is going to be a very hard band to follow”, he said. He was shaking his head in disbelief at what he had just witnessed. The band had completely downplayed how well they sounded and pulled a sneak attack on the entire crowd.

Betty X, who is a former band-mate of both Scotty B and Doug of Los Bastardos, had the same reaction. She was flashing me the Devil hand sign of approval throughout the set and was all smiles. “I am so happy for those guys”, she said afterwards. “Jackie is exactly the type of lead singer they have been searching for. She is perfect for Los Bastardos.”

Professional photographers Mike Rhine, Nate Manning, RJB and AmbeRed were snapping shots of Los Bastardos, Evil Twin, Plaster and Mos Generator. They also have some great shots of the evening’s other performances by Lucky Lucy O’ Rebel, Laveena Lotus, and Lux. Check out each photographer’s Myspace pages for links to the pictures.

I have also pulled my favorites from each photographer and put them inside my Seattle Rock music blog, which can be found at www.myspace.com/guitardougtheinsurgents. The blog is called Guitar Doug’s VIP Lounge, Unmasked. It has become a clearinghouse of information, photographs, ideas, events, and discussions for the Seattle rock and entertainment scene, and is open to everyone to use for promotion or just to have fun with. Pretty much everyone in the Seattle entertainment scene is on the friends list and we all use it to stay in the loop.

I caught up with Spike Hell a couple days after the show and got his feedback on the show and where Los Bastardos goes from here. Here is a portion of my interview with him from July 2007.

How did you feel your first show went last Sunday at Guitar Doug’s Rock and Roll Sunday?
Great! The response we got was more than I was expecting. It felt good to be back on stage again and let’s not forget the free PBR. Being in this band alone is enough reason to play.

Will Los Bastardos have professional management? Also, who handles the booking of the band and how can one contact you to book a show?
We are so new that we haven’t even thought about that yet. For now, I think I will be booking shows and you can reach me at (206) 300-3251 or on my Myspace page (Spike Hell ). We will have a band site up soon with all the info on it.

Jackie Rome is lead singer of Los Bastardos. What do you make of her vocal style and how she handled the first show?
Jackie and I have been friends for years. I was a fan of hers long ago. I never thought in a million years she would be interested in singing for a band like ours. I’m so glad she is a part of it. Her raunchy voice fits perfectly with our music. She pulled our first show off like a champ, and with only a few practices with us.

Scotty B and Doug are former members of Betty X, while you and Dick Whiskey are from Go Like Hell. Is their rehearsal and song writing style much different than what you and Dick Whiskey are used to?
OH YES. This band moves much slower than our last band. We really want to take our time and make sure that fun is our #1 goal. I have a blast at practice every time and the beer is ALWAYS flowing.

Who is writing the bulk of the instrumental parts and who is writing the lyrics?
Doug is a great songwriter. He had several songs done when we started this band. Scotty and myself also write and have a few songs brewing that you will hear soon. Jackie has always been a singer/songwriter and is used to being in control of every aspect of her music, so I’m sure she will be barking orders at us before we know it.

How many shows per month would you guys like to be playing, and with what types of bands on the bill?
Two or three shows a month would be great, with maybe a Seattle show every other month. Don’t want you guys to get sick of us too quick. We just want to play with bands that are there to have fun and rock. If you ever book us with an emo straight edge band or something, Jackie will punch you in the neck. I’ve seen it and it’s an ugly mess.

Thanks a lot, Spike, for taking the time to talk with me.
No problem, Doug. Thanks for all your hard work putting on Guitar Doug’s Rock and Roll Sunday and thanks to the Sinner for
sponsoring it.

Los Bastardos photo courtesy of Nate Manning Photography. NateManning.com