Brian Lopez....

Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona (situated 40 minutes north of the US/Mexican border), the twenty-something Hispanic/Polish Lopez found himself in an environment that was both nurturing and challenging.  After completing high school, he studied classical guitar at the University of Arizona, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music, and a double minor in Spanish and business.

During that time he had an opportunity to live in Barcelona, Spain for six months, an experience that had a profound impact on him culturally.  “People come to live in Barcelona from all over the world, nobody there is a native. It’s impossible not to have a greater global perspective after an experience like that.”

For the past three years, Lopez has toured the country several times over with his main project, Mostly Bears, recording around crazy job schedules while honing his skills as a guitarist, singer/songwriter and front man. It’s paid off…they were picked by Las Vegas Weekly as one of the top 5 concerts of 2008, they made it to the final round of Zig Zag Live, they kicked ass at CMJ in New York City and SXSW in Austin, TX and the band has garnered much praise for their unique and captivating brand of ‘Desert Space Rock.’

Now Brian Lopez is finally starting to get some recognition for his guitar-playing prowess in other genres.   In addition to fronting Mostly Bears, Brian is currently playing with Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta, a Mexican/Mambo/psychadelic/cumbia/ dance-your-ass-off band fronted by Salvador Duran (Calexico, Iron & Wine).  The twelve-piece band has played several shows around the southwest opening for Calexico as well as headlining shows at the historic Rialto Theater and The Wiltern in Los Angeles.

He has also found himself sharing the stage with Joey Burns and Calexico, something Lopez found challenging and a lot of fun. “It was an honor to be asked to sit in with Calexico,” says Lopez. “They are probably the most diverse, respected and successful musicians from the Tucson area.”

As if all of this doesn’t keep him busy enough,  he  recently finished a European tour with French chanteuse, Marianne Dissard, playing guitar and singing back-up vocals (in French!)  Interested in different kinds of live music and composition, Brian looks forward at chances to play and write music that seems challenging and exciting. “I’d like to transcend my brand of pyschedelia into Latin rhythms and progressions…to switch languages lyrically, and still provide a universal sentiment musically.”

Members:
Brian Lopez | Guitar, Vocals
Mona Chambers | Cello
Sergio Mendoza | Piano, Accordion
Jack Sterbis | Drums
Sean Rogers | Upright Bass
Vicki Brown | Violin
Salvador Duran | Guest Vocals