Left Alone

ByLets Go Punk
Left Alone are a Wilmington

Left Alone are a punk rock band from Wilmington, California, formed in May 1996 by lead vocalist and guitarist Elvis Cortez, and known for mixing punk with ska elements while sticking closely to a do-it-yourself approach.

Starting out in Wilmington

Elvis Cortez formed Left Alone in 1996 and later created his own label, Smelvis Records, to release the band’s music. Over time, the label expanded to include other underground bands. Cortez also owned the PCH Club in Wilmington, which has since closed.

From the beginning, the band was noted for avoiding major labels, booking tours themselves, and producing their own merchandise.

Early releases and the first full-length

After putting out a range of demos, splits, and EPs, Left Alone released their first full-length album, Streets of Wilmington, in 2002. In 2003, the band compiled earlier, out-of-print recordings on the anthology Left Alone: 1996–2000.

Warped Tour connection and a label shift

In 2003, Cortez joined the Warped Tour as a roadie for Destruction Made Simple. After a few weeks on the tour, he returned to Los Angeles because his dogs needed surgery. After hearing Left Alone’s music, Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman chose the band as the Warped Tour BBQ band for the 2004 tour, and they were invited back to serve that role again in 2005.

During the Warped Tour period, Tim Armstrong of Rancid heard Left Alone’s 2004 album Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts. Armstrong signed the band to Hellcat Records and re-released the album in 2005.

Dead American Radio and later records

Left Alone released their third full-length, Dead American Radio, on August 8, 2006. The album includes guest appearances from Tim Armstrong and Patricia Day of the Horrorpops. The band followed with the self-titled album Left Alone on April 7, 2009.

The band toured with Vans Warped Tour 2010. Since 2011, Elvis Cortez has been a touring member of Tim Armstrong’s band Transplants.

Band members

  • Elvis Cortez, lead vocals and guitar
  • Jimmy Jam, bass
  • Ben Shaw, drums
  • Pablo Fiasco, organ

Former members

  • Nick Danger, bass
  • Wallace Tenenbaum!, bass
  • Ruben Medina, bass and 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

Discography

  • Streets of Wilmington (Smelvis Records, 2002)
  • Left Alone: 1996–2000 (Smelvis Records, 2003)
  • Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts (Smelvis Records, 2004)
  • Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts (Hellcat Records re-release, 2005)
  • Dead American Radio (Hellcat Records, 2006; vinyl release by Durty Mick Records, 2007)
  • Streets of Wilmington (remastered with 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)

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