Left Alone


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.
FB leftalonepunks

Band members

Former members

  • 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

Discography

Studio albums

Streets of Wilmington, Smelvis Records, 2002Left Alone: 1996–2000, Smelvis Records, 2003Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts, Smelvis Records, 2004Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts, Hellcat Records, 2005Dead American Radio, Hellcat Records, 2006 Streets Of Wilmington,, Blackbird Music, 2009Left Alone, Hellcat Records, 2009 Harbor Area, Hellcat Records/Smelvis Records, 2014Checkers & Plaid, Smelvis Records, 2021

EPs

Live at the Roxy, Smelvis Records, 1997Stranded Again, Counterfeit Records, 1998My Mistake, Smelvis Records, 2000Anything for the Kids, Smelvis Records, 2004Hate the Day, Hellcat/Smelvis Records, 2013

Compilations/Splits

Left Alone/Snap Her Split, One Shot Records, 2001Voodoo Glow Skulls/Left Alone Split, Smelvis Records, 2004Left Alone/Mastema Split 7" Smelvis Records No. 20, 2005Left Alone/Far From Finished Split, Do Tell Records, 2005Left Alone/Deadly Sins Split 7" Durty Mick Records, 2008Left Alone/Potato Pirates 7" Smelvis Records, 2011Left Alone/Argyle Street Split 7" Smelvis Records, 2011Left Alone/China Wife Motors Split 7" Smelvis Records, 2011
  • Left Alone/Peaceable Jones Split 7" Smelvis Records, 2011
  • Hooligans United a Tribute to Rancid, Smelvis Records, 2015
  • Manic Hispanic/Left Alone Split 7" Smelvis Records, 2016
  • Rare and Unreleased Tracks 2016

Singles

The Question, Smelvis Records, 2001Wilmington, CA, Smelvis Records, 2002Lonely Ride, Smelvis Records, 2002

Music videos

  • "4 Weeks"
  • "Every Night"
  • "I Hate Emo"
  • "Would You Stay Now"
  • "Sad Story"
  • "Broken Promise"
  • "Leather Bound Book"
  • "Black Derby Jacket"