Left Alone

Yeah, yeah, we all know that everyone can't be an original. Still, understanding this truism doesn't make blatantly imitative acts like Wilmington, California's Left Alone any more admirable. The Elvis Cortez-led band, which shares tonight's bill with the Black Rose Phantoms, has been around since 1996 — long enough to...

By Michael Roberts

January 10, 2008

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Yeah, yeah, we all know that everyone can't be an original. Still, understanding this truism doesn't make blatantly imitative acts like Wilmington, California's Left Alone any more admirable. The Elvis Cortez-led band, which shares tonight's bill with the Black Rose Phantoms, has been around since 1996 — long enough to have developed something akin to a personal style. Nevertheless, 2006's Dead American Radio, on the Hellcat Records imprint, sports nary a fresh moment, with every tune drawing directly from punk and ska precursors — even secondhand ones like Rancid, whose Tim Armstrong guests on "City to City." Granted, the performances are consistently energetic, albeit in a wholly predictable way, and tunes such as "The Sinner," "Drunk Again" and "New York City" would no doubt sound adequate under the influence of, say, a couple twelve-packs of Old Milwaukee. But if these guys ever have a new idea, it'll soon feel Left Alone.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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