Dios (malos)
Encyclopedia
The band dios, formerly "dios" before summer 2004, is a music group originally out of Hawthorne, California
. The band consists of singer-songwriter Joel Morales, keyboard players James Cabeza de Vaca and Edwin Kampwirth, bassist John Paul Caballero, and drummer Patrick Butterworth. In 2004 they released their (then) self-titled record dios on StarTime
to generally positive reviews. Pitchfork Media
rated the album 8.0 out of 10 and said it made California pop "a little less predictable". A followup album, dios (malos) was less well received, garnering 6.1 from Pitchfork.
the group has gone through a few lineup and name changes over the past few years. Initially the group started out as an experiment to bring songwriter Joel Morales' songs from four-track to live band with brother Kevin Morales on drums and Joel playing guitar and singing. They practiced out of their father's home in Inglewood
, California
and eventually brought into the group Joel's lifelong schoolmate James Cabeza de Vaca and Kevin's classmate from El Camino College
, John Paul Caballero. In 2002, the group began recording in Caballero's basement. Together the foursome worked out Joel's songs along with some covers and started to play around the Southbay (Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach etc.) under the name "god'. The band had a hard time coming up with a band name they liked and used god (in lowercase) because they felt it would be funny to see "god" playing at local venues.
Joel Morales has a penchant for the four-track recording arts, drawing inspiration from 90s independent acts like the Olivia Tremor Control, Apples In Stereo, and other Elephant Six Cooperatives, early Beck
, K Records
artists, and experimental recording superstars like the Beatles, Beach Boys and Os Mutantes
. He brought this mindset of experimentation only with good songwriting and made it modus operandi for everything dios (malos) would do musically. After a few shows the band changed its name to dios
, the Spanish word for god, and continued recording numerous demos with Joel and Kevin's growing backlog of songs. Kevin moved from the drums to second guitar contributing many of his own songs he had recently begun writing. They were joined by new drummer Jeffrey Enzor and begun playing any show they could get on, while recording demos entitled, "dios demo 001" and "dios demo 002".
The band sent the demos to various bands and magazines, eventually getting write-ups in various local magazines and in one very important recording magazine called Tape-Op, which was a favorite of the band because of the d.i.y., home recording, experiment-minded ethos the magazine celebrated. A demo eventually got into the hands of the band Grandaddy
, whose drummer Aaron Burtch took time to write back and let the band know how much they had enjoyed the demo. Over the course of a few emails the band was encouraged to come to the Central Valley to play a show at a venue called The Mustang some time in 2002. A strong friendship was formed between the two bands, and Grandaddy
eventually covered one of the songs from the demo entitled, "love you, grrrl", which later appeared on the "dios (malos)" album a few years later. The song was almost released as a b-side to a single on Grandaddy
's Sumday album but is currently still unreleased.
In 2009 the band signed to Buddyhead Records.
(The Distance
).
"Everyday" was also used in The O.C.
(The Game Plan).
Hawthorne, California
Hawthorne is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California. The city at the 2010 census had a population of 84,293, up from 84,112 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. The band consists of singer-songwriter Joel Morales, keyboard players James Cabeza de Vaca and Edwin Kampwirth, bassist John Paul Caballero, and drummer Patrick Butterworth. In 2004 they released their (then) self-titled record dios on StarTime
Startime International
Startime International is an imprint of Columbia Records in New York City started and run by Isaac Green.-History:Green moved to Los Angeles and out of his apartment started the label, armed with one band, the French Kicks...
to generally positive reviews. Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
rated the album 8.0 out of 10 and said it made California pop "a little less predictable". A followup album, dios (malos) was less well received, garnering 6.1 from Pitchfork.
History
First formed sometime in the late 90's with original members and brothers Joel and Kevin Morales,the group has gone through a few lineup and name changes over the past few years. Initially the group started out as an experiment to bring songwriter Joel Morales' songs from four-track to live band with brother Kevin Morales on drums and Joel playing guitar and singing. They practiced out of their father's home in Inglewood
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and eventually brought into the group Joel's lifelong schoolmate James Cabeza de Vaca and Kevin's classmate from El Camino College
El Camino College
El Camino College is a two-year public community college located partially in the unincorporated area of Alondra Park and partially in the City of Torrance in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is commonly referred to as "Elco" or "ECC"...
, John Paul Caballero. In 2002, the group began recording in Caballero's basement. Together the foursome worked out Joel's songs along with some covers and started to play around the Southbay (Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach etc.) under the name "god'. The band had a hard time coming up with a band name they liked and used god (in lowercase) because they felt it would be funny to see "god" playing at local venues.
Joel Morales has a penchant for the four-track recording arts, drawing inspiration from 90s independent acts like the Olivia Tremor Control, Apples In Stereo, and other Elephant Six Cooperatives, early Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
artists, and experimental recording superstars like the Beatles, Beach Boys and Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes ) are an influential Brazilian psychedelic rock band that were linked with the Tropicália movement of the late 1960s. It was formed by two brothers and a vocalist, but has gone through numerous personnel changes throughout its existence...
. He brought this mindset of experimentation only with good songwriting and made it modus operandi for everything dios (malos) would do musically. After a few shows the band changed its name to dios
Dios
Dios may refer to:* Dios, Spanish for God* Dios , an Argentine band* Dios, a character in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel series* dios , a rock band from Hawthorne, California, formerly known as "dios"...
, the Spanish word for god, and continued recording numerous demos with Joel and Kevin's growing backlog of songs. Kevin moved from the drums to second guitar contributing many of his own songs he had recently begun writing. They were joined by new drummer Jeffrey Enzor and begun playing any show they could get on, while recording demos entitled, "dios demo 001" and "dios demo 002".
The band sent the demos to various bands and magazines, eventually getting write-ups in various local magazines and in one very important recording magazine called Tape-Op, which was a favorite of the band because of the d.i.y., home recording, experiment-minded ethos the magazine celebrated. A demo eventually got into the hands of the band Grandaddy
Grandaddy
Grandaddy was an American indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Modesto, California by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden later joined the band in 1995...
, whose drummer Aaron Burtch took time to write back and let the band know how much they had enjoyed the demo. Over the course of a few emails the band was encouraged to come to the Central Valley to play a show at a venue called The Mustang some time in 2002. A strong friendship was formed between the two bands, and Grandaddy
Grandaddy
Grandaddy was an American indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Modesto, California by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden later joined the band in 1995...
eventually covered one of the songs from the demo entitled, "love you, grrrl", which later appeared on the "dios (malos)" album a few years later. The song was almost released as a b-side to a single on Grandaddy
Grandaddy
Grandaddy was an American indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Modesto, California by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden later joined the band in 1995...
's Sumday album but is currently still unreleased.
In 2009 the band signed to Buddyhead Records.
Songs
"You Got Me All Wrong", a dios (malos) cover of a song by friend Miguel Mendez, was used in an episode of The O.C.The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
(The Distance
The Distance (The O.C. episode)
"The Distance" is the 28th episode of the FOX television series, The O.C. The episode was written by Josh Schwartz and was directed by Ian Toynton. It originally aired on November 4, 2004.-Guest starring:-Plot:...
).
"Everyday" was also used in The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
(The Game Plan).
Discography
- diosDios (album)dios is an album by dios Malos released by Startime Records in 2004. This album was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005 .-Track listing:#"Nobody's Perfect" – 5:27#"Starting Five" – 3:17...
(Startime InternationalStartime InternationalStartime International is an imprint of Columbia Records in New York City started and run by Isaac Green.-History:Green moved to Los Angeles and out of his apartment started the label, armed with one band, the French Kicks...
, 2004) - dios (malos)Dios (malos) (album)dios is an album by the band of the same name, dios . It was released by Vagrant Records on October 11, 2005.- Track listing :1. "Feels Good Being Somebody" - 3:152. "Say Anything" - 4:223. "I Want It All" - 2:454. "So Do I" - 5:08...
(Startime International, 2005) - Cosmic Rays EP (Buddyhead, 2009)
- WEAREDIOS (Buddyhead, 2009)