THE RED ONIONS!

Download: The Red Onions - Demo
Download: The Red Onions - Live Wire b/w Sexy Thang
(youtube links at the bottom of the post)

The Red Onions from Gardena, CA screamed onto the South Bay music scene in 2002, instantly establishing themselves as one of the most exciting live bands in the area.  I spoke with drummer Jorge Gutierrez to get their story.

The Red Onions were Jorge, singer Paul Gonzales, bassist Hugo Salgado, and guitarist Kevin Gonzalez.
Jorge:

Hugo’s my cousin so I’ve known him all my life; Paul, Kevin, and I met in high school. I used to play music with Kevin in his friend’s garage; later on I started writing my own songs with Paul and decided to start a band. We were barely starting to go out to check out bands around that time; we used to go see II Minute Hate, which became Rock Goggle Fantasy, and Neon King Kong. Later we discovered other cool South Bay bands like The Rolling Blackouts.

Though they all had some experience mucking around a little in the garage, The Red Onions was the first band that any of them had been in, a surprising fact considering how fully-formed, confident, and outrageously energetic their shows were from the very beginning. 
Jorge:

Paul’s craziness was there from day one. He jumped onto my drums at our very first practice! He was bouncing around the garage like a madman! We all thought it was funny and awesome. Paul enabled me to let go of my inhibitions and just have fun.

Paul was so wild and fearless, but such a diminutive guy that even when he threw himself recklessly into the audience no one got hurt and everyone had a great time.  As for their sound, each member came to the band with musical tastes that were all over the place, and it all came together in the raucous, frenetically hybridized, music they made as a group.
Jorge:

Around that time, Kevin was listening to a lot of 60’s psych. Paul was listening to a lot of punk, Hugo was into Metal, and I was obsessed with soul and funk. When we rehearsed I guess it all came out.

From the very beginning they were eager to get their first demo into everyone's hands, a spray painted CD-R that came in a black paper sleeve held together with painter's tape.
Jorge:

The demo was actually recorded in 2001-2002 before the band even existed. I recorded all the instruments and vocals myself in my bedroom and later presented it to the guys to see if they wanted to start a band. Paul later recorded over my vocals then put it on cd-r and that’s it. 

The Onions were quick to set their sights out of the South Bay, and they were, almost from the very start, playing shows with a lot of the incredible LA bands from that era.
Jorge:

We had only one show under our belt but and our friend Diana helped us book a show at Daisy’s Vintage Clothing store in Uptown Whittier. We loved the Fuse! and asked them to play with us, they did and after that we started opening shows for them. I also gave my demo to the Flash Express then started doing shows with them. Then the Juvee started and we started playing shows there.


By 2003 they had befriended Gabe Hart, then of the Starvations, now of Jail Weddings, and he agreed to put out their first single on his Revenge Records label.
Jorge:

We recorded two songs on my 8-track (the same one where I recorded my shitty demo) and we decided to release it as a 7”. I asked Gabe if he would put it out and said he had no money so we paid for everything and he just put his seal of approval on it. 

The Live Wire b/w Sexy Thang single was recorded in Kevin's garage in Lomita, CA.  The funky, Stooges-y energy of the bands sound shines through much more than on the demo, and is enhanced by a Funhouse-worthy sax solo recorded by Larry Sanchez.

The Red Onions went on to release two more 7"s and a CDEP, all of which are worth tracking down.  Jorge now plays in The Savage Gospel.  Paul plays in White Murder and Death Hymn #9.  Kevin plays in Feral Kizzy. Enjoy the Demo and the 7" and some parting words from Jorge
Jorge:

A big thanks to all the South Bay bands we played with during our existence and a very special thanks to all the kids who came out and had fun with us! SOUTH BAY IN THE HOUSE!