From hosting house shows in his Eastside backyard to filling local venues with noise, sweat and possibility, Cristian Alexus Alfaro has spent years building spaces where live music thrives. The frontman of local Chicano indie-surf outfit Los Emptys and the founder of booking collective La Palma approaches every gig with the same intention: Give people a place to play, connect and lose themselves in the sound. That mission has shaped his life, but which records lit the fuse? Which albums still echo through his songwriting and every bill he puts together? Alfaro shared with the Weeklythree records that helped define him.
Animals, This Town Needs Guns
Animals, This Town Needs Guns (TTNG)
“I started playing guitar when I was 15 years old, and I always got really into these unique styles of guitar. Whenever I saw someone play the guitar upside down, left-handed, or just finger-tapping, I was so intrigued. It’s unlike anything you really hear, kind of orchestral chaos but still organized. I feel like a lot of technical artists tend to lose the essence of the songs ... Animals influenced me to open up my creativity.”
Chinese Fountain, The Growlers
Chinese Fountain, The Growlers
“This next album right here is definitely post-high school, fresh from graduating and opening my eyes up to the world and joining the workforce. This was my first foray into the Chicano surf-punk SoCal scene, and their style obviously has a lot of influence on what Lost Emptys does and what we strive for. We assign a lot of our music to memories and people we spend them with, and it’s just one of those albums.”
Everything Is Wonderful & Everyone’s Happy, Mickey Darling
Everything Is Wonderful & Everyone’s Happy, Mickey Darling
“I’m really for earworm-type melodies and catchy, super sweet guitar riffs. This album particularly inspires me to be more honest with my lyricism. I used to be afraid to be vulnerable, but listening to things like this makes you want to really talk your sh-- and not be afraid to express yourself.”
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