Country : United States Label : Various rights holders Genres and styles : Cumbia / Rock Year : 2024

PAN M 360 AT FIJM 2024 | LA LOM – Various discography

· by Vitta Morales


No other media outlet in Montreal has so many people on hand to provide expert coverage of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. Many of us are scouring the outdoor site and concert halls: Jacob Langlois-Pelletier, Frédéric Cardin, Stephan Boissonneault, Michel Labrecque, Varun Swarup, Vitta Morales and Alain Brunet bring you their album reviews and concert reports. Happy reading and listening!

Unless you happen to have your finger on the pulse of the Californian music scene, I suspect LA LOM isn’t yet under your radar; and that should probably change. Prior to this article, my own knowledge of the Los Angeles trio was admittedly surface level. Initially, I had even thought them to be unfamiliar before I remembered them as that band going viral on social media with covers of old cumbia songs and videos shot on what looked to be eight millimeter film. After checking that I was still living in 2024, I got to work. 

Diving into their discography was really enjoyable. A discography which, by the way, only dates back to 2022. Despite this, LA LOM have already managed to make big waves with a special blend of cumbia, surf, and rock, as well as the occasional incorporation of Cuban son and Mexican bolero. My word limit doesn’t allow for a comprehensive guide to the music of the Latin world but, suffice it to say, these gringos have done their homework and have really internalized the aforementioned genres. Obvious references to the psychedelic sensibilities of Los Mirlos, the gentle ballads of Marco Antonio Muñiz, and the golden era of spring reverb guitar, can all be heard in LA LOM’s playing and writing. The result is a Pan-American pastiche of immaculate vibes. 

Leaning this hard into nostalgia does come with risk, however. Namely, it leaves the door open for staleness; especially if one doesn’t take care to innovate the genres they’re borrowing from. I’m not suggesting LA LOM are destined for this staleness, simply that they should be careful. After all, their covers are mostly straight ahead interpretations of the classics including “Juana la Cubana,” “Llorar,” and during one live session “Sleepwalk” by Santo and Johnny. Furthermore, many of their original tracks, technological considerations aside, sound like they could have been written by any other band from the era they’re channeling. In LA LOM’s defense, I do suspect that playing it safe in this way was necessary to grow as quickly as they have. Currently, they boast hundreds of thousands of listeners across the mainstream platforms. All in less than two years from their debut EP, mind you. 

With all this said, I am still excited to see what LA LOM do next and I am especially excited for their upcoming debut full length. I expect it will be a big test of their artistry as it will showcase all original music. In addition, we are told it’s been produced by Eliot Bergman, (who has also produced such acts as Major Lazor and Cage the Elephant). Only time will tell whether this album proves to be a turning point for them creatively; whether they remain merely good practitioners of old music, or innovators of it. For now, guitarist Zac Sokolow, bassist Jake Faulkner, and drummer Nicholas Baker, will finish the year the same way they started and continue to tour relentlessly. If you happen to be in Montreal, be sure to check out their free show at the Rio Tinto Stage on June 27th at 8pm during this year’s jazz fest.

Latest 360 Content

FIJM | Fievel is Glauque For Dessert… Dessert loaded!

FIJM | Fievel is Glauque For Dessert… Dessert loaded!

FIJM | Misc: Beat Bouquet Well Garnished!

FIJM | Misc: Beat Bouquet Well Garnished!

FIJM | Alexis Lombre and the Holy Spirit in the South Side of Chicago

FIJM | Alexis Lombre and the Holy Spirit in the South Side of Chicago

FIJM | Allison Russel’s Apotheosis Concert in Her Hometown

FIJM | Allison Russel’s Apotheosis Concert in Her Hometown

FIJM I Best Dressed, Most Possessed: Fantastic Negrito Stupefies Rogers Stage

FIJM I Best Dressed, Most Possessed: Fantastic Negrito Stupefies Rogers Stage

FIJM 2025 | Beth McKenna : raising her Momentum

FIJM 2025 | Beth McKenna : raising her Momentum

Nuits d’Afrique | Immersion In The World of Stogie T

Nuits d’Afrique | Immersion In The World of Stogie T

FIJM | Julius Rodriguez, Jazz Groove Ace

FIJM | Julius Rodriguez, Jazz Groove Ace

FIJM | Men I Trust Shines Brightly on The Place des Festivals

FIJM | Men I Trust Shines Brightly on The Place des Festivals

FIJM | Anomalie and Lettieri: A New Musical Friendship, Developing in Real Time

FIJM | Anomalie and Lettieri: A New Musical Friendship, Developing in Real Time

FIJM | Linda May Han Oh, A Role Model for Female Double-Bass Players

FIJM | Linda May Han Oh, A Role Model for Female Double-Bass Players

Nuits d’Afrique | La Chiva Gantiva As Seen by Rafael Espinel

Nuits d’Afrique | La Chiva Gantiva As Seen by Rafael Espinel

Suoni | The Spiritual Quest, The End in Transcendence

Suoni | The Spiritual Quest, The End in Transcendence

FIJM | Thundercat, A Feline on The Loose

FIJM | Thundercat, A Feline on The Loose

FIJM | Bill Frisell, Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston Exposed

FIJM | Bill Frisell, Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston Exposed

FIJM | Branford Marsalis Among Four MF’s Playin’ Tunes… Live!

FIJM | Branford Marsalis Among Four MF’s Playin’ Tunes… Live!

FIJM | About Derrick Hodge’s Idea of the Color of Noize

FIJM | About Derrick Hodge’s Idea of the Color of Noize

FIJM | Queen of Afrobeats, Ayra confirms her status as a Global… Starr

FIJM | Queen of Afrobeats, Ayra confirms her status as a Global… Starr

FIJM | Black Jazz by Marquis Hill

FIJM | Black Jazz by Marquis Hill

Festival de Lanaudière | Leonardo Garcia Alarcon/Monteverdi’s Coronation of Poppea: being marketwise

Festival de Lanaudière | Leonardo Garcia Alarcon/Monteverdi’s Coronation of Poppea: being marketwise

FIJM | Nate Smith and his Supremely Talented Quartet

FIJM | Nate Smith and his Supremely Talented Quartet

Nuits d’Afrique 2025 | Tyrane Mondeny Presents Her Mandingo Soul

Nuits d’Afrique 2025 | Tyrane Mondeny Presents Her Mandingo Soul

FIJM | Nai Palm? Creature of Exception! Hawa B? Future Star!

FIJM | Nai Palm? Creature of Exception! Hawa B? Future Star!

FIJM 2025 | Funky funky, Trombone Shorty

FIJM 2025 | Funky funky, Trombone Shorty

Subscribe to our newsletter