SECOS: On the Run Tour

By: Karla Mendoza-Ochoa

From the blinding lights of Sin City to the vibrant landscapes of the Golden State, SECOS and Los Emptys packed their instruments and set forth on an unforgettable journey—the On the Run tour. This dynamic duo brought the desert heat to California’s stages with their unbridled passion, unbounded energy, and exceptional talent. Get some rest while you can because this road trip involves whistling tunes without end, day trips to the beach, a theme park, and four invigorating performances.

Frontman David Candelas captivates audiences with his dynamic stage presence. He leads the indie-rock band with his rich, buttery voice complemented by the depth of Sergio Ramirez’s bass. This balances the enthusiastic beating of Joshua Loeza’s drums and Jose Becerra’s fast and upbeat guitar. Reminiscent of the indie sleaze era, SECOS transforms every performance into an eruption of electric feels.

Setting out for their inaugural tour celebrates more than one milestone. Additionally, this will be the first time the band performs songs from their EP Loveseat, which was recorded at 11th Street Records and officially released in May of this year. “This is the moment we’ve been working so hard for,” says Joshua, “after a whole year or probably more since we started making the songs and recording, it feels pretty damn good.” Loveseat plunges into the depths of love, lust, and Las Vegas. “All the songs are really good” adds Sergio, “I don’t think anything is lacking in any way.” 

Before Tour: Let the Anticipation Begin!

Soul Belly, located in downtown Las Vegas, was the place to be on August 3rd. The venue welcomed a diverse crowd that shared common interests: indulging in the establishment’s barbecue specialties, sipping on refreshing drinks, and supporting the local bands that graced the stage. Performances by A Valley, Hunter’s Briefcase, and Pure Sport paved the way and set the tone for the rest of the night with exhilarating sets.

Before hitting the stage, SECOS sat in the sweltering heat to discuss the inception of their tour and the band’s expectations. The road ahead is not without a trail of blood and sweat. 

How Did These Two Powerhouse Bands Come to Plan a Tour Together?

“The very first show we had in Los Emptys backyard, we ended up playing second,” explains Joshua. “By the end of the show, they mentioned to us, ‘Hey, when are we going on tour?’ From day one, we’ve been trying.”

While preparing for tour can be a stressful ordeal, SECOS embraced the process with the support of Gravity Bookings. David shares, “It’s not strange to us to reach out to bands directly and to venues and make things happen.” The band’s familiarity with DIY shows embraces putting together an event from the ground up. “We like to make these events happen, we like to bring the community together, the music community, and anyone in the arts.” 

Looking Forward to Tour

Emotions ranged from excitement to fear. Jose shared his thoughts with a humorous touch: “I can already picture having so much fun, hanging out with all your friends. It’s pretty much like having five sleepovers,” he expressed, adding, “I know, by the end of the last day, I’m probably going to be like, ‘Man, I don’t want to see these guys anymore.’” On the other end, David conveyed his initial sense of trepidation: “I’m a little bit scared. It’s going out of state for the first time” (for a prolonged period). Joshua joined in Jose’s excitement with optimism and confidence: “This tour kickoff show is going to be fantastic. We’re going to start off strong and end strong as well.”

However varied their outlooks are, one thing that was agreed upon unanimously was ensuring that this tour marked the first of many. “Hopefully this can turn into going for a full month and then going for half a year, doing this full time 100% is the dream,” said David.

After Tour: Settling Back In with a New Perspective

After the final song was played and the stage lights dimmed, SECOS returned from the warm embrace of California stages. With the tour now behind them, the band shared the details of their experience and the highs and lows of life on the road.

How was Tour?

“Getting to hang out with your friends and play shows every night, it’s all I can really ask for,” shares Jose. The itinerary consisted of lounging on the Pacific coast shores and trips to the happiest place on earth. “We went to the beach, then we played a venue. We visited Disneyland, and then we went to play a venue,” explained David. “You would think that would take away from the energy on stage, but no. If anything it gave me just more reasons to stay motivated.” 

Favorite & Least Favorite Moments

Let’s dive into the juiciest part of tour – the moments that left the band brimming with joy or hatching an escape plan. From soaring highs to hilarious lows, here’s what the members of SECOS had to say:

• Joshua: “I want to say literally just playing the dates that we did. We played at different venues that I’ve always wanted to play. The Continental Room was my favorite place to play in California. Spending time with the guys at the beach was also really fun and exhausting. The least favorite, I would just say going back to reality… Knowing that tour has come to an end was my least favorite moment.”
• Sergio: “Man, it was awesome. I gotta say it was really cool, kicking it with Los Emptys and really getting to know them. Least favorite…we all love Josh, so much, but this time around he decided that he wanted to whistle the songs that he loves. We’re all just sitting in the car listening to this whistle… Everywhere we go he was doing that. It wasn’t the worst, right? For days on end!”
• Jose: “I will tell you, playing the shows is definitely the highlight. On Saturday, the House Show, I’d say was probably my favorite part of the tour. We did see a lot of familiar faces actually followed us out of town. I can happily say that I didn’t have any negative experiences there. Once we got back, that’s when things kind of started going bad.” (hint: car trouble)
• David: “My favorite moment was probably the last night that we played, which was at The Continental Room, in Fullerton…I think that and then our kickoff for the tour, which was here in our hometown. A least favorite moment, I’m trying to think, but honestly, I can’t find the one.”

Unexpected Turns

If there’s one thing we can always count on, it’s that things never go according to plan. This holds especially true for touring musicians; going from town to town, loading and unloading. Rolling with the punches is just part of the deal. Here, SECOS unveils the twists and turns they faced on the road.

• David: “Our last show, which was at The Continental Room, they had a curtain that was going up and down before you played… It was funny because my microphone started fucking floating in the air as the curtain went up… So, it took me an extra 30 seconds to actually get started because I was just weighing it down off the curtain. I even had to address that; I was like, ‘Guys, that was pretty funny. I’m pretty sure everyone watched that. Awkward. Alright, let’s get started.’ Unexpected things happen all the time; the devil’s in the details of it.”
• Sergio: “Being worried about our cars being taken away when we were gone. We had a couple of bands drop out. Originally, we had one venue that we were going to play at (but) we ended up having to switch venues. So, just last-minute stuff like that, where you know, it doesn’t go according to plan… You kind of have to have that plan B or just be ready in case it doesn’t go to plan, and don’t let it affect you.”

What’s Next?

While SECOS is keeping their next move under wraps, they have since opened for Dogstar at the Brooklyn Bowl and announced a free all-ages show being held on September 16th at Bob Baskin Park. “We have a lot of demos and stuff to work with… When you’re an independent band, I think that there should always be something on your plate” shares David. “There is no magic guide, or magic recipe to make everything happen. We’re still trying new things. We’re still getting our music out there in new ways. And we just gotta keep our doors open, windows open as well, and pursue every opportunity we can.” 

You can keep up with the band by visiting their website SECOS and listening to their music streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Follow their journey as they continue to make waves in the Las Vegas music scene.