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Claremont, California’s musical son may be Ben Harper and Snoop Dogg may currently reside there, but Ojos Rojos is the new shining light of the quiet college town on the east end of Los Angeles. Ojos Rojos plays at Diamond Days on July 19 at Ghost Town Gallery in Oakland, CA. I spoke with vocalist/drummer George Serrano (second from left, above) a few days ago to learn more about the quartet that it seems like everybody is currently name-dropping.

How did the band come to be?

It just happened. We were all connected in some way and naturally came together. It was literally a ‘Lets do something,’ ‘I know this guy’ kind of thing. Just years of doing other bands and projects brought us together. We were sick of the bands we were in and the bands we were seeing. The songs and our sound came together very quickly through, already having friendships and the understanding of each others vibe. We just clicked right away and have the same love for writing, recording and performing music live.

Doesn’t Ojos Rojos mean "red eyes"?

Yes, it’s Spanish for red eyes. We believe it’s a state of mind. A little hazy, you know. When we did a tour of Ireland last fall, people called us ‘O-joes Ro-joes,’ and that was funny. We had no idea what they thought of us since most of them had no idea what our name meant. Where we are from everyone knows at least a little Spanish.

Do you wake up with red eyes often?

Doesn’t everyone. Life causes red eyes…..sadness, love, sleepless nights…..and weed.

Spacemen 3 had the motto ‘Taking drugs to make music to take drugs to.’ What’s the motto for Ojos Rojos?

‘Outta’ beer – outta here.’ Along those lines?... Or….‘Love what you do – Do what you love.’

What albums influence you guys?

Ride-Smile, The Beatles-Rubber Soul, The Cure-Disintegration, The Who-Who’s Next?, Kyuss-Sky Valley.

What band do you relate to the most?

The Beatles. They changed the world. They changed the world of music and pioneered social consciousness through rock n roll. The feedback, the distortion, the psychedelic experience… There is no one like them. They’ll live forever.