The McCharmlys

The Santa Ana combo with the Eastside (L.A.) soul are on the verge of an exciting new phase. The band builds a strong musical foundation for Angie to deliver her captivating vocals tinged with heartbreak and filled with hope. Her versatile voice could actually fill in for Zendaya in the proposed Ronnie Spector A24 biopic. The band might also get huge if the Ronnie Spector biopic moves the needle like Timothée Chalamet in A Complete Unknown or Los Lobos covering Ritchie Valens on the La Bamba soundtrack. Whatever may come to pass, it would not be a surprise if they break through sometime to an even larger audience with “Tu Serás Mi Baby,” which is their rendition of “Be My Baby” en Español. 

 

Angie Monroy (guitar, lead vocals), Cole Maxwell (drums, vocals)
Yari Bolanos (bass, vocals)

Memories of El Monte (Ramona Ave)
Their self-titled 2023 debut album is packed with concise and compact songs bristling with surging Merseybeat meets Thee Midniters energy. “Crying,” likely inspired by Roy Orbison, is moved along by a marching cadence on the drums. New dummer Cole Maxwell seems like he could be one of Deke Dickerson's Whipper Snappers with his looks and finesse on a minimalist drum kit. By the time of the chorus and background harmonies, the quintet has brought back the sounds and spirit of East LA’s Golden Age, the Wall of Sound and the Beach Boys ‘65! The swooning verses of “Die” recall “Union City Blue” by Blondie, while the chorus bears an obvious nod to the Beatles’ “Do You Want to Know a Secret.”

Three Guitar Attack

“Luv” dashes out of the speakers in fine fashion as the guitars ripple and ring with the reverb dialed high on their Voxx amps. Further, they strike that sweeping Southwestern sound previously explored by Buddy Holly and the Bobby Fuller Four. The triple-threat guitars of Angie Monroy (rhythm-Silvertone), David Valenzuela (lead-Fender Strat), Eddie Gutierrez (12-string Guild) frequently intertwine and set off some sparks throughout the album. Eddie Guitierrez’s jazz-like command of his 12-string comes to the fore in their live performances. His fills are apropos to the moment and sometimes even go into Preflyte Roger McGuinn direction! The album hits a straightaway with the uptempo “VHS” that races alongside Blaire Alise & The Bombshells and the Shangri-Las before heading home to “Drown” out the sorrows. The slinky “Strange Honey” seems to take its cues from the old neon noir standards like “Jezebel” and “Temptation” with the Everly Brothers version coming first to mind. The joyous “Love Me Too” should be a candidate for sync licensing with its Tracey Ullman-ish Joie de vivre. 2024’s “Always Be (My Baby)” is a dreamy triplets galore ballad that bears a resemblance to “Angel Baby” by Rosie and the Originals and is topped off by lovely Beach Boys vocal harmonies. 

Endeavor to Persevere (in a post-Amy Winehouse world)

The McCharmlys have recently tapped even deeper into the essential soul sounds that continue to endure in the always shifting Southern California air. These further explorations have yielded a sound that is even more ethereal and spacious-yet closer to the intangible source. A significant upgrade in their sonics can be heard in their summer 2024 recordings that took place in Riverside’s Penrose Studios and produced by Anthony Masino (of Thee Sacred Souls, the Emkays, the Charities). Their new 2025 single reflects their new sophisticated, yet edgy approach. “You’ll Be Fine” evokes the Zombies and the Remains as well as projecting a wide-screen forlorn quality of Del Shannon. The flip “Break My Heart” echoes those East Side Story volumes with deep soulful vocals and rising harmonies that they also pull off in live performances! These recent recordings demonstrate their command of dynamics along with offering additional complexity and depth.

That West Coast Eastside Sound
Arguably better than the Regrettes, different than the Detroit Cobras, the band inherently understands that the rock must always roll. While they are embraced by the larger retro-soul movement (lead by bands like the Altons, the Emkays, Thee Sinseers, Thee Sacred Souls, Thee Heart Tones, the Mellows, Thee Marloes) as well as the rockabilly, garage and surf scenes, they have also ventured out bravely on their own with their distinctive sound and approach. Their present trajectory is similar to Southwestern regional bands like Sunny & the Sunliners that continue to be held in high regard to this day. If they continue their current direction as heard on the recent singles, their second album is going to be pretty special.