The Trebels were a late 1970s/1980s mod-inspired garage rock and R&B band based in Imperial Beach. Their name was inspired by a Tijuana band called the Trebles whose guitarist Tio Chato gave lessons to Xavier Anaya (later of Baja Bugs, Phantoms, and Action Andy & the Hi-Tones). In 1982, Anaya was joined in the original Trebels trio by John Chilson and Oscar Barajas, all students at Mar Vista High in Imperial Beach. When a singer named Jay Wiseman came across them rehearsing in a garage one day, they soon became a quartet.
The band released their debut single via Whaam Magazine's label Whaam Records, "That's You" b/w "That Girl," with a printed sleeve that cited their influences as including the Yardbirds, the Who, Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Hank Williams. For a time played as a quintet with guitarist Jim Davies. Other drummers included David Anderson, Ralph Zamora, and Tony Suarez.
Around town, they held a Tuesday residency at OB's Texas Teahouse and played venues from the Belly Up to IB's White House, SDSU’s Montezuma Hall, UCSD's Che Cafe, Headquarters in Pacific Beach, Club Zu in Solana Beach, the Adams Avenue Theater in Normal Heights, the Spirit in Bay Park, Wabash Hall, and the Bacchanal, where their March 17, 1989 gig opening for Chuck Berry turned out to be their final performance.
(Photo courtesy https://www.sceneroller.com/bands/trebels)