Victor Penalosa has played multiple instruments in a number of area bands, with a partial list including the Burrito Brothers, the Melanies, Sidewalk Scene, Riot Act, Unruly Bangs, Baja Bugs, Got it Covered, ADD/C, the Zeros, Action Andy & the Hi-Tones, and the Shambles. Since 2013, he’s been a member of Bay Area–based favorites the Flamin’ Groovies, whose ’60s/’70s tunes such as “Shake Some Action” and “Jumpin’ in the Night” are now considered garage-rock classics.
Perhaps his most high-profile gig, with the Groovies constantly touring the world, he admits that it’s not hard to have fun with the retro-rock mainstays. “There are no difficult Groovies songs,” he says. “All pretty straight-ahead rock-and-roll numbers.”
Penalosa’s newest project, the Phantoms, play punked-up ’70s-inspired FM glam rock, pounded out by Penalosa alongside Xavier Anaya (the Trebles, the Hoods), Chris Iandolo (Dizzy), and Ed Masi (Ghosts of California, Sleeping Cranes).
The self-titled debut Phantoms album was released in June via Rum Bar Records. A video for “Stab Me (In My Broken Heart),” featuring clips from the 1979 drive-in feature Driller Killer, is streaming on their Reader band page.
The Phantoms play the Casbah with Dirty Pennies and Mittens on Monday, October 10.
WHAT’S IN YOUR CD PLAYER?
Penalosa: “Roky Erickson and the Aliens, Creature with the Atom Brain. Best songs ever written.”
Iandolo: “David Bowie, Low. Great, fairly overlooked album, this, but so good.”
Anaya: “Johnny Kidd and the Pirates.”
Masi: “I don’t own a CD player.”
WHERE DO YOU TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS?
Penalosa: “The Whistle Stop.”
Masi: “Controversial Bookstore.”
IF YOU COULD READ OUR MINDS?
Penalosa: “I’d blow my brains out.”
BEST ADVICE YOU EVER GOT?
Masi: “A professor from one of my grad-school courses told me, ‘Think before you speak.’”
MOST VISITED WEBSITES?
Penalosa: “KissFaq.com has all things Kiss, Beatles.com has all things Beatles, and True Crime Garage is the best podcast in the universe.”
Masi: “CaliforniaRocker.com, founded by Donna Balancia, has music reviews, interviews, news, and shows, and SpeakersInCode.com is a St. Louis–based music blog founded by Jason Gonulsen.”
FAVORITE QUOTE FROM SPINAL TAP?
Iandolo: “Can I raise a practical question at this point? Are we gonna do ‘Stonehenge’ tomorrow?”
Anaya: “Sounds like barbershop raga, a new hybrid.”
YOUR DRINK OF CHOICE?
Penalosa: “Gin and tonic.”
Iandolo: “Manhattan, preferably ‘up’ and light on the vermouth. Or, as my mother says, quoting her father, ‘Open the vermouth bottle and turn to the west.’”
Anaya: “Milk.”
Masi: “A Roy Rogers.”
FIRST BOOK YOU REMEMBER READING?
Anaya: “Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman.”
Masi: “The Truth About Fonzie, by Peggy Herz.”
WHAT SHOULDN’T PEOPLE DISCUSS AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Anaya: “Nothing. I’m dead already.”
Masi: “My penis reduction surgery at the tender age of six.”
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME SOMEONE YELLED AT YOU?
Masi: “Two weeks ago, by a man from Romania, I believe, in a van, for parking in his parking space. Sulo King at Iacon Sound can provide better details about the incident.”
YOUR TASTIEST DISH (AND WHAT’S YOUR SECRET)?
Anaya: “French toast. Instead of syrup, use honey and lemon, and now it’s Spanish toast.”
Masi: “Quesadilla with ranchero cheese, corn tortillas, and pan fried in olive oil.”
CRAZIEST WAY YOU EVER MADE MONEY?
Penalosa: “Selling Xerox copies of Monkees 8-by-10s.”
Masi: “Selling what I believe were rodent bones that I passed off as prehistoric fossils. I was seven.”
WHAT REMAINS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
Masi: “Climb Everest before my dad dies. He says he named me after [New Zealand explorer] Sir Edmund Hillary, so, wow, I can’t let him down. I grew up Catholic, so I’ll try to finally convince him that he named me after Saint Edmund [the martyr king of East Anglia circa 855 AD] and get away with proving to him that I provided adequate protection for kings, pandemics, torture victims, and wolves.”
BEST THING YOU HAD TO LET GO?
Penalosa: “My dignity.”
WHAT WOULD YOUR GRADE SCHOOL TEACHER SAY ABOUT YOU?
Masi: “‘He was kind, but bubbling with evil thoughts.’ Remember, I went to Catholic school.”
SONG THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR LIFE?
Penalosa: “‘Add Some Music to Your Day,’ by the Beach Boys: ‘When you’re alone (add some music, add some music) is like a companion (add some music, add some music) for your lonely soul.’”
Masi: “‘Main Street’ by Deer Tick: ‘Of goodbye times, you ain’t on my side, satisfaction, too much of mine, song goes here, never let me down, oh the main street seems so lonely now.’”
Victor Penalosa has played multiple instruments in a number of area bands, with a partial list including the Burrito Brothers, the Melanies, Sidewalk Scene, Riot Act, Unruly Bangs, Baja Bugs, Got it Covered, ADD/C, the Zeros, Action Andy & the Hi-Tones, and the Shambles. Since 2013, he’s been a member of Bay Area–based favorites the Flamin’ Groovies, whose ’60s/’70s tunes such as “Shake Some Action” and “Jumpin’ in the Night” are now considered garage-rock classics.
Perhaps his most high-profile gig, with the Groovies constantly touring the world, he admits that it’s not hard to have fun with the retro-rock mainstays. “There are no difficult Groovies songs,” he says. “All pretty straight-ahead rock-and-roll numbers.”
Penalosa’s newest project, the Phantoms, play punked-up ’70s-inspired FM glam rock, pounded out by Penalosa alongside Xavier Anaya (the Trebles, the Hoods), Chris Iandolo (Dizzy), and Ed Masi (Ghosts of California, Sleeping Cranes).
The self-titled debut Phantoms album was released in June via Rum Bar Records. A video for “Stab Me (In My Broken Heart),” featuring clips from the 1979 drive-in feature Driller Killer, is streaming on their Reader band page.
The Phantoms play the Casbah with Dirty Pennies and Mittens on Monday, October 10.
WHAT’S IN YOUR CD PLAYER?
Penalosa: “Roky Erickson and the Aliens, Creature with the Atom Brain. Best songs ever written.”
Iandolo: “David Bowie, Low. Great, fairly overlooked album, this, but so good.”
Anaya: “Johnny Kidd and the Pirates.”
Masi: “I don’t own a CD player.”
WHERE DO YOU TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS?
Penalosa: “The Whistle Stop.”
Masi: “Controversial Bookstore.”
IF YOU COULD READ OUR MINDS?
Penalosa: “I’d blow my brains out.”
BEST ADVICE YOU EVER GOT?
Masi: “A professor from one of my grad-school courses told me, ‘Think before you speak.’”
MOST VISITED WEBSITES?
Penalosa: “KissFaq.com has all things Kiss, Beatles.com has all things Beatles, and True Crime Garage is the best podcast in the universe.”
Masi: “CaliforniaRocker.com, founded by Donna Balancia, has music reviews, interviews, news, and shows, and SpeakersInCode.com is a St. Louis–based music blog founded by Jason Gonulsen.”
FAVORITE QUOTE FROM SPINAL TAP?
Iandolo: “Can I raise a practical question at this point? Are we gonna do ‘Stonehenge’ tomorrow?”
Anaya: “Sounds like barbershop raga, a new hybrid.”
YOUR DRINK OF CHOICE?
Penalosa: “Gin and tonic.”
Iandolo: “Manhattan, preferably ‘up’ and light on the vermouth. Or, as my mother says, quoting her father, ‘Open the vermouth bottle and turn to the west.’”
Anaya: “Milk.”
Masi: “A Roy Rogers.”
FIRST BOOK YOU REMEMBER READING?
Anaya: “Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman.”
Masi: “The Truth About Fonzie, by Peggy Herz.”
WHAT SHOULDN’T PEOPLE DISCUSS AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Anaya: “Nothing. I’m dead already.”
Masi: “My penis reduction surgery at the tender age of six.”
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME SOMEONE YELLED AT YOU?
Masi: “Two weeks ago, by a man from Romania, I believe, in a van, for parking in his parking space. Sulo King at Iacon Sound can provide better details about the incident.”
YOUR TASTIEST DISH (AND WHAT’S YOUR SECRET)?
Anaya: “French toast. Instead of syrup, use honey and lemon, and now it’s Spanish toast.”
Masi: “Quesadilla with ranchero cheese, corn tortillas, and pan fried in olive oil.”
CRAZIEST WAY YOU EVER MADE MONEY?
Penalosa: “Selling Xerox copies of Monkees 8-by-10s.”
Masi: “Selling what I believe were rodent bones that I passed off as prehistoric fossils. I was seven.”
WHAT REMAINS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
Masi: “Climb Everest before my dad dies. He says he named me after [New Zealand explorer] Sir Edmund Hillary, so, wow, I can’t let him down. I grew up Catholic, so I’ll try to finally convince him that he named me after Saint Edmund [the martyr king of East Anglia circa 855 AD] and get away with proving to him that I provided adequate protection for kings, pandemics, torture victims, and wolves.”
BEST THING YOU HAD TO LET GO?
Penalosa: “My dignity.”
WHAT WOULD YOUR GRADE SCHOOL TEACHER SAY ABOUT YOU?
Masi: “‘He was kind, but bubbling with evil thoughts.’ Remember, I went to Catholic school.”
SONG THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR LIFE?
Penalosa: “‘Add Some Music to Your Day,’ by the Beach Boys: ‘When you’re alone (add some music, add some music) is like a companion (add some music, add some music) for your lonely soul.’”
Masi: “‘Main Street’ by Deer Tick: ‘Of goodbye times, you ain’t on my side, satisfaction, too much of mine, song goes here, never let me down, oh the main street seems so lonely now.’”
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