Last week, KCSU had the opportunity to chat with the El Monte-born band, The Red Pears. The Red Pears’ sound is reminiscent of the early 2000s indie rock & grunge combined with traditional Latin ballads and rhythms. With punchy alternative guitar riffs & catchy melodies, The Red Pears hit the road on their most recent “Better Late Than Never Tour” with Ultra Q & High Curbs, celebrating their newest release. Before they played at the packed Marquis Theater in Denver, we got to ask the band a few questions while they were here in Colorado.
Give us the backstory on The Red Pears – how did you guys get started?
Henry Vargas: The Red Pears got started back in 2014. During that time Jose was going to school in San Francisco, and I was writing some acoustic songs then uploading them on YouTube. Jose messaged me on Facebook saying that he was moving back to El Monte and asked if I was down to jam. I said yes, the rest is history.
What’s the story behind the name?
Henry: We were brainstorming all these names like The Black Keys, The White Stripes, etc. because they were two pieces and we were a two-piece. There was this day that my Dad dropped me off and he had an English-Spanish dictionary–it had two pears on the front cover, one was labeled “pear” and the other “pera,” and in my head, I thought “two pears (pair)”. I don’t know if I called Jose and told him about the idea or if we brainstormed it in person, but to make a long story short, both of our favorite colors are red, and given that we thought only green pears existed, we chose The Red Pears thinking we would be the only Red Pears to exist.
Give us an update on how the tour has been so far.
Jose Corona: We’re almost at the end! It’s been a grind and has been tiring, both mentally and physically. But this is something that we’ve always wanted and want to continue doing. No matter how difficult things may seem, the actual show itself is always worth it–the people attending the shows and the support we receive back home make it worth everything. You miss home a bit, but you also know you’re going to miss the road. It’s bittersweet.
What is The Red Pears’ dream venue?
Jose: I feel like venues that have been a staple of bands that were coming up. The Smell was a big one like that, you know? That felt like a really big accomplishment because of its history and all of the artists that have stepped on the same stage. CBGB was a place like that, though it isn’t around anymore, unfortunately. The Bowery Ballroom is another one. Just small places with a lot of important history.
Best live performance memory to date.
Jose: That’s a hard one. I feel like the early shows in backyards and at houses will always hold a special place with us. Those were some great shows. Everything was more simple and more about the music. All of those experiences, both good and bad, have really helped us out with where we’re at today. Shows back home are always great too. It’s also been nice to play at places like The Forum, The Greek, and The Wiltern. It’s a different kind of stage. A different kind of platform, if that makes sense–but small intimate shows are great too. Every scenery and environment carries a different energy, which is beautiful.
If you could have written a song by another artist, what song would it be and why?
Jose: There honestly isn’t a song that I would attach that sentiment to. You come across music and art and sometimes think to yourself, “That’s so brilliant! I wish I would’ve thought of that first!”. But even if you did, it wouldn’t be the same. It wouldn’t have the same impact. It would be different, for better or for worse, but it wouldn’t be the same. And some things don’t really need to change, you know?
What song should fans be most excited to hear on tour & why?
Jose: Whatever songs they feel attached to. Whatever songs they like. It’s hard to play every song in one night, but it‘s nice to actually hear recommendations or requests. We sometimes don’t even know what songs to play, haha.
Final thoughts?
Jose: Just want to send out a big thank you to whoever is reading this. A thank you to you for wanting to set up this interview and for being patient with us while we’re on tour. And just thank you to everyone that has been supporting us on this tour, and has been continuously supporting us throughout the years. A thank you to everyone that helped make this possible, and a thank you to our family and friends back home that have been supporting us from the start! We love you all!
For more information on upcoming shows by The Red Pears, visit theredpears.com.