Los Survivors bring music that hits the soul to their regular Stonies performance.

Even though the band formed during the pandemic, members of Los Survivors have been playing together for decades. Bassist and vocalist Brian Shaw, guitarist Tom Ayres, and keyboardist Steven Vasquez first jammed in the late ’80s. Over time, Vasquez joined forces with percussionist John Nava and drummer Phil Nava, whose Latin roots deepened the group’s sound. Saxophonist and keyboardist Chris Kroeze and horn player Griffin Colangelo rounded out the lineup.

The pandemic was a time of uncertainty. “It seemed like every time we picked up the phone, we lost one of our friends or family members,” says bassist and vocalist Brian Shaw. That’s why they chose the name Los Survivors, which reflects their approach: celebrating life and giving people a chance to forget their worries for a few hours.

On the first Saturday of every month at Stonies Taphouse in Salinas, the crowd has been doing exactly that for about five years. Regulars sit among seasoned musicians and there’s dancing, laughter, and a sense of connection that feels rare these days.

The venue has a lot to do with the feel-good vibe. As Vasquez puts it, “At Stonies, we feel comfortable and it makes the work easy.”

Much of that atmosphere traces back to Sergio Alejo, the owner who first invited them to play when the bar was still finding its footing as a live music venue. When Alejo lost his battle with cancer and died in 2024, the band began dedicating every performance to his memory.

Curating the right songs is key to Los Survivors’ approach. Out of every thousand songs, only two feel right for the band. They know they could play a hit like the Commodores’ “Brick House” and have the crowd on their feet, but they want to go deep.

“We want to touch people in their soul,” Shaw says.

Shaw spent several years on the road with high-profile artists, working as a guitar tech for Tracy Chapman and Bob Dylan and as a backup bass player for Los Lobos. Shaw toured with the band for 11 years, enjoying the camaraderie that still continues today.

When Shaw saw that Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos was touring the Chicago area, he suggested a collaboration, offering to back him up if he came out to California. Rosas agreed, and will be coming to the Central Coast in April.

LOS SURVIVORS perform 7:30pm Saturday, Nov. 1. Stonies Taphouse, 1366 S. Main St., Salinas. No cover. stoniestaphouse.com.