Levi Platero

We’ve all had that friend, that one kid on your block who was pushed into music lessons and had the patience and dedication to stick with it. He’s the one kid you wouldn’t see on random Saturdays or Sundays, and while other kids were out playing pick-up football or shooting hoops, riding bikes or throwing rocks at passing cars, that one friend was locked away in the bedroom practicing. He was the friend that had better taste in music, and the friend who now can pick up that instrument and do things with it you can only do in your imagination. He’s the person that makes you question why you didn’t have the patience to stick with your piano/guitar/trumpet lessons. In New Mexico, that kid was Levi Platero, a blues guitar player performing May 18 at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. Opening the show are Kirk James and Larry Carver.
“My dad brought home a really cheap, pawn-shop guitar and a how-to video of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and ever since then I’ve always been infatuated with Stevie Ray and I just kept playing his songs; I was 9 years old,” said Platero in a recent phone interview.
There are certainly worse guitar players to emulate. Listen to the music of Vaughan and you’ll hear that he did his homework, honoring the early and influential blues players that pre-date rock ’n’ roll along with Jimi Hendrix. Platero is doing what he can to solidify his place in the guitar world, attempting to create his own sound, while honoring the greats that came before him. Listening to the young guitar player and you’ll hear lots of influences, but it’s Vaughan that is the major catalyst; not necessarily for the sound, although that’s there. Not for the flash, or Vaughan’s outrageous scarves and fancy hats, but for the soul. There is just something about the late Texan’s playing that struck an early chord with a young Platero, and that chord never left.
“It wasn’t just the style; he could have been any kind of other guitarist. He could have played rock, or jazz, or been a country guy,” said Platero. “But it was the blues he really loved, and it wasn’t the style I was so infatuated with, it was the way he played, with such raw emotion. I was captivated by that, so every time I play, it flows through me. I love to play like him, but not play every single note by him.”
Platero is growing into a great player, attempting to join the long list of blues-rock dudes that have wood-shedded long enough to whip up some guitar theatrics via a Fender Stratocaster. He’s soft spoken and a humble guy, and like his playing, solid and honest, yet void of chest-thumping and frills. His playing and stage presence is as natural as a kid learning basic motor skills; there’s not a lot of memory of learning how to, just an ability in the now to do it well. It’s all just part of what is turning out to be a natural progression in his pursuit of playing the guitar.
“I’m having fun just making, writing, and playing music,” said Platero. “And if I take care of the music, I’m sure it will take care of me.”
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. liggett_b@fortlewis.edu. - DGO Magazine. Bryant Liggett

“Levi Platero is this year’s version of Los Lonely Boys, The Plateros band includes his father on bass and a cousin on drums. Their multi-layered vocal lines are pure and sweet. While Levi’s muse is a blasting guitar line set over rich melody lines, this band can pile-drive a song with the best of the blues genre’s bashers and then just as easily pull back with heavy pop music hooks and soft, melody rich tracks. If the debut album by Los Lonely Boys ever got your toes tapping – Plateros is a fine second step. Plateros is an all Navajo band and fits nicely among other indigenous and/or sibling acts like; Santana, Indigenous, Los Lobos, Homemade Jamz Blues Band and the aforementioned Los Lonely Boys. Again, this is a band worth keeping your eye on and it is fair to expect big things from them in the future.” - Rick Galusha

RE: The Plateros Performance

On March 30, 2007, we had the pleasure of having "Levi Platero" perform on our show "REZ BLUEZ TV" season 2 which is an hour long variety showcase for Aboriginal, Native American, First Nations musicians and comedians that airs here in Canada.

To say that we, the cast and crew, where blown away by this amazingly talented power trio would be an understatement. Not only did they play with amazing musicianship, their live show was very entertaining, especially the earth shattering guitar work of Levi Platero, who plays with such skill and grace that we where all left speechless, (no small feat considering a lot of our crew are musicians themselves!), and with Murphy and Doug keeping a rock solid rhythm section, their performance is a crowd pleasing event that has to be seen to fully appreciated. Their music is filled with positive messages that can be conveyed to any crowd. We wish them all the success in the future and would more than love to have them back on our show. Thank you for your time.


Rez Bluez TV Producer, FTVRB2 INC.
- Shawn Henry

Levi Platero and his band performed at the Smi...
July 25, 2007

Levi Platero performed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian on July 7, 2007, as part of a daylong concert called Mother Earth held in conjunction with the global "LIVE EARTH" concert designed to raise consciousness about climate change.
Levi Platero was one of six American Indian groups invited to participate, with other groups coming from South America, Canada, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.

While Levi Platero may not have been the best-known band to perform when they arrived, it is clear that by the time they left the stage they had made a huge impression on the hundreds of people in attendance, and on the staff of the National Museum of the American Indian. Levi can, quite simply, BLOW YOU AWAY!! With his lead guitar and vocals and solid backing from Murphy on bass, and Douglas on drums, this family band was one of the biggest hits on a day of extraordinary perfformances. In addition, when members of all the bands took the stage for a finale, it was Levi Platero's performance that made the audience stand up and cheer, no wonder it was his solo that has been playing lately on You Tube. AWESOME!!!!

Our plans are to invite this amazing trio back to the National Museum of the American Indian in the future.

Thank You.
- Howard Bass, Cultural Arts Manager

“As I move into the second track Where Would I Be it seems the production quality has improved, there’s some delay on the vocals, and generally a good layout on the CD itself with tighter vocal harmonies. The rhythm section is not being overshadowed by the brilliant guitar work but they are providing the foundation from which Levi can work and work it he does. Do I hear an organ in there under the guitar break? The song Latter Rain has the sound and feel of 40’s jazz boogie. Reminds me somewhat of Brian Setzer’s stuff a little. An interesting shift for a guitar player so young yet. A strong experiment in styles. Tasteful use of effects pedals is always a point with my assessment of an artist’s playing. Please don’t over do it and Levi doesn’t. ” - Jamison Matho Native American Times 2009

Monday, August 21, 2006
Commentary by Mark Byron..
Category: Music


August 19, 2006
We're an (Native) American Band
Eileen and I went to an interesting concert last night;

The opening group was Levi Platero and his Family Band. Many of the arrangements reminded me of Brian Setzer arranging for ZZ Top. It's a family act.

On the first song, Levi reminded me of ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons' hard-forward blues-rock guitar. On the second, he went Carlos Santana, with a guitar line that was very reminiscent of Black Magic Woman. Later on, they went gritty Delta blues, where he sounded like a graying black bluesman rather than a teenaged Indian from New Mexico. Even futher on, he played his guitar runs behind his back and over his shoulder without missing a beat.

Levi Platero is on a par with the best guitarists in captivity, at least from what I heard last night. Salvador's front man Nic Gonzales was blown away by him too, saying he wanted to take him on tour with them.they did do their CCM hit cover of Los Lonely Boy's How Far is Heaven; levi platero did his own take on that earlier, and Levi's guitar got the better of the match in that guitar-driven melody.

Watch for young Levi Platero on a radio near you.
- Mark Byron

SANTA FE, Aug. 28, 2008
The Paolo Soleri Amphitheater at the Santa Fe Indian School was the place to be this past weekend.

The 14th Annual Native Roots & Rhythms featured exceptional indigenous artists from throughout the world during two nights of music.

Friday night, dubbed "Tribal Harmony," featured the legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie with members of Ulali, the Plateros.

The Navajo Times arrived just in time to watch the Plateros perform an astounding set that featured some masterful guitar playing by 16-year-old Levi Platero, who also sang.

Levi's father, Murphy Platero, was on bass and vocals, and cousin Douglas Platero on drums kept the pace and rhythm.

Levi's bluesy sound clearly showed that his inspiration comes from Texas-based Los Lonely Boys and the late Stevie Ray Vaughn.

His guitar playing easily matched the latter in quality. His solos were explosive and the audience showed its appreciation with roaring cheers.

The highlight of his performance was the encore performance of the Los Lonely Boys hit "Heaven," in which Levi and his father Murphy shared the singing duties.

Again, his guitar playing was superb, every bit as professional as the Los Lonely Boys' CD. - By Jan-Mikael Patterson
Navajo Times