El Centro

1994: Crammed into a one car, mattress lined garage in Newport Beach, California, four friends formed the skeleton of what was to become El Centro. Steve "Crabbie" Cabler took the mic, Gil Mora on bass, Ray “Bones” Rodriguez on guitar, and Adam Grossman on drums. They started with a few cover tunes and soon started writing on their own. Before the boys ever hit the stage for the first time, Ray moved on to join X- Members, an offshoot of Gabby Gaborno’s Cadillac Tramps. The replacement process wasn’t easy and it consisted of a handful of guitar player auditions. Ultimately, leading to a punk from the early Orange County scene named Denny McGahey of Shattered Faith and MIA. Denny’s past musical ventures would help to shape El Centro's overall sound.

The band began to solidify a set of hard driven punk rock music with a message. However they still needed a name. They chose El Centro, which was taken from a freeway sign seen cruising through San Diego County on their frequent surf trips to Baja. Ultimately, adopting the logo of the "migrating family" highway sign on the 5 fwy that leads you South of the Border. It totally made sense at the time.

With a name, logo and a dozen solid tunes, El Centro hit the scene quickly building momentum. However, the need for a fuller live sound became a necessity. Gil enlisted long time friend Brett Roelen, to beef up the guitar sound and the rest was history.

1997: El Centro shows were building a loyal following with their quirky Spanish theme, energetic stage show, and their weed filled piñatas that always delivered the goods. After a handful of solid shows the band was thrown a bone by Kevin Lyman (Vans Warped Tour), in the form of a few scattered dates in BFE. The band was finally on the road. Shortly after their return, drama struck and Adam was replaced by ex-Mulch drummer, Armando Del Rio.

1998: With a new full length disc to promote, the band secured the track “Friend” on the 1998 Warped Tour Compilation CD, and locked into a longer run on the tour than the previous year’s adventure. Momentum continued to build and the band found themselves on bigger stages opening for bands such as Bad Religion, The Vandals, and Pennywise, to name a few. The band remained busy and found its music featured on various compilations, video games, television and film.

2000: El Centro started recording songs for a new release. These 14 songs would take over a year to complete, due to the drama of an unstable lineup, and the constant frustration that came with it. Not to mention, a label that was still trying to establish distribution. Gil Mora left the band and a suitable replacement was hard to come by.

Del Rio recorded his drum tracks, eventually leaving El Centro to join his long time friends Los Infernos for a national tour.

El Centro tried to stay active, with the recent loss of its key members. Leaving Crab some free time to travel and explore other musical adventures. By 2002 the new record was finally mixed, but who knew if it would even be released.

2002: During the down-time, The Crab and Steven "Webby" Webster, close friend and one-time manager of El Centro, set off to Indonesia to grab a surf and celebrate Webby’s birthday. However, unbeknownst to Crab, that surf trip would change his life forever. On October 12th, 2002 both Steves found themselves at the Sari Bar in Bali. After ordering a drink, a white mini-van containing a 2500 pound bomb, set off by a terrorist went off less than 20 feet from the two. Steven Webster was killed instantly from the blast and Cabler had sustained severe injury. He witnessed the deaths of over 200 people that night while trying to help his best friend "Webby" to no avail, before escaping the now leveled compound.

Crab eventually made it home to recover from the blast. During recovery, original El Centro drummer, Adam Grossman, who at the time was in Unit F, another OC band and label mates of El Centro, took the lead to organize an event to help with some of Crab’s medical expenses. After an excruciating five month battle with a broken scapula and 3rd degree burns, despite major hearing loss in both ears, along with extreme bouts with Vertigo, El Centro found themselves back in each others lives to return to the stage for the benefit that featured Pennywise, US Bombs, Shattered Faith and many others that rose to the occasion.

2003: Conversations of a musical reunion struck once again. After long discussions, in spite of Crabbie's low level of hearing, they converged on a rehearsal space in Santa Ana, Ca. The energy was high and with the amount of clowning around and harassment thrown around, you would think that they had never parted ways. Wasting no time the band started rehearsing and writing music again, enabling Crabbie to adjust and find an ability to carry the songs like he once had.

Finger Records finally secured a solid distribution deal, and, by Christmas that year Prohibido saw the light of day along with a proper national release. The record received great reviews and a warm reception from the public with steady, nationwide record sales and the boys had never sounded better. The band played a few select shows around Southern California as they tightened up a no nonsense set and added additional songs with a reggae twist. Later in the year, McGahey returned permanently to Shattered Faith, leaving the remaining members to continue as a four piece unit.

2004: After a handful of local dates, along with a 2004 Warped Tour run in the midwest, the band planned on a next release. But it never happened.

2005: El Centro decided it’s time for change. New music, a new name, and a new direction. Creating a new musical uprising and incorporating Metal into their writing style in order to capture a broader audience. Thus... The Uprising was born! But that’s a whole different story...

There were a few reunion shows through the years and the band always shined as expected, but the El Centro name basically became a really fun memory.

It's been said that the sign of the "migrating family," on the way to El Centro, stands as a symbol of struggle and perseverance. The band could never have known how fittingly it would apply to them.

2023: The 25th Anniversary of Alto El Centro’s first full length release.

2024: The perfect time for a reunion effort and so be it. The Crab, Brett, Denny along with original drummer Adam Grossman and enlisted bass player Pete Moreno (formerly of Carpit, Unit F, and others) to round out the rhythm section. With a handful of practices under their belts, and a key show with Dead Boys, they have revived the energy and magic that they once brought to a room. The tequila was flowing from the stage as always, the piñata was present and the pit was moving. Older, wiser, and fatter than ever El Centro returns!