The Los Angeles League of Musicians: The name’s impossible to forget, and so is the sound this three-piece instrumental group is stirring to make itself one of the most talked about acts from either coast.

More commonly known in abbreviated form as LA LOM, it’s comprised of guitarist Zac Sokolow, electric and upright bass player Jake Faulkner, and drummer and percussionist Nicholas Baker. Without a word, these three have amassed a following on streaming platforms and drawn the attention of careful listeners — and music media — far and wide.

The trio was born in 2018 when these talented fellows began performing regularly at the famous Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and their hypnotic blend of cumbia and Peruvian chicha have become a testament to not only their abilities but also their collective heritage. Interviews with the band have revealed its members’ deep connection to various forms of Latin music — tangos, boleros — passed down like family treasures.

Listen to the first full-length studio album from LA LOM, released on Verve Records, via Spotify:

Culminating a busy year that included important gigs like the Newport Folk Festival, LA LOM’s been out touring in promotion of the group’s self-titled and first full-length album, released in August on Verve Records.

Sokolow, Faulkner, and Baker made their way to the nation’s capital on Dec. 7 for what was a highly anticipated, sold-out show at Union Stage, and a chance for many in the region to get a live listen and look at LA LOM for the first time.

Listen to The National Reserve’s 2021 EP, In Due Time Vol. 2, via Spotify:

Below is a mix of color digital photos and home-rolled/developed/scanned black-and-white 35mm film shots of LA LOM and the night’s opening act, The National Reserve, performing at Union Stage on Dec. 7, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Casey Ryan Vock.

LA LOM

The National Reserve