For The High Curbs, the gritty DIY music scene of suburban Southern California was more than just a launchpad—it was a crucible of self-discovery and artistic growth.
“We started out playing in backyards, garage spaces, and other random small spots within the suburbs. The DIY community raised us; it’s where we started and formed mostly everything,” shares Eduardo Moreno, lead singer and founding member, while sipping on a massive glass of iced tea at a coffee shop fifteen minutes from their warehouse practice spot in Upland, California.
“We’ve watched each other grow up in real-time, and so much has changed, but at the root of it all, we’ve always stayed the same when it comes to why we love what we do and making sure we give that back to this community.”
The High Curbs, consisting of Moreno, Aaron Korbe, Alberto Alvarenga, Kenny Huerta, and their newest member, Taylor Hecocks, began their journey in 2013 with impromptu backyard shows on weekday nights. Gradually, they built a reputation as one of the Inland Empire’s most electrifying and raucous bands.
Their style can be characterized by gritty guitar riffs, punchy rhythms, and a lo-fi aesthetic that harkens back to the early days of punk rock. With subtle influences ranging from acts like The Clash to contemporary acts like FIDLAR and Wavves, there’s still a layer of originality that can only be attributed to the Latino indie-rock spaces that were initiated in cities like Pomona and Chino within the Inland Empire.
But it wasn’t without its challenges. Guitarist Alvarenga recalls the early 2010s when he and bassist Huerta would play packed backyard shows in Moreno Valley. Back then, performing next to a suburban swimming pool was akin to playing at a gritty punk dive, but the scene had its unwritten rules. If you didn’t play soft punk, you weren’t considered cool. Bands that didn’t conform to the scene often got stuck with the worst set times, sometimes earning just five bucks for a 2 a.m. slot, knowing the show might get shut down before they even started.
“It was a time where if you didn’t fit the mold, you just weren’t in the cool crowd in music, and I think that really affected us growing up,” Alvarenga said. “We wanted it so badly that at one point, I was like, ‘Fine, I’m going to do it my way then,’ and that’s exactly what we did. We had to make our own scene and our own way. Meeting the members of The High Curbs was like a breath of fresh air. We didn’t know we would be creating a new world in the DIY spaces; it was just natural for us to do something different.”
These days, the skate garage punk quintet remains fiercely dedicated to their roots, adhering to the rules they crafted themselves. They’ve left their mark on nearly every notable alternative-rock festival in Southern California—from Tropicalia to Nothing Fest, and even live sessions with Jam in the Van. Yet, despite their success, they yearned for something more—something entirely their own: Happy Daps Fest.
“Breaking into Los Angeles was such a hard thing, even though we only lived 40 minutes away,” Moreno shared. “We tried for the longest time to get small shows at certain venues there, but we could never do it. Honestly, no one really helped us, and that changed our thinking to, ‘Okay, then we’re going to do this all on our own.’ So, we had to create those shows and festivals ourselves.”
In 2023, The High Curbs launched Happy Daps Fest to commemorate their 10th anniversary, marking a significant milestone as they set out to create something unique for the Inland Empire DIY communities. Faced with uncertainties about the venue, the band insisted it had to feel like home. Luckily, The Observatory in Santa Ana opened its doors for the one-day festival. Despite a limited budget that prevented them from booking every desired artist, the event was a resounding success, nearly selling out. The lineup was intentionally crafted to showcase the burgeoning talent within the local scenes and to ensure all featured bands were Latino-fronted, celebrating the area’s rich diversity and cultural heritage.
On April 6, Happy Daps Fest made a triumphant return to The Observatory, selling out completely. This year, The High Curbs prioritized making the festival financially accessible for younger audiences, ensuring that those who couldn’t previously afford their shows or needed a respite from everyday life could join in.
The festival also marked the release of several new tracks that are included in the newest record, “THC,” which dropped on May 24, including “Couldn’t Hold Back a Smile,” “Breathe In,” and their latest Spanish-language single, “Besos.” According to Moreno, this 10-track record stands apart from their previous work, offering a more cohesive sound rather than a collection of garage-born tracks. This time, they collaborated with producer Zach Tuch, known for his work with renowned punk and garage rock acts like Movements and Touché Amoré, bringing a refined edge to their style.
“We feel like with this album, it’s us as adults now,” Moreno says. “This is like us but fully grown musically and as men. You can hear it from start to finish. We’re in our late twenties now, and there’s so much that we’ve learned from our time just being in the scene, touring, playing, and having some really low and high experiences, and now, this record is a reflection of that.”
With growth comes expansion, and this year is a testament to that as The High Curbs embark on a North American tour in support of “THC”. The 18-date jaunt includes a highly anticipated stop at The Troubadour in Los Angeles on June 21, which, for the band, represents the ultimate homecoming.
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The Troubadour show symbolizes the band’s grit and tenacity. Not only did they finally land an L.A. venue, but they now have the chance to reconnect with fans who supported them when they were playing backyard shows at random houses in Chino Hills. Although they’ve traded dusty backyards for historic venues, these humble beginnings are a vital part of their legacy. They hope to inspire younger bands in Southern California, showing them that anything is possible if you make it your own.
“At the end of the day we do a lot of this for the younger generation,” Moreno says. “If I could go back in time and tell myself not to do this or to do that instead, I would, but you can’t. That’s life. So for me now, it’s important to share that wisdom with the youth and the artists that are barely starting out. Some of them have been following us for years and constantly seek advice. We never shut that down, and it’s what we’re meant to do.”
The High Curbs: Troubadour Los Angeles
When: 8 p.m. Friday, June 21
Where: Troubadour, 9081 N Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood
Tickets and information: Tickets start at $20 at seetickets.com.