New Times SLO

Chicano soul band Los Yesterdays plays the Fremont Theater on July 31

July 24, 2025

“Bad Vic” Benavides is unabashedly honest—he can’t really play an instrument. He would rather be making music in the studio than performing onstage. And sometimes, in a band as revered as Los Yesterdays, he’s overrun with imposter syndrome and left feeling like the “Ringo Starr” of the group.

But what Benavides, lead singer of the LA-based Chicano soul band, can do—and do well—is write songs. As a hopeless romantic, his many relationships-turned-heartbreaks have led to some of his best work…

By Angie Stevens