Music

Tribute: The Rock 'N' Roll Postman

By Michelle Groskopf

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Fact: There are certain people (reminiscent of unicorns) who turn the world into a magical place through the simple act of being themselves. Case in point, I was in Eagle Rock one day with my girlfriend; we turned a corner and there was this wild vision. All hair and silver jewelry, serious rock posture. An 80's hair metal God come straight to life, just sitting there eating a sandwich, In a postal workers uniform. I watched him put his sandwich down, saunter and strut to his postal truck. Hanging halfway out the doorway he flipped the ignition and roared off like he was riding a Harley, or a horse. I just stood there with my mouth open. 
 
Cut to a week later, back in Eagle Rock, I ran into a different postal worker (can also be read as 'ran at him'). I asked him if he knew the rocker postal worker I had been obsessively thinking about for days now. "Who, Rene Escamilla? Yeah Rene's the best. Want his number?" His name was Rene. Rene! And even though it made me feel like a weirdo creep to take his home number, I did, and I called it. Turns out Rene fronts a goth metal band called Legion Underworld and has worked as a postman for 30 years. Turns out his girlfriend Cindy also works for the post office and would I like come hang out on his deck and hear his band practice? "Yes please!" and so I did. 
 
 
 
 
 
Rand Almazan (drums)
 
Ace Sandoval (lead guitar)
 
Luis Reyes (bass)
 
 
 
 
A collection of articles written about Rene in local papers and magazines, portraits of his parents, and a collage of photos featuring Renee and his rock and roll heroes. 
 
 
Rene's prized Westfalia for when the band goes on tour. 
 
 
 
For more on Rene's band: http://www.legionunderworld.com/
 
For more of Michelle's work:  dailystreet.tumblr.com
 
By Michelle Groskopf 9 months ago
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