Alfonso Velez is an old soul. The former frontman from Monopoli recently stepped out of the indie rock scene and into the past, drawing upon various folk and blues influences in his solo career. He has the demeanor (and hair) of a young Elvis, the storytelling stylings of Bob Dylan, and the gritty vocals of George Harrison. These are but a few of the names that come to mind as you watch him on stage. One man representing many, he incorporates modern lyrics into his classic sound. “U Street Regalia” is a tribute to the corridor frozen in time between generations, and “End of the World Blues” speaks of the politics of today.

We saw him on Cinco de Mayo at DC9 with two other Three Stars alumni, Luke Brindley and Michael Jantz. Together the three offer some of the best acoustic sounds of the city. Whether it was just Alfonso and his guitar, Alfonso and his band, or Alfonso and the crowd, when he takes the stage he is the center of attention, and you can’t help but be drawn in to his songs. It is both familiar and refreshing music from an artist with his sights set on the big picture. We spoke with him via email before he headed off to tour Europe last week to find out more about his background and upcoming album.