Lou Portela
Bass, Vocals
louis@houseoffloyd.com

Lou began his musical journey playing in Puerto Rico's thriving rock music scene of the early 70's. Later, Lou returned to NYC, where in the early 80’s, he helped establish the power trio X-Offender with drummer Art Vilmenay, guitarist William “Orville” Wright, and later joined by guitarist Edward O'Rourke. After years of paying dues playing the NYC club scene, the band released an EP: "Relax in Red" for Granet Recordz, receiving rave reviews from both Billboard Magazine, and the CMJ (the College Music Journal). The album charted very well in the US college radio circuit, and was picked up by commercial radio stations, both domestically and internationally. X-Offender shared the stage with many NYC peer bands such as The New Bohemians (Pre-Edie Brickel) and Rhythm Bandits.

After relocating to the Bay Area in the mid 90's, Lou continued to network with other musicians, keeping busy writing songs, doing session recordings, and jamming. In recent years, he's helped co-produce two indie CD's: "My Guitar"(2001) and "Alma del Sol"(2006) with E.C. O'Rourke, former X-Offender guitarist, featuring session drummers Andy Korn (from Ronnie Spector, Keith Richards) and Mick Berry (drummer for Who Too, The Who tribute band) on the Budakin indie label available at CDBaby.com, and other music outlets.

“For me, Floyd's songs are sort of "mini-movies”, theatrical plays or even operettas. Floyd has created great songs by taking deeply personal subjects, spiritual, political, and social issues and even some mildly campy topics and provided much food for thought!” - Lou