Bricks by Kaleta

Jason - Drums (2025)

One of seven LEGO builds created as gifts for my favorite band and dear friends in Los Campesinos!

Another multi-hyphate member of LC!, Jason, the drummer, former road manager, amazing tattoo artist, and fellow dad is the punk-rock heart of the band, and also my conversation partner on all things LEGO. It’s hard to improve on the drums from LEGO’s own Jazz Quartet (21334), but after an initial attempt at Questlove’s kit in the Awesome Black Creativity project, I was ready to give this one a modified take. Added complexity by including the rug underneath and finding connection points for all the gear. Jason’s wife (Kim, also in the band) provided expert details about the back of Jason’s kit and his wardrobe choices - shorts, no shoes.

In honor of these seven builds, I’m going to list my favorite song off of each of Los Campesinos!’s seven albums. No Blues, their fifth album was released October 29th, 2013 and led me to create a miniland plus version of the band from their Avocado, Baby music video. However popular Avocado, Baby remains (particularly live), I’ll go with the earnest lament of As Lucerne/The Low as my go to track.

Gareth - Vocals (2025)

One of seven LEGO builds created as gifts for my favorite band and dear friends in Los Campesinos!

While promoting their most recent album, All Hell, Gareth gave an interview with the podcast for the subscription service Vinyl Me Please. He was asked about the loyalty and intensity of LC! Fans and mentioned the LEGO figures I gave everyone years ago as a fond memory. I just happened to be listening to that interview days after seeing the band live for the 12th time and it really motivated me to try to do the band again, but this time brick built in the miniland plus scale.

Studying Gareth’s mannerisms is a bit easier that some of the other members as he attacks the stage with the aplomb of kayfabe wrestlers, but with the sincerity of years long devotion to his craft. This particular pose can be seen in many a show as he breaks the proscenium to connect with the audience and belt out lyrics filled with longing and heartbreak.

In honor of these seven builds, I’m going to list my favorite song off of each of Los Campesinos!’s seven albums. Their follow up album (don’t call it an EP) We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed was released October 27th, 2008 - just 33 weeks after their debut. The title track continues to be a live standard to this day, but I’ll go with the cacophony of layers of instruments (lots of glockenspiel and Harriet’s violin) as well and the gang backing lyrics of You’ll Need Those Figures For Crossing