After the break-up of the Stomping Clawhammers, Dara Luskin (bass), Frank McMahon (banjo, mandolin), Alex Crichton (vocals, guitar) formed Los Stompers in 1997.
Recorded live in the now defunct Jazzmatazz, Barcelona and released through former Los Manolos[2] group members label, Ventilador Music,[3] the album was a compendium of traditional Irish pub songs such as "Follow me up to Carlow", "The Star of the County Down" and "Waxie's Dargle" as well as original material.
1999 saw the release of their debut studio album, Pub Friction,[4] joined by Colm Petit on fiddle, and solidified their proposal of a fusion between many styles and traditions from Catalan rumba to country music.
This was achieved through the production skills of former Manolos drummer Andreu Hernandez, various collaborations with experienced session musicians such as Ricky Araiza and Cece Giannotti, and the inclusion of many instruments not normally found in Irish music such as the cajón, the darbouka, trumpet and tuba.
"Belmondo Cafe shows a sense of humour at times more unfathomable than the Dalinian extravagance displayed on its cover... an invitation to descend into the city's most dissolute dives...facetious and filthy, but hardly ever uncouth"[9] During the following years the band began to diversify into other areas of music.
In 2006 the band released their first CD called On the Gravey Train, which featured newer additions to the group such as Dara Luskin on bass, Ricky Ariza de los Cobos on bazouki and Nigel Haywood on clarinet.