Beloved Houston indie rock figure, and former Giant Princess keyboardist dies

Diego Arcienega (third from left) died Jan. 7 in a car accident in Houston. He played keyboards in the band Giant Princess. Diego Arcienega (third from left) died Jan. 7 in a car accident in Houston. He played keyboards in the band Giant Princess. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Beloved Houston indie rock figure, and former Giant Princess keyboardist dies 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Diego Esparza-Arcienega, a beloved figure in Houston's indie rock scene, died Sunday night in a car accident during Sunday's rains — he was exiting I-45 to Allen Parkway when he lost control of his truck and struck a concrete pole. He was 31.

Facebook and Instagram accounts were flooded Monday and Tuesday with tributes from members of Houston bands like the Tontons, the Wild Moccasins, Young Mammals and numerous others for the man who played keyboards in the local group Giant Princess, which released a vibrant garage punk record in "Zip Zop Wow" in 2008.

But the appreciation for Arcienega goes well beyond his role in a single band. He's remembered as a key cog in the local music scene.

RELATED: The bars and restaurants in Houston with the oldest TABC liquor licenses

Arcienega was difficult to miss in the band: mustachioed, bespectacled and beaming. And he had an energetic force that pulled together a music scene and keep it vital. His home at 1816 Calumet became an epicenter where all sorts of local music was nurtured. Artists like the Tontons, the Wild Moccasins, Buxton and B L A C K I E found their way there.

"There are multiple people in this city with 1816 Calumet tattoos," says Joe Folladori, who made some of his Mathletes recordings at Arcienega's place. "I can't overstate the importance of that place. The thing about a house show, there has to be a guy who enables that: somebody who sets up the PA, breaks everything down at the end of the night, talks to the cops when they show up. He was always doing those things at that house. That was vital, and he was vital."

Giant Princess took more formal shape at San Jacinto College, where Pasadena native Arcienega played music with singer/guitarist Collin Hedrick and drummer Jaime Nava.

RELATED: Explore Houston's favorite live music venues

Arcienega grew up in Pasadena in a family of five. His sister Marlen Esparza is a bronze medal-winning Olympic boxer. He described his father as a Mexican immigrant who worked in welding. In 2010 Arcienega told the Chronicle, the band's members bonded over being outcasts from refinery towns. "All our dads work at plants," he said. "And we're in a band called Giant Princess."

Folladori credits Arcienega with helping Giant Princess transform from kids dabbling in music to a proper band.

"Dating back to high school those guys had bands and recorded things, but just for themselves," he says. "But Diego became serious about it. He was like, 'Listen, if we're going to play music in front of people, if we want to get out of the garage and play for more than 15 people, we need to do this right. Collin was the ideal frontman for that band. But the band wouldn't have been the band without Diego. He was the heart and soul of it."

After distributing "Zip Zop Wow" as a CDR in 2008 the group made an EP, "Mexican Easter," in 2009. In 2010 Indie Houston — a music blog that occasionally released music — bankrolled a proper vinyl release for "Zip Zop Wow."

The band's shows were always spirited, high-energy events, with fans stirred into a frenzy.

"Man, Giant Princess to me was the best band in Texas for that period, around 2008 to 2012," Folladori says. "They were the best band in Texas, yet they did not give a (expletive) about it. They just wanted to make music and play shows."

RELATED: Famous musicians from Houston

Arcienega kept recording equipment set up at the Calumet house so friends could drop by without notice if they wanted to record songs.

He also proved able in other capacities. He was a journeyman electrician, a capable welder and the guy local musicians would call when their cars wouldn't start.

"There are people who just make things happen," Folladori says. "Special people who are engines. He's a big part of why we had this community."

And he continued making music of his own, even if it never saw release.

"He was one of the hardest working dudes I ever knew," Folladori says. "He had all sorts of stuff he recorded on his own in his room. There's a hard drive full of it. Hopefully at some point we can finally find out what's on it."