ROBERT ERIK BUENTELLO: The Nice Guy

Festiva's Hottest Guys of Valley Rock 2009 profiles the drummer of Spanish pop trio Zeri. To read other profiles in the series, click here.

Things have happened fast for Robert Erik Buentello and the rest of the guys in The Critically Acclaimed.

Two years ago, they were a couple of friends in a high school screamo band. Then they lost their singer and launched a search on MySpace for a replacement. The Critically Acclaimed found a singer in December. A week and a half later the band had its first gig at a posada in McAllen. Shortly after, the band played at Winter Fest in Edinburg, then a small show at Moonbean's in McAllen.

In February local promoters noticed the guys. Goodbar Productions booked them for a few shows, and in March Dontgetemo Concerts added them to the Never Say Never Festival in Mission. Suddenly, this band was playing the same stage as some of its heroes, Amberlin, Forever the Sickest Kids and The Maine.

Robert plays guitar for the band, and he's excited and sort of humbled to be a part of this year's group. Just yesterday, he was going door to door with his band mates doing landscaping work to save money for a summer tour of Texas. Now he's a sex symbol. It's been a good year. 

All About ROBERT ERIK BUENTELLO
ROLE Guitarist in The Critically Acclaimed
AGE 19
GRAD OF PSJA North, 2008
HOMETOWN Pharr
GENRE Pop punk/power pop
ONLINE www.myspace.com/criticallyacclaimed2008
ZODIAC SIGN Aries

Most attractive quality in the opposite sex?
Eyes and a big set of personalities don't hurt either

Who is your celebrity crush?
Haley Williams from Paramore without a doubt.

What did you look like a little kid?
It's really gross. My dad used to compare me to Reggie Miller. I used to buzz my hair all the time. I looked a lot different when I was younger.

What's the best rumor you've heard about yourself?
Probably that I'm the biggest overachiever in the world. That's probably one of the funniest rumors that I've heard. That I'm really stern about doing things. That's not true at all. I'm super laid back. When we have things to do I'm probably the least motivated to do things at times.

Which Valley restaurant would you take a first date to?
Anything that has a dollar menu.

What physical feature are you most insecure about?
Probably my height. There's a lot of short guys down here and my height kind of makes me different. [He's 6 ‘1]

What's one bad habit you wish you could kick?
Biting my nails, and this is really sick. I'm not sure if lots of guitarists do this, but I tend to bite off my calluses on my left hand from playing guitar.

When did you realize you were hot?
Probably when Festiva messaged me.

Would you or have you ever dated an older woman?
Actually, the oldest I've dated is a month older than me. I've never dated it, but I'm pretty sure someone could make me think otherwise. Unless she's like 40 or Demi Moore.

Have a fan that's in love with you?
There are some pretty hardcore fans out there that are all up on us, but I think it's the whole band in general. One of the craziest things that actually happened, a girl made a shirt, and she had a picture from my MySpace on it. This other girl drove all the way from Brownsville to bring our drummer a sandwich, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk.

• THAT'S HOT

Brown or blue eyes Blue eyes

Good body or pretty face? Pretty face

80s or 90s 90s

London or Tokyo London

•  SPILL IN THE BLANK

The reason I broke up with my last girlfriend is _______________

...she's going to hate me for this one, but she just wasn't happy about the amount of time the band was taking away from her.

If I would have plastic surgery done, it would be on my _______________

....ears. Sometimes I feel like they're a little smaller. Maybe if they were a tenth of an inch bigger. I think they're just a tad too small.

I would do a spread in Playgirl if they paid me _______________

...if they just bought me a new amp system.

I had my first kiss when I was _______________

...14 or 15. I was in eighth grade.

The biggest like I ever told a girl is_______________

...it was a six month anniversary thing, and she was really into the relationship. I saw it going down hill. I didn't want to go to a date she had, so I told her my aunt passed away, and I had to go to a funeral service. I felt horrible though, if it's any consolation.

Read about the other nine Hottest Guys of Valley Rock 2009, or check out 2009's Hottest Women of Valley Rock. How does this group measure up against 2008's Hottest Men & Women of Valley Rock? Click here to decide for yourself