Red, DMB04, and I saw Rodrigo y Gabriela on Wednesday night as part of the Chicago World Music Festival. Dave and I have both posted mp3s in other threads before. I knew they'd just be two guitarists, but I really did not expect to be blown away.

These two met in a thrash band in Mexico City before relocating to Dublin many years ago. Their current style is far from metal, more like a very quick Latin-influenced acoustic guitar sound. They do draw from a range of genres, though. Rodrigo even dropped in a short "Enter Sandman" interlude at one point. And Gabriela is a shredder. Holy moly, this girl is an animal on the guitar. They owned the crowd. And I'm not a guitar player, but I was in a state of amazement watching them play.

Their first US album is coming out in a few weeks. It was produced by John Leckie (The Bends, The Stone Roses, Z, Real Life, etc.) and Rodrigo said he was initially against the idea of a producer, but was swayed by Leckie's history.

And now for the all-important mp3s (first two from new album, third from 2002 album):

Diablo Rojo


PPA


FOC

Robert Rodriguez should use them in Desperado 4.

Hell yea! I leaned over to Z during their set to say this sounds like a score from a Tarantino/Rodriguez film! James is totally right about being blown away. Will I see guitar playing like this again? Probably not. We'll post tour dates when they are avail.

Also, Gabriela is rather attractive and her accent was cute too.

what, no pix?

FOC? Huh... One of my rivals in my rotisserie baseball league uses "Friends of Chelsea" -- in reference to their mutual attendance at Sidwell Friends a decade ago -- as his team's name, so whenever I see FOC I think of that. But I don't Roderick & Gabrielle titled their song for the same reason. Correct?

Also, I could have seen these two at the World Music event in Milwaukee, but I skipped out on it, for fear of running into nickisnotdead.

Here's one, below.

[img][334:500]http://www.cmpentertainment.com/furniture/images/press/356_RyG.jpg[/img]

Gabriela's a monster on that guitar. I thought her hands would start bleeding after some of the songs.

For two guitars and nothing else, they sure made it sound like there was a band with them. Lots of beating on the body of the guitar sounded like bongos or other percussion and occasionally, the sounds were so rich, I could've sworn there was a piano in the room.

Good call, fellas. Thanks for letting the girl tag along.

I was thinking of that same thing when I was listening to the album for the first time.

This disc is beautiful and it rocks.

i've only heard "tamacun" and it rocks (for an instrumental). this might make my emusic february refresh list.

Can't wait to see them this Friday!

Aren't they playing Temple Bar? I'll be there on Feb.1.

Stu, you're coming into town? I'm seeing 'em at The Troubadour.

This is a fantastic album. Thanks for the heads up.

Won't be missing them at Coachella.

I'm finally getting around to hearing this...big whoop...they play a decent spanish style dual guitar. I don't get what all the fuss is about.

Maybe you need to see them in person, BG. It's absolutely spectacular what Gabriela does with that guitar.

kinky.

I get that they could be better live...but why were folks jizzing over the album itself. Is this the only spanish guitar anyone has ever heard not played by Antonio Banderas.

it's probably the breast factor.

Or maybe because there aren't many Spanish guitarists who have a speed metal history?

well speed metal is extremely influenced by the technical prowess of classical musicians, and spain has one of the richest heritages of classical guitarists and composers, so i'm pretty sure it's the breasts.

And who come from Mexico via Ireland, don't forget.

besides, aren't they mexican?

We've ruled out it has anything to do with the quality of the rekkid though I take it.

haha.

But Billy. They're MEXICAN!