rodrigo y gabriela show a fresh familiarity at edgefield

A glowing Gabriela at Edgefield on July 6th.

Rodrigo y Gabriela's latest Portland appearance was back to the basics—mostly.

After sharing the Schnitzer stage in 2012 with a five-piece band—a Cuban orchestra dubbed C.U.B.A. (Collective Universal Band Association)—following the release of Area 52, Rod y Gab took the outdoor stage in their most impressive form—as a duo—at Edgefield on Saturday, July 6th. And while opener and C.U.B.A. collaborator Alex Wilson briefly joined the pair on piano, the performance was chiefly the familiar ol' Rod y Gab show we've come to adore—mostly.

Last time in town, the music was full of new sounds but the songs weren't—every one was simply a re-envisioned take on material from the duo's self-titled record and 11:11. But this time, the setlist featured quite the offering of new material. Being only the second date of the tour, Rodrigo mentioned that they'd just come from the studio and were ready to show off songs from the forthcoming album.

As for what was the same:

You could picture Rod y Gab getting pumped up backstage as Rage's f-bomb-filled "Killing in the Name" blared before the set. This was followed by Tool's "The Pot," which meant the duo was ready to take the stage.

Pure power.

After opening the set seated for a new tune, "Hanuman" was the first opportunity for Rod y Gab to strut their stuff, showing off the power metal stance they've both perfected.

As the natural light waned, the pair glowed, and (because I had the luxury of standing literally right underneath them while snapping photos for the first three songs) you could see the subtle, silent cues—speaking volumes with just their eyes—and not only to each other but also the audience. As Gabriela got into the groove, rapping her knuckles with more and more intensity, a brief respite would see her looking out into the crowd with a joyous, childlike smile while she yipped and bounced about the stage, one arm raised, finger pointing skyward.

A tiny hint of "Stairway To Heaven" started off Rod's solo bit. The crowd wanted it so he kept going with the Latin-ized Zeppelin before (intentionally) botching it and mouthing: "I don't remember."

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Read the rest and see more photos on OMN.

top ten

Inspired to see what my ten most played tracks were in iTunes, I peeped at what my actual listening habits reveal about my taste in music and found there's nothing to be ashamed about. As a disclaimer, I have a tendency of purging older, even nostalgic, tracks and albums over time but much of what's here has lasted the lifetime of this Mac Book (since 2008).

1 -- Baustelle "L." (Montepulciano, Italia) : Followed by "Charlie fa surf" and "Baudelaire" amongst several other Amen-era tracks in my most played. This was the first album I discovered by the band and it appears that I listened to it a lot that year I lived in Italy.

2 -- Deelay Ceelay "No Vex" (Portland, Oregon) : From their debut EP Thank You, which you can download for free here. Their first full-length, Sunset Drumsets, just dropped.

3 -- Sigur Rós "Gobbledigook" (Reykjavík, Iceland) : Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust also came out in 2008 while I was living in Italy and I suppose I was preparing for my first ever Sigur Rós performance that summer at Southside in Germany. Their set was followed by In Rainbows Radiohead. Epic.

4 -- Phoenix "Lisztomania" (Versailles, France) : Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix brought Phoenix back into my consciousness, and everyone else's, with a much-needed resurgence in 2009.

5 -- Metric "Help, I'm Alive" (Toronto, Canada) : I remember stumbling across this early version of the song some six months before Fantasies would be released. Obviously, I couldn't stop listening to it.

6 -- Radiohead "15 Step" (Abingdon, England) : Although I can't remember what I paid (if anything) for In Rainbows, my mp3 of the opening track is well worn.

7 -- Cut Copy "Hearts on Fire" (Melbourne, Australia) : In Ghost Colours was another album from 2008, which was also the year I first saw the band perform.

8 -- Digitalism "Magnets" tied with "Idealistic" (Hamburg, Germany) : After keeping Idealism in heavy rotation, I was duly prepared to see Digitalism at that same Southside festival. And now they've finally got a new one out.

9 -- Mayer Hawthorne "Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin" (Ann Arbor, Michigan) : Couldn't resist this white boy's falsettic soul.

10 -- Rodrigo y Gabriela "Viking Man" (México, D.F., Mexico) : Who also appeared at Southside; my first time seeing them. But not last.

And the immediate runner ups include:

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside "Danger"
Sufjan Stevens' The BQE "Movement IV: Traffic Shock"
Yelle "Je Veux Te Voir [Club-Club Version]"

While Elbow's "Forget Myself," "Grounds For Divorce" and "We're Away" all tied with Foo Fighters' "See You" and Starfucker's "Laadeedaa," "Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second" and "Holly" ...followed by more Baustelle (hey, Amen had 17 tracks!), Cut Copy, Digitalism, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton (of Metric), one Hockey cut ("Song Away") and Jónsi… there's a pattern here.

What's in your top ten?

alucinante : rodrigo y gabriela at edgefield

Seated on industrial gray equipment boxes, classical Spanish guitars began their ramble last night–a trek that took the crowded grass at McMenamins Edgefield to the Orient and England, from Latin America to Seattle, guided by two casual, unassuming players: Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Indubitably Mexico City’s finest flamenco-metal fusion band, Rod y Gab come from thrash metal beginnings but gained a following while busking in Ireland, performing their unparalleled style: a classical, acoustic sound with a rock’n'roll heart. Quite possibly a singular entity in the entire world, their success stems from two things: pure skill and graciousness.

And a dedicated following is always present to see both whenever the duo comes to town.

Entering silent and subdued, their hands spoke. Attentively watching one another, the duo quickly found their rhythm and shared it with the crowd, rising and pacing the stage, stopping at either end, then standing side by side. Squaring off, Rodrigo y Gabriela do not duel–they each present a piece of the puzzle and the other builds off the provided energy and flair. Both guitar necks angled skyward, their hands hurtled forward on divergent courses. With speed and dexterity, Gabriela’s rhythms scatted and knocked, slapped and clapped the body of the guitar running at a breathless pace while Rodrigo’s lead could whisper and roar.

Seeing is believing: There really were only four hands on stage although you likely heard many more.

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Read the rest and see more photos on OMN.

flamenco-metal fusion : rodrigo y gabriela at edgefield

Take one part heavy metal and mix with two parts classical Spanish guitars and you’ve got a recipe for the world’s most stunning uproar of flamenco-metal fusion: Rodrigo y Gabriela.

The Mexican duo last visited Portland’s Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in October but they’re back, bringing their fast-paced, rhythmically vibrant, acoustic sound to McMenamins Edgefield on Saturday, August 14th. Best-selling Aussie singer-songwriter Xavier Rudd, newly backed by Tio and Andile under the new group Xavier Rudd & Izintaba, opens.

After more than 15 years of playing together, Rodrigo y Gabriela’s live performances are unparalleled. The pair exudes an intense energy that will make your heart race in tune with Gabriela’s lightning fingers on rhythm guitar.

Each dexterous strum of Rodrigo’s lead guitar sends a barrage of tonal messages as a powerful musical bond between the two musicians unfolds before you eyes. You will feel synapses sparking as increasingly complex arrangements and sheer speed awe you. Mouth agape in a crooked grin, you will be enchanted by the ease at which they play.

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Read the rest on OMN.

rodrigo y gabriela dazzle the schnitz oct 12

Take one part heavy metal and mix with two parts classical Spanish guitars and you've got a recipe for the world's most stunning uproar of flamenco-metal fusion: Rodrigo y Gabriela.

The Mexican duo brings their fast-paced, rhythmically vibrant, acoustic sound to Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Monday, October 12.

After more than 15 years of playing together, Rodrigo y Gabriela's live performances are unparalleled. The pair exudes an intense energy that will make your heart race in tune with Gabriela's lightning fingers on rhythm guitar.

Each dexterous strum of Rodrigo's lead guitar sends a barrage of tonal messages, a powerful musical bond unfolding before you eyes. You will feel synapses sparking as increasingly complex arrangements and sheer speed awe you. Mouth agape in a crooked grin, you will be enchanted by the ease at which they play.

Rodrigo y Gabriela released their highly anticipated second album 11:11 in September, three years after their self-titled studio debut. With 11 tracks, the album pays homage to 11 artists who have inspired their work. Their debut saw spectacular covers of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway" and Metallica's "Orion" but we're left to speculate a bit about these 11 original tributes.

It's safe to say that the album's "Buster Voodoo" praises Jimi Hendrix while the title track "11:11" hails Pink Floyd. In honor of Paco De Lucía, the duo formed a quartet playing with Grammy-nominated Strunz & Farah on "Master Maqui."

11:11 takes flamenco to meet the East, featuring new strings like the sitar and oud. And the pair even introduces an electronic component to their routine with Testament's Alex Skolnick contributing an electric shred on "Atman."

Amongst the additional ingredients, the simple, steadfast formula remains the same. Watch the majesty and grace of two souls fluttering swift hands across guitar strings with clairvoyant precision. And get ready, because this one goes to 11.

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Monday, October 12, 2009
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Rocco DeLuca
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall : 1037 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97205
Doors at 7 PM, show at 8 PM
Cost : $35 advance, $40 day of show
All ages

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Read this article on Examiner.com.

listening of late

Just a bit of what's been running through my ears recently.

Men's Needs [CSS Remix]Station ApproachThe whole album is great. Try Forget Myself and the title track.


TamacunAgain, the whole album is spectacular including a Stairway cover.


SeasideOoh LaAnd one of the most beautiful voices I've heard, Emily Haines from Metric, in a different, stripped-down yet amazing role.


Our HellDoctor BlindWatch the video for Our Hell for something creepy and captivating.