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Green with envy
(and a lot of admiration) I watched Mexican guitar slingers
Rodrigo y Gabriela thrill the intimate Academy 3 with an hour-long
masterclass in arrangements, technique and style.
This charismatic pairing is very special indeed.
On the second night of their sold-out eight-gig UK
tour, pint-sized Gabriela Quintero and beefy Rodrigo Sanchez mesmerized the
packed - out venue with a dazzling display of finger-flicking wizardry,
fusing flamenco, jazz and rock. The hot pair is making Mexican waves of
their own right now, headlining the UK after supporting David Gray in the UK
and mainland Europe.
Promoting their new eponymous album, they took no time
to unleash their high-octane setlist, kicking off with the primal rhythms of
album opener Tamacun, as Gabriela pounded the acoustic guitar, custom made
by Irishman Frank Tate. The percussive onslaught led to bobbing heads and
foot-tapping for the entire show - we did get a breather now and again
though.
Close-up, their almost telepathic understanding and digital
dexterity defies belief, as chord riffs and picks burned up the fret boards
-the blistering pace was mind-boggling, : best heard on Vikingman. It wasn't
all blood and thunder, slipping-in some sophisticated covers: Dave Brubeck's
jazz standard Take 5 gripped the crowd, bringing the first big reaction.
Pink Floyd's anthem, Wish You Were Here set the crowd on a retro-trip,
singing every word - a rare opportunity in a totally instrumental
repertoire. Rodrigo used his beer bottle to do the slide work - a novel
approach that brought more cheers. Their indigenous Hispanic passion never
let-up even when things took a tenderer touch, with sublime dips in pace,
Ixtapa, the best example.
A nod to their previous existence in a thrash metal band surfaced on most
occasions, with Metallica's lengthy Orion proving a clear winner.
An encore was always on the cards. Gabriela introduced the finale with,
"We're gonna play something special dedicated to you. Thank you very much,
you're great."
Shooting-off with some individual show boating - incredible
solos that raised the roof, finally leaving with a crescendo of classic
rock: a spell-binding rendition of Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven. Both
beaming at the ovation, they waved and headed for the dressing room.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.