1 June 2007
Breathtaking! Rodrigo Y Gabriela @ Rock City
Posted by Dexter M under: gigs; music .
For someone unfamiliar with the phenomenon that is Rodrigo Y Gabriela: in a nutshell - two mexicans with accoustic guitars playing incredible high octane mash-up of flamenco, jazz and heavy metal.
I caught most of their set at The Big Chill last year and it blew me (and most of the other people at the village green stage) away. Touring again this year, they put in a great appearance at the dark and dirty pit that is Nottingham’s Rock City. To start off with they seemed a tad weary - as Gabriela explained, they seemed to have been touring almost constantly for wel over a year now - bound to wear anyone one down, but with the energy these guys put into their show it’s going to be even worse.
However, as the set went on - mixing up self penned tunes from their last aponymous album and covers of Metallica, Pink Floyd (the sing-along “Wish You Were Here”) and even Take Five (yes that take five) - the audience reaction lifted them. By the end, the smiles were well and truly back on their faces.
It’s difficult to explain why two people with accoustic guitars can be so exhillerating, but Rodrigo Y Gabriela have taken their rock influences (they where both in Heavy Metal bands back in the day) and baked them firmly into their sound, along with a strong jazz/improssational streak. Above their music has a raw energy running through it that just lifts you and demands a reaction.