Around the World, (07)

Hello, around the world we go and to day on the trail of two mexicans that left their homecountry to find their footing busking in Europe Ireland initially where they've become very popular, considering the irish know something about playing music (live)no mean feat. These two gabrielaspecially prove the classic guitar to be more then a string instrument in her hands its a fully blown percussive instrument too. Do checkout the vids.

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Rodrigo and Gabriela met as teenagers, at the Casa de Cultura (Culture House), in Mexico City. Rodrigo was playing drums in his band which became Tierra Acida (Acid Earth) when she joined them on guitar. Before joining Tierra Acida, Gabriela ran three girls' bands, Las Brujas (The Witches), Subterraneo and Las Formigas (The Ants) at once: Terra Acida had a disciplined work ethic: "It was mental!" she recalls, "we rehearsed five hours a day, every day, with very short breaks, and not much talking!"

Tierra Acida played in Mexico City's roughest clubs and lived off day-jobs, they recorded an album but wouldn't sign the record contract, planning instead to concentrate on learning more guitar styles, then we decided to travel to Europe. Their first port of call was Dublin, Ireland. They landed in Dublin at night, spoke no English, and had $1,000 between them. It was 1999: "We were very exotic specimens!" They built a reputation and landed gigs in people's homes, at wedding parties and gallery openings, playing covers and their own compositions, "We still wanted to be metal composers, but everything came out as Latin!". Percussive play by Gabriela serving as the rhythm for each song, as she bangs out some impressive backing beats for Rodrigo's stunning fingerpicked acoustic wonderment. Dublin was booming then, and the two Mexicans embedded and jammed with local folk musicians in the bars.

After a brief spell busking in Copenhagen they ended up jamming on the Ramblas in Barcelona. Just in time, a call came from Ireland to come back and play the newly opened Sugar Club. Damian Rice, then a busking friend, invited them to support his shows, and in 2003, they released "Re-Foc", and a year later, "Live Manchester and Dublin," which both launched them onto the World Music circuit – and beyond. 2006 saw the release of their breakthrough album with a remarkable snake eye cover "Rodrigo y Gabriela". The incredible sounds created would take a room full of mariachis to match the fury these two manufacture. The invigorating album is a shot of adrenaline you would never expect from the description 'instrumental acoustic guitar duo'. The Mexican duo create dense compositions that will boggle your mind, crafting killer rock and folk sounds fuelled by the Latin heart pumping at the center of each track, adding southwestern flair to each exciting cut.


Stairways to acoustic/percussive guitar heaven.




Tamacun at Jules Holland's Later show




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Rodrigo y Gabriela - Re-Foc ( 03 ^ 99mb)

1 - Diem
2 - New One
3 - Foc
4 - Georges Street / The Tartar Frigate
5 - 30 De Marzo
6 - Paris
7 - Take 5 (Foc-ing Version 9)
8 - Temple Bar

Rodrigo y Gabriela @ Base

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All downloads are in * ogg-7 (224k) or ^ ogg-9(320k), artwork is included , if in need get the nifty ogg encoder/decoder here !