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<\/p>\nThough their music is rooted in acoustic flamenco guitar, Mexico City-based instrumental duo Rodrigo y Gabriela are open to \u2013 and draw from \u2013 the entirety of popular and traditional music. Across more than two decades, six studio albums, three live releases, three EPs and countless live dates across the globe, Rodrigo S\u00e1nchez and Gabriela Quintero have bent the music of other artists to their own unique purposes.<\/p>\n
While the majority of Rodrigo y Gabriela\u2019s material is original music, the duo\u2019s choices of covers provide a window into their all-encompassing musical worldview. Bay Area metal heroes Metallica were one of the first acts to see their music reinterpreted into what some call Rod y Gab\u2019s \u201cacoustic speed metal\u201d style. Metallica’s 1988 anti-war single \u201cOne\u201d appeared on Rodrigo y Gabriela\u2019s major label debut, 2002\u2019s Re-Foc<\/i>.<\/p>\n
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But alongside metal covers, musical omnivores Rodrigo y Gabriela have surveyed the musical landscape and discovered other styles ripe for recasting into their inimitable style. The duo has interpreted the work of artists as varied as Paul Desmond (\u201cTake Five\u201d), Led Zeppelin (\u201cStairway to Heaven\u201d) and Pink Floyd. That last group was paid tribute with a mesmerizing acoustic reading of their early, epic-length masterwork \u201cEchoes,\u201d complete with the song\u2019s signature ping<\/i> tones at its start and finish.<\/p>\n
Rod y Gab\u2019s 2019 album Mettavolution<\/i> earned a Grammy (Best Contemporary Instrumental Album), and the duo embarked on a widely-acclaimed tour in support of the record. In late 2020 \u2013 with their tour sidelined by the pandemic \u2013 the pair of guitarists released an audio document of that tour, Mettavolution Live<\/i>. That CD captures the excitement of a Rod y Gab concert. \u201cOn the best nights,\u201d S\u00e1nchez says, \u201cthe audience is part of the band. It\u2019s the energy we draw from the fans, I think, that makes the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Live albums are sometimes stopgap projects, something for the fans when there\u2019s no new music ready for release. But that\u2019s not the case for S\u00e1nchez and Quintero; they haven\u2019t been idle since their tour was interrupted. Recent months have also seen the release of two new thematic EPs, Jazz<\/i> and Mettal<\/i>.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone who knows us will understand that we both listen to lots of different kinds of music,\u201d explains S\u00e1nchez. \u201cWe are long time fans of Astor Piazzolla; we used to play his \u2018Libertango\u2019 a lot in the early days.\u201d Jazz<\/i> also features reinventions of Kamasi Washington’s \u201cStreet Fighter Mas\u201d and Snarky Puppy\u2019s \u201cLingus.\u201d S\u00e1nchez provides a simple reason for the new recordings. \u201cWe are fans, first and foremost,\u201d he says. \u201cThe challenge \u2013 and the fun \u2013 is taking those songs and arranging them for two guitars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before teaming up in 2000, Rod y Gab both played electric guitar in metal bands. The Mettal<\/i> EP revisits those roots. Another Metallica tune (\u201cBattery\u201d) is joined by readings of songs by Megadeth and Slayer. In Rod y Gab\u2019s hands, the songs display a melodic depth equal to their formidable power. \u201cThat generation of thrash-metal bands are absolutely integral to the history of Rodrigo y Gabriela,\u201d S\u00e1nchez says. \u201cSo when we approached it, we knew it had to be 100% sincere and respectful as a tribute.\u201d<\/p>\n
The duo recently launched a Patreon platform, Music From the Field. \u201cIt has been an outlet for all different kinds of musical experimentation,\u201d S\u00e1nchez says, \u201cfrom covering Dua Lipa and taking on Nina Rota\u2019s music from The Godfather<\/i>.\u201d And that eclectic approach is likely to continue for him and his musical partner. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t rule out future genre-based EPs,\u201d he says. \u201cWe are both endlessly curious about music.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodrigo S\u00e1nchez makes it clear that while COVID-19 interfered with Rod y Gab\u2019s plans, the duo has maintained plenty of momentum. \u201cWhen the pandemic happened, we moved to doing sessions online to reach the fans,\u201d he says. In addition to those sessions \u2013 broadcast from \u201cThe Spaceship,\u201d the duo\u2019s purpose-built studio in Ixtapa \u2013 plus the live album and pair of EPs, they\u2019ve released yet another recording. Rod y Gab\u2019s latest single is a sublime version of \u201cTe Extra\u00f1o,\u201d written by acclaimed Mexican composer Armando Manzanero. \u201cHis music was a constant on radio and TV at home when we were kids,\u201d Sanchez says.<\/p>\n
The current run of live performances is part of the duo\u2019s continued forward motion. \u201cBuilding The Spaceship and doing online sessions every week kept us sharp,\u201d Sanchez says. \u201cBut we\u2019re excited to be back out on tour, and we\u2019re feeling very positive about the future of our music.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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