(CU Independent/Maranda Bodas)
By Maranda Bodas
With nimble fingers, intricate rhythms and palpable chemistry, it is hard to believe that guitar duo Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero (aka Rodrigo y Gabriela) started their careers playing in the streets of Dublin, after leaving their thrash metal roots behind in Mexico City.
Despite a last minute date change and their international demand, Program Council and the Cultural Events Board managed to snag the pair in the midst of their increasingly hectic recording schedule.
The concert, which sold out over the course of a weekend, brought students and community members together for night of music and conversation with the acoustic guitar virtuosos.
Macky, which had been taken over by a stadium-style sound system and an equally impressive light setup, was brimming with activity as patrons found their seats and anticipated the show’s start.
Shortly after 8 p.m. the house lights went down and the two guitarists emerged from either side of the stage. Cloaked in incense, Rodrigo y Gabriela immediately sat across from each other on two strategically placed utility boxes and began playing.
The opening set, which showcased some music off their latest album “11:11,” had the entire audience stomping their feet and clapping along. During the song “Hanuman,” the two musicians took over the stage and left audience members in awe.
The Latin infused chord progressions blended seamlessly as Gabriela beat intricate rhythms on the side of her guitar amidst short-staccato chords. As a testament to their immense skill and obvious passion for their craft, the duo transformed two seemingly ordinary guitars into a full band.
After the first set, Rodrigo and Gabriela traded their instruments for microphones to answer a few pre-selected questions from audience members.
The questions, in true Boulder style, delved into everything from politics to philosophy. Recouping from their performance high, the two explored how their music has transcended cultural boundaries.
While they didn’t always agree completely, they both said their music surpasses barriers because it is doesn’t involve lyrics.
“Music transcends more than we can imagine,” Rodrigo said. “Music is so important for you, without music we couldn’t transcend anything.”
Before diving into their second set, Gabriela urged the audience to get out of their seats.
“You’re welcome to dance, do anything you want. No problema,” she said as she strapped on her guitar with the assistance of a stagehand dressed in a pink gorilla costume.
Rodrigo and Gabriela moved around the stage as audience members followed Gabriela’s advice and abandoned their seats; Rodrigo urged them to clap along.
The second set paid tribute to their thrash-metal days as jaw-dropping progressions were played between the two dueling musicians. Throughout the set the energy was ignited onstage and off, as audience members appeared to be mesmerized by the pair’s show-stopping prowess.
During their tribute to Pink Floyd and the title track to their album, “11:11,” the energy reached its peak as the musicians embraced their guitars and embodied the sliding melodies and dramatic tone.
The concert left nothing to be desired. The entire show was far from monotonous as each song told a story with everything from the quick flamenco inspired rhythms to heart pumping rock progressions.
Following another round of questions, far too deep for the musicians to answer on the spot, Rodrigo and Gabriela displayed their individual talent as soloists.
Gabriela stood at the front of the stage, keeping her eyes closed as she hugged her instrument toward her chest as she played. With fingers that mimicked hummingbirds and a string of complex percussion rhythms, the petite guitarist took over the stage as audience members cheered her on.
When Rodrigo took the stage, it was clear that his solo work would be more rock inspired. Seated on his designated utility box, the guitarist played a seamless blend of well-known hard rock riffs as the crowd cheered in recognition.
Closing the show with an encore that provoked many audience members to rush the stage, Rodrigo y Gabriela ended in true metal style as they ran around the stage, playing with every last ounce of energy they had left.
The duo left the audience in a frenzy as they bid farewell with a copious amount of thank you’s, a promise to return, and one heart-felt “gracias.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Maranda Bodas at Maranda.bodas@colorado.edu
