Words and Photos:
Josh Trotter
As the sun set over the vibrant city of Nashville, the legendary Ryman Auditorium stood poised to host an evening that would etch itself into the annals of musical history. On this particular night, the stage belonged to Rodrigo y Gabriela, the Mexican guitar duo renowned for their unmatched virtuosity and infectious energy. With a crowd buzzing with anticipation, the stage was set for a concert experience like no other.
As the lights dimmed, Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero took their positions, armed solely with their acoustic guitars. Without uttering a single word, the duo launched into their first song, and the audience was instantly captivated. The sheer dexterity of their fingers on the fretboard was nothing short of mesmerizing, and the Ryman’s acoustics beautifully accentuated every note that reverberated through the room.
The performance was an incredible fusion of musical genres, effortlessly blending elements of flamenco, rock, jazz, and Latin rhythms. It was as if the duo had harnessed the spirit of the Ryman itself, channeling the soulful energy that had been woven into the venue’s storied walls over the years. Each song brought a unique flavor, transporting the audience on a sonic journey that transcended borders and time.
The chemistry between Rodrigo and Gabriela was palpable, their connection as performers both visible and audible. They communicated seamlessly, exchanging knowing glances and synchronizing their intricate guitar patterns flawlessly. Their interaction was a testament to their years of collaboration and shared musical vision, and it resonated deeply with the crowd. It was a joy to witness two musicians so in tune with each other, navigating the intricacies of their instruments with the precision of a seasoned orchestra.
However, it wasn’t just the technical prowess that made the evening remarkable. Rodrigo y Gabriela’s music transcended mere technicality; it possessed an emotional depth that resonated with the audience on a profound level. The dynamic range they achieved, seamlessly transitioning from gentle, introspective melodies to thunderous, thunderous percussive beats, left the crowd breathless. It was as if they were conversing with their guitars, pouring their hearts and souls into each strum and pluck.
The concert reached its peak with an encore that left the audience on their feet, roaring with applause and demanding more. Rodrigo and Gabriela obliged, delivering a jaw-dropping performance that pushed the boundaries of what seemed possible on two humble guitars. The energy in the room was electric, an intense symbiosis between performers and spectators.
As the final notes rang out, the crowd erupted into a standing ovation, their appreciation overflowing into thunderous applause and cheers that seemed to reverberate throughout the city. Rodrigo y Gabriela had left an indelible mark on the Ryman Auditorium, their fiery brilliance filling every corner of the iconic venue.
In the end, the concert was a testament to the power of music to transcend language, culture, and any preconceived boundaries. Rodrigo y Gabriela had crafted an evening of pure magic, weaving a tapestry of sound that left no soul untouched. The Ryman Auditorium will forever hold the echoes of their extraordinary performance, a night that will be remembered by all fortunate enough to be in attendance.
JUNE
1 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theatre + ^
2 – San Bernardino, CA – Yaamava’ Theater
3 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater ^
4 – Sacramento, CA – Mondavi Center @ UC Davis ^
7 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Grand Lodge ^
8 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste Michel ^
10 – Salt Lake City, UT – Sandy Amphitheater ^
11 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre + ^
13 – Minneapolis, MN – Fitzgerald Theatre
14 – Madison, WI – Orpheum Theater
16 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre
17 – Detroit, MI – Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre
19 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
20 – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall
22 – Durham, NC – Carolina Theatre
23 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
24 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis
25 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
27 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre
28 – Philadelphia, PA – Longwood Gardens
29 – Boston, MA – Chevalier Theater
CONNECT WITH RODRIGO Y GABRIELA:
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About Rodrigo y Gabriela: For over two decades, Rodrigo y Gabriela have created music that invites lasting transcendence, mesmerizing audiences across the globe with their virtuosic yet wildly inventive guitar playing. Critically lauded albums like 2019’s GRAMMY® Award-winning Mettavolution
While recovering from Covid in the fall of 2020, Rodrigo stumbled upon the concept of nondualism – the notion that there is a “single, infinite, and indivisible reality, whose nature is pure consciousness, from which all objects and selves derive their apparently independent existence,” in the words of author/teacher Rupert Spira. He shared his findings with Gabriela, who felt a similar resonance. As they delved further into the philosophy, the duo began channeling this new sense of heightened awareness into song form.
“The music just started flowing out, without any real intention,” says Rodrigo. “When we looked back we realized we’d come up with nine songs that told the story of our coming to understand the Advaita path, in the exact perfect order. We didn’t change the foundation of the songs from that point, so what you hear on the album is the music as we were creating it.”
In a testament to the expressiveness and depth of Rodrigo y Gabriela’s musicality, In Between Thoughtswordlessly leads the listener through a complex narrative complete with plot, emotional arcs, and plenty of dramatic tension. Mixed by James Monti (The Who, The Head and the Heart) and mastered by Greg Calbi (Tame Impala, Beach House), the album marks a sharp departure from the duo’s signature acoustic sound, with Rodrigo trading his acoustic guitar for electric, adding a mercurial new energy elegantly amplified by the duo’s subtle use of analog synths, Mellotron, and other electronic instruments. Rodrigo y Gabriela also worked remotely with Vienna-based composer Adam Ilyas Kuruc and The Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, who ornamented the duo’s serpentine arrangements with lush strings and powerful percussion. Yet even as it pushes into uncharted sonic terrain, the album draws much of its power from the singular dynamic that’s always distinguished Rodrigo y Gabriela’s music, a delicate interplay between Gabriela’s potent and percussive strumming and Rodrigo’s breathlessly fast yet intricate lead guitar work.
Reflecting on the making of In Between Thoughts…A New World, Rodrigo y Gabriela are quick to note the charmed spontaneity that guided their process — an element that extends all the way to their serendipitous discovery of conceptual artist Jeremy Gluck, who created the album’s cover art and whose work is partly inspired by the teachings of the renowned Indian guru of nondualism Nisargadatta Maharaj.
“I think one of the main things we’ll take away from this experience is to let the music flow, let it live and breathe without judging it first,” says Gabriela.
“We didn’t work on this record thinking, ‘Let’s share this message with the world’ — we’re not interested in preaching anything,” says Rodrigo. “If it benefits people in any way to learn about this, then that’s wonderful. But for us it was a way to explore something that’s brought us a lot of peace and freedom – something that we love talking about because it’s changed our lives in an incredible way.”
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