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If Robert Rodriquez plans on
a return to Mexico for yet another
sequel to 'El Mariachi',
he better have the GYPSY
PISTOLEROS' number.
I can see it now...
... The opening frame is a
shoddy bar, where the chongo
is piss warm and the bartender
is missing a fistful of teeth.
The Gypsy's swagger in,
like leather-clad outlaw trash,
fresh off the sunset strip,
surrounded by the perplexed
stares of the locals. They jump
onstage and run through a quick
sound check, while spitting
back spanglish insults at the
threatening patrons.
Opening with a straight punk
number laced with a funky flamenco
drum and bass line, "Switchblade
Kiss Comes Close" is furious
and hard edged, and some of
the vatos at the bar grab at
their ears and scowl toward
the stage. By the end of the
set, there’s a dead silence
from the audience who don’t
quite understand what they just
heard. Then, an uproar of flying
beer bottles and whoops of approval,
even a discharged pistol here
and there. The locals like what
they hear ...
From hearing the Santana-esque
shrieks of "The Crazy Loco
Loquito",
I too, was hooked on the
Gypsy Pistoleros, whose
name sounds like homage to the
Sex Pistols
and 'Johnny Rotten'
Lydon.
It's hard to put a finger
on the vocals, which I think
is a testament to the band's
originality. Lee J
is a healthy amalgamation of
Johnny Rotten,
Vince Neil,
and Tito Puente,
coupled with screaming backup
vox, it's like a kick
to the sternum in the mosh-pit,
but it feels good!
Craig 'Iggie' Smith
is a master of the somber minor
tones of Spanish guitar and
shredding heavy riffs - evident
throughout "The Crazy Loco
Loquito".
His chops are really shown with
the scorching solo on "Switchblade
Kiss Comes Clos".
The drums and bass of Leeroy and Angel, respectively,
are the driving force behind
each of the three tracks I heard.
The up-tempo bass lines and
heavy crash symbols are really
what give the songs their intensity.
These guys lead the songs by
a hook to the nostrils - with
machine gun rapidity!
In a nutshell, what the Gypsy
Pistoleros have done
is take a fat vein of punk rock
and injected it with a hit of
Spanish flamenco, the result
of which is a meth bender that
will leave you naked and disoriented
in the front yard!...
Michael Spitalieri
New York Music Critic
& Writer
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The 'Gypsy Pistoleros' album 'Wild, Beautiful, Damned' is finished at last and sounds amazing! Joe Gibb (Madonna, Catatonia, Robbie Williams, The Cure, Funeral for a Friend, Janes Addiction) who produced the album is a genius and loves it!