A few months ago I was fortunate enough to catch Rodrigo y Gabriela on stage @ Brooklyn Steel. I was so focused on RodGab that I didn't even look into their opener, unusual for me. When the house lights went down and the stage lights lit up, all seemed simple... just a solitary standing guitarist & a big guy sitting on a cajón.... were those drums in the back? Hmmmm.....
My curiosity was peaked and pleading so I asked a friend, "who are these guys?" Shoulders were shrugged and eyebrows raised... I prepared myself for the mellow and paired down, shoe gaze-ified music that is usually produced by a such a stark set up (Think:Sub Pop's Low).
BOY WAS I WRONG!
Ryan + Ronan, a spry guitarist with a sweet Irish accent (Ryan Sheridan) and his burly/ uber animated cajón player (Ronan Nolan - who, sidebar, was wearing gloves? What were we in for?) began opening up their "can of (musical) whoop-ass" on the unsuspecting crowd. We figured out what the gloves were for... The way Ronan owned that cajón it was clear, they were protectve gear. The crowd gasped simultaneously. Gripped with the type of thrill that accompanies creeping up the incline of a rollercoaster.... we knew we were in for a ride and couldn't wait for each twist and turn.
Through the euphonious haze of the electrified room, I pleaded again.... WHO ARE THESE GUYS!? Someone said a name but the excitement in my mind and the swoon in my ears made it impossible to focus on anything besides the music.
Ryan and Ronan had conquered the stage.
Completely possessed, I knew it'd hafta wait for a night of post concert research ... I'm always up for a musical hunt. Mission accepted.
And here's what I found... don't waste time, start clicking!
Love,
Skip to this...
"Jigsaw" + breathtaking cajon-athon
"I"m Alive" - what he said...
Extra wicked, "Wicked Games" cover #thefeels
Ronan cuts loose = A-N-I-M-A-L!