The Wrongologist

Two Mexican guitarists walk into an Irish bar…It’s not the start of a bad joke, it’s the start of the story of one of the great guitar duos of our time. Rodrigo y Gabriela were 15 when they started playing together in Mexico City, playing in a metal band called Tierra Ácida. They moved to Ireland, where for 8 years, they played pubs and performed in the street, honing their craft. Then they caught on, and became huge global stars. They have been toured the world, backing several successful albums.

The Wrongologist has arrived late at the Rodrigo y Gabriela party, but he is happy to be there anyway. Here are three performances for your enjoyment.

First, from their current album, 9 Dead Alive, “Sunday Neurosis & Misty Moses”. All of the songs on 9 Dead Alive are dedicated to notable people who have died. “Sunday Neurosis” is dedicated to psychotherapist Victor Frankl, while “Misty Moses” honors Harriet Tubman:

Next, their song, “Tamacun” that was featured in the pilot episode of Breaking Bad in January, 2008. Here, they are playing it live at Glastonbury in 2010:

When you listen to them, it is difficult to believe that their history began in heavy metal. They have covered Metallica’s “Orion” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”, both of which are huge hits on YouTube. Here are Rodrigo y Gabriela at Red Rocks in August this year, joined for their encore by Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, performing a Metallica Medley, featuring:
“Orion”
“For Whom The Bell Tolls”
“The Frayed Ends of Sanity”
“Battery”