How did two Mexican-born heavy-metal enthusiasts end up at the top of the Irish charts?

“I hate to think ‘what kind of music I play’… all that to me is shit, to be honest. You play what you can express and people gonna put a label in it.”

... their eruptive mixture of Central and South American folkways, with its propulsive rock rhythms, plus grooves reminiscent of The Gipsy Kings' crowd-pleasing Catalan rumbas, is incredibly infectious.

They had to busk to support themselves. In concert they still look as if they’re busking.

... a wicked, pan-European swing ... the impossibly fleet "Juan Loco" should delight all comers -- once they catch their collective breaths!

The album is a slap in the face for every rock star who has ever decided to arrange acoustic versions of their songs and forgotten that “acoustic” doesn’t necessarily mean “slow and boring.” Rodrigo and Gabriela went in the opposite direction, from electric to acoustic, and listen to the way they spit out that rock!

Though it's all quite excellent, Diablo Rojo is probably my favorite song on the album. The duo have recently released an official video for the song. You can also watch them live on Letterman:

A brand-new live audio disc goes on sale later this month.

Lamely, they encountered immigration issues trying to enter the US to play SXSW earlier this year, because Rodrigo's name is similar to that of another foreigner who is barred from entering the United States. The visa issue was eventually resolved, and now they are scheduled to perform at Central Park SummerStage on July 1:

Virtuosos Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero have created a sound that’s almost impossible to describe. Billboard called Rodrigo y Gabriela “one of the best guitar albums in ages; one of the best discs this year."

Lots of talent there!