Rodrigo y Gabriela are doing a “By Request” tour. Anyone can complete the poll on their website here: https://www.rodgab.com/by-request-poll. The result of this poll is a few songs from each album.

Early on they play Diablo Rojo and their talent is instantly on display. Their fingers are in a blur as they rapid fire the rocking notes of this song. This 2006 song still holds on to it’s power.

Gabriela says one song is a tribute to Santana and then the following one is a tribute to David Gilmor of Pink Floyd. These are just some of their influences that have helped them create their signature sound.

They truly make the most of their acoustic guitars. Often they play the body of the guitar like a drum. At times it seems like they are playing six instruments at once.

Gabriela describes the process of creating their song, “The Pirate That Should Not Be”, for the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides soundtrack. She said Hans Zimmerman asked for something Irish and Metal. This is right in their wheelhouse as they started their career with eight years in Dublin, Ireland before moving to Mexico City.

Rodrigo says that since they have been playing Chicago for so many years, it now feels like home. He loves all the vegan restaurants. He recalls that they first played The Hideout and then many festivals (such as Lollapalooza in 2007). 

They also talked often about a new album that they created during the pandemic shutdown. They hope for it to be released in the spring.

See the full setlist here.

Quinn Delaney