Contramano - Live -The BEST Band You've Not Yet Heard of...
Aug 02 '05 (Updated Aug 04 '05)
The Bottom Line The Best Band you havent yet heard of. Check out www.contramano.net for more info. They WILL be stars.
In this age of bands who sound very similar, Contramano is a breath of fresh air. The sound unique, original, and new…which is roped me in right from the start.
I first happened upon Contramano a few months ago while my wife and I were attending a Rasputina concert at the Park Slope staple, Southpaw. While I often don’t pay attention to opening bands when I do not know them, I couldn’t help but stop and listen when I heard the opening cello strings from Contramano’s first song. From that point on, I was a fan.
Contramano is quite unlike anything I’ve heard before. The Latin American triad, led by Pablo Cubarle, who plays electric cello and guitar whilst he operates the band’s graphics and sings, is a picture of animation on the stage. The intensity brought forward by Eugeni Camacho on drums and Martin Balik on bass just further punctuates the roots of what the band is all about – bringing music against the mainstream in a truly original fashion. The melding of electric cello with Latin inspired beats, punk rock chords and new wave fervor, makes for an incredibly entertaining assault on the senses when seeing them live.
After seeing the band open for Rasputina, my wife and I were very curious as to how they would sound when headlining. This takes us to Friday, July 8, 2005 – Contramano’s CD release party. The event was held in New York City at Joe’s Pub, and was the trio’s time to shine all by themselves in the spotlight. Shine they did.
From the opening chords, the band proceeded to establish themselves with a perfect melding of genres, and flawless execution of their unique music. Pablo endeared himself to the crowd with heartfelt interactions and true appreciation of the crowd’s accolades.
Songs like Sharing, which features a thumping rhythm from Pablo’s electric cello, came off as incredible live. New York Face, another of the band’s set proved itself as the most interactive song. Pablo made sure to make his way around the audience as he performed the song. The band’s theme song, Contramano, came off flawlessly, as the band performed the song completely in-sync with the video of the song that was projected on the screen behind them.
The execution of the music aside, one thing that makes Contramano stand out from other acts of today is definitely their originality. On most of their songs, they effortlessly mish/mash the English and Spanish languages, often times so effortlessly that you don’t realize where one begins and the other one ends. Their often schizophrenic sound gets their point across in a manner that so many of today’s bands miss, which makes their songs much more meaningful and impactful. The fact that they’re not afraid to voice their political views makes their message even more compelling.
I often choose the bands I like based upon the reality of their sound during a live performance compared to how they sound recorded. Contramano is one of those rare bands that actually exceed their recorded performances in a live environment.
This concert at Joe’s pub brought that thought full circle. For the hour they performed, the band showcased all of their material, and allowed the crowd to enjoy and to feel it. Their sound transcended several genres, and really gave them a chance to exhibit their expertise and win over new fans. Their final song, The Disposable Song, ended the concert on an upbeat note. The extended version of the song showcased the band’s wackier side, along with their excellent musicianship.
Needless to say, after the performance at Joe’s Pub, I am now even larger of a fan, and have their debut CD, the self-titled Contramano in constant rotation on my Ipod.
For more information, samples of their songs and ways to buy their CD and merchandise, please visit their website www.contramano.com.
If you are in the mood for something new, against the norm and oozing with Latin American culture, definitely give Contramano a listen.
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Epinions.com ID:
tattooedjedi
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Location: The North Side of Tattooine
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