El Barrio und El Buho

El Barrio is one of the most highly regarded bands to come out of Andalusia, Spain. They are revered for their modern take on Flamenco music as well as their ability to incorporate old influences into their music as well.

Jose Luis Figuereo is the main drive behind El Barrio, and is a masterful singer as well as poet. El Barrio’s music captures much of the traditional sounds of Flamenco music with its traditional rhythmic patterns and harmonies often conveyed in the Phrygian mode. However El Barrio puts a modern slant on Flamenco music with the use of distorted electric guitars and the full sound of a drum kit as opposed to the typically used cajon. El Barrio often uses large orchestral sounds that are more emotive and follow the style of traditional rock ballads. The use of synthesizers are presented in the music to capture an atmospheric ambience to the music. Jose Luis Figuereo’s powerful voice is at the forefront of the music. His voice is hauntingly beautiful and he croons like an old soul. His background as an accomplished poet also makes El Barrio’s music lyrically captivating. Guitar riffs in the style of ‘80s inspired rock permeates the music, giving the performance a unique sound.

El Barrio is an incredibly captivating band to see live. Their performances are filled with entertaining light shows, a large backing band that adds a deep, rich sound to the performance, and an energetic stage presence. Jose Luis Figuereo can be seen running all over the large stage he performs on as well as inciting his fans to join in with their singing. Jose Luis Figuereo always dresses with class. He often sports a suit and tie as well as a sporty fedora that conveys a classic look.

El Barrio always seems to be releasing albums to add to their large discography of music. Their most recent album, Hijo del Levante, just came out this year and he will be playing several tour dates in 2015 to support the album. You should definitely see El Barrio perform live if you get a chance. They have managed to take the beloved, familiar sound of Flamenco music and turn it into something new and captivating.