Don Guillermo

Medicated soccer fanatic Jean-Paul was at the end of his rope following his two brief performances at 2005’s Warped Tour. Sequences back home on his Mac were burning holes in his scrambled brain. Jim saw an opportunity and convinced him to form the band after several drinks...
Don Guillermo began brainstorming material in October of 2005. A combination of Jim's droning, effects laden guitar work, Singer/Programmer Jean-Paul’s thick-yet-minimal sequences and sometimes dreamy/sometimes biting vocals create a sound that entertains and stimulates. Pulsating synth-bass, ever-present melodic synth and guitar hooks are haunting at times while, on other passages, add to the character of Jean-Paul’s thematic choruses.
The music runs a gamut of sorts, without seeming schizophrenic. Moods fluctuate from a synth-pop club banger, optimal for a local Electronica and fishnets night, to a refined shoe-gazing guitar-drone with electronic-swells and starchy machine thumps designed to mobilize mini-skirts.
Jim delivers in-the pocket riffs and melodies while additional guitar work by Jean-Paul adds icing and melodic texture where needed.
Jean-Paul’s ever impassioned lyrical delivery usually includes, but isn’t limited to tales of obsession, insane women, substance abuse and even humorously reveals questionable decisions at the expense of its author.
The live act morphs frequently. You can expect to see any variety of virtuoso keyboardists, drunk drummers, former pro english footballers, and even a random redhead pushing buttons on a synth-module.
The ladies at Don Guillermo shows can be spotted busting their best Regan-era moves, while shaggy haired boyfriends look on in bewilderment, nodding to the infectious, familiar, yet still eclectic sound. The sound is a chaser for a night of bottomless mixed drinks and mood music for would-be drunken romantic fumblings. Even after the smoking ban, you could still smell the clove cigarettes and hairspray. Don Guillermo is plastered (quite literally) with a style and an attitude that is typically found across the pond. Not to be confused with the pond Jean-Paul has been seen falling into after too many cocktails.