About Me
Once upon a time, when the playing field was less occupied, describing a band wasnt the Herculean task it is today. Consider the liner notes to the Byrds first album which observed that the group were orange and green and yellow and near and that seemed to hit the nail on the head sufficiently. A note writer on an early Kinks disc, at a loss for words over the bands unassuming drummer, immortalized Mick Avory as the possessor of four shoes, two for each foot, to the delight of a small cult of foot fixated fans.
But this sort of representation would never do in 2007. Millions of worthwhile groups have come down the pike since those halcyon days, some orange, some yellow, some with at least a dozen or more pairs of shoes between them. The Zubia Brothers are but the very latest and perhaps finest of these aggregations you're likely to hear this year.
Although ostensibly a new project, making music has been a more like a lifelong passion for brothers Lawrence and Mark Zubia.
Born and raised in the overheated environs of Phoenix, Arizona, the gifted singer-songwriter tandem has become a veritable institution in the state, with a series of popular and successful combos. Notable among these groups were the Chimeras, a roots-rock powerhouse the Zubias founded with longtime friend Doug Hopkins. Sadly, the late guitaristwho founded and led the Gin Blossoms to multi-platinum successcommitted suicide in 1993. After Hopkins passing the Chimeras regrouped, eventually morphing into the Pistoleros. With the name change also came an EMI publishing and a major label recording contract. The groups Hollywood Records debut Hang On To Nothing found the Zubias collaborating with a number of notable colleagues, including members of the Jayhawks and Smithereens. While the Pistoleros furthered their recorded legacy with 2000s self-titled effort and 2002s concert collection, Bars and Guitars, the Zubia Brothers project marks the first time the pair has recorded under the family name.Utilizing some 30 years of music making experience and savvy - the Zubias began their careers as toddlers backing their father, a professional mariachi - the brothers sound includes a heady mix of roots, country, mariachi and classic pop traditions. Their debut produced by Jesse Valenzuela (Gin Blossoms, Stevie Nicks) and Michael Blum (Madonna, Suicidal Tendencies, New Radicals) reshapes the brothers well-defined sound, adding a post-modern edge, without sacrificing any of their roughhewn charm and rock n roll spirit. And although their tales of love and loss often involve emotional chaos, its a turmoil offset by some of the most beautiful genetic harmonies and inviting melodies imaginable.
The Zubia Brothers full-length album Voices on the Street is a sundry collection of songs, from big beat folk to rollicking roots, twisting narratives to supple balladry. Helping bring the Zubias songs to life are a talented cast of collaborators including songwriter Gary Louris (Jayhawks, Golden Smog) drummer Gary Mallaber (Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Steve Miller) keyboardist Herman Jackson (Stevie Wonder, Tone Loc), and many others.
