Gypsy Pistoleros – Bannermans – Edinburgh – 20th October 2022 – Gig Review

21st October 2022 0 By Jon Deaux

This year I’m off to Sunny Spain, Y Viva Espana, well that’s what I thought anyway. Turns out I’m in rainy Edinburgh instead (I knew I should’ve taken that left turn at Albuquerque.) Still, turns out I can head to Bannermans and watch the Gypsy Pistoleros. It’s about as close to Spain as I’m going to get.

Edinburgh reminds me a lot of London before they broke it with a modern skyline. It’s stunning. If you’ve never been you need to, and if you live in Edinburgh, look up and admire your architecture, it’s breathtaking.

Anyway I’m here for a gig and not sight see. So I trundle off down to the Cowgate for the show.

The Gypsy Pistoleros take to the stage and I’m immediately mesmerized by the visuals. This is a band that look like they’ve just come straight from the set of the Disney movie Coco. Just a slightly darker version. Vocalist Lee was a combination of Kevin Rowland of Dexys Midnight Runners combined with Jack Skeleton.

What’s great is I went to this gig completely blind. I had no idea about this band at all or even that it was their Scottish debut. I knew the name, but apart from that, nothing. They totally blew my socks off. What a mix of Flamenco and Metal. Completely different and that’s what I like.

The musician ship was ridiculous. Pete Mann is an incredible guitarist. To play clean Spanish guitar takes some skill and a whole load of technique, and this guy has it in buckets. Bassist Kerry White seemed to be having gas. She was smiling away and the camaraderie between her and drummer Craig Sharpe is superb. Craig beat the crap out of his drums like a neanderthal would out of a bison. As for vocalist Lee, his voice was sterling and his rumba guitar was excellent.

The Gypsy Pistoleros are a band that are needing to be seen and heard to be believed. Especially their version of Livin’ Lad Vida Loca it’s mental. They are a band well worth checking out and their latest album The Mescalito Vampires is a considered purchase (I picked up the double 10″ version of it at the show and it sublime).[

If they come rolling into your town and you fancy something slightly more abstract, you can’t go wrong with going to see The Gypsy Pistoleros. I shall definitely be going to see them again.

I’m off to rewatch the movie From Dusk Til Dawn when I get back. They’ve put me in the mood for it.