Rodrigo y Gabriela

Rodrigo y Gabriela

(ATO)

Not flamenco and certainly not jazz, the Dublin-based guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela deliver a hypnotic, muscular blend of music that owes as much to rock and heavy metal as to the music of their native Mexico. Their self-titled sophomore album is simply stunning. At turns audacious, then tenderly subdued – as in their rendition of "Stairway to Heaven" or "Vikingman" – the duo are always in firm control of their tunes. The riotous ride that is "Diablo Rojo" is as close to experiencing musical ecstasy without dying as one can hope for. Included is a superb companion DVD, offering a candid portrait of the guitarists with a surprisingly generous tutorial on how they play. In this, Gabriela Quintero emerges as the rock star of the pair. "Mad to play the guitar," she inspires young pluckers to be more than the pretty girls in the band and embrace their inner chingonas. (Thursday, March 15, Stubb's, 10pm)