Hermanos Gutiérrez
Two brothers. Six strings each. No words needed.
They don’t play songs—they conjure mirages.
Slide guitars slither like snakes in the sand,
echoes bouncing off canyon walls long abandoned by gods and men.
You don’t listen to Hermanos Gutiérrez.
You drift through them—
like a fugitive crossing a sun-bleached border
with nothing but ghosts and regret riding shotgun.
No vocals.
No gimmicks.
Just two brothers making the guitar weep,
bleed,
and whisper secrets the desert’s been dying to tell.
Recent Finds
Not all tracks here will have a story. Here are some of my recent listens that have brought something special to my ears. Don’t judge if you already know them, but do make sure you put on your best pair of headphones, earbuds, or speakers and enjoy!
The Soundtracks of my Childhood.
Growing up, our house was always filled with music: sometimes loud, sometimes soft, sometimes questionable. These were the songs that played while we cleaned, danced around the living room, or sat in the backseat on long drives singing along to. This post is a walk down musical memory lane—a tribute to the songs that shaped my childhood and the parents who unknowingly curated my first playlist.
Baba O’Riley - The Who
Thanks to dad, The Who were a band always on tap. Classic Rock was a regular in my home growing up and this one hits harder than most for many reasons. I still to this day get goosegumps listening to it, and screaming along on my way home from work. Liberation, freedom, dominance.
River of Dreams - Billy Joel
This song holds a special place in my heart as it was the backing track to the dance routine me and my older sister choreographed. We would practice in the living room and give visitors a taste when they came over. Lucky for you this one is audio only. Billy Joel is a household giant but this track in particular does feel to be a departure from his typical canon, giving a more majestic and mythical feel, that I think is something you’d expect to hear in The Lion King.
Super Freak - Rick James
We all know this one, but who doesn’t want to hear it again. A most recognizable funk hit. If this doesn’t get your tail feathers shaking then you likely are rhythmically handicapped (sorry for the bad news).
Boris the Spider - The Who
If you saw the first track on this list then you know where I got this one. Although it is The Who this was a favorite of mine as a wee jit. To this day I find it hard to believe that such a dark sounding song would meld with a young kid. Maybe it had something to do with the simplicity of the song, the great musicianship, or the production. You be the judge.
Cocaine - Eric Clapton
Written by J.J. Cale and performed by Clapton, Cocaine is less about glorifying drug use and more about confronting the harsh realities of addiction. Many consider Eric Clapton to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time and this song may give you a glimpse as to why.
Stayin Alive - Bee Gees
Disco. Disco. Good. Good. IYKYK
Rock & Roll Part 2 - Gar Glitter
While I could choose from so many, this will be the last of the section and maybe a shocker. The reason? It was introduced to me through the soundtrack of The Full Monty, a film about a group of unemployed men who, desperate to make ends meet, turn to male stripping. While I’ve still not actually seen the movie I have played the CD soundtrack countless times, jamming out in my bedroom as a young kid dialing up the boombox as loud as possible.