Hermano - "Orquesta del Desierto" Split Promo Sampler (Stanailsa Music 2000)
From Aural Innovations #19 (April 2002)
Hermano is a band that features the distinct voice of John Garcia (Kyuss, Unida), guitarists Mike Callahan and Dave Angstrom and Steve Earle on drums and Dandy Brown on Bass. These two tracks were recorded in Cinncinatti, OH in 1998 and 1999. "The Bottle" is an excellent track with a great heavy guitar riff and groove. "Landetta" is a song I swear I heard Unida play here in København a few years back. The chorus says, "You hit the Motherload". Anyway, a more emotional song and some guitar feedback, space sounds add some nice atmosphere during the slow parts before the music comes rushing forth again. Two very good songs. The band will have a full length CD out on July. "Orquesta del Desierto" is something totally different. This band has 3 guitars, two drum-percussion players and some organ and features members of Kyuss, Che, Fatso Jetson, Goatsnake and Queens Of The Stone Age. The project hails from Palm Springs and this was recorded in 2001. The singer, Pete Stahl has a really interesting voice and singing style. "Shadow Stealing" is the best of the 4 tracks on this CD and a great song with strummed acoustic guitar, a fast pace driving riff and even a Mexican style trumpet in the mid-section before the guitar solo. An excellent song. "Mary Strange" closes the CD and is as an acoustic Saturday afternoon in the desert song that cold have been performed by Widespread Panic. A huge contrast between the bands on this release but great music by both bands. This is apparently a 2 track sampler from the Orquesta full CD that will be out in May 13th on Meteorcity. Hermano will have a full length CD out on Tee Pee in May or June.
For more information you can visit the Hermano web site at: http://www.geocities.com/hermano_fan.
Contact via snail mail c/o Dandy Brown; 617 Ixoria Ave #6; Fort Pierce, FL 34982.
Reviewed by Scott Heller