Hermanos Gutiérrez: Tiny Desk Concert

Felix Contreras | January 31, 2023

There is a slow burning intensity to everything Hermanos Gutiérrez does, including how the duo walked into our offices and saw the Tiny Desk for the first time. “Wow, there it is…” Estevan said quietly to his brother Alejandro.

Hermanos Gutiérrez’s origin story is as intricate as the guitar playing styles of its two members. The brothers have roots in both Switzerland and Ecuador, and the time spent in those two very distinct cultures and geographies gives their sound a tempered European coolness, coupled with a warm, playful energy. From the opening strains of “El Bueno Y El Malo” the brothers’ turn behind the Desk is the perfect introduction to their music if you don’t already know them — and a treat if you already do.

They weave intricate guitar lines over each other that intertwine to the point that if you close your eyes you can’t tell where one begins and the other ends. With a slight touch of a digital loop pedal, Estevan even sneaks in an entire percussion section on bongo and cowbell on “Tres Hermanos.” When my Alt.Latino co-host Anamaria Sayre and I interviewed them on the podcast last year, I notice that they converse very much like they play: their comments intertwine and layer upon each other’s in the same way they play in unison and against each other in songs like “Thunderbird” and “Pueblo Man.”

SET LIST
“El Bueno Y El Malo”
“Tres Hermanos”
“Thunderbird”
“Pueblo Man”

MUSICIANS
Alejandro Gutiérrez: guitar, lap steel
Estevan Gutiérrez: guitar, percussion

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bob Boilen
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Kara Frame, Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Sofia Seidel
Audio Assistant: Brian Jarboe
Production Assistant: Jill Britton
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills, Ashley Pointer
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#tinydesk #nprmusic #hermanosgutierrez

[nprmusic]

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[karanvirghumaan]

The world needs to see Khruangbin + Hermanos asap

[DaveSmith-onxo]

My Uber driver in L.A. was listening to these guys. I've been listening ever since.

[Syncmarios]

Someone please hire these guys to make a soundtrack for a film. I find their music so cinematic.

[castelum]

I have a barbershop and this music suits perfectly, we are able to focus on the job and keep customers happy and relax, this music feels ancient, it comes from the soul...

[thesojourner]

living in the American South West, this is like soundtrack when driving to and from Phoenix through the desert. Love this.

[paigereynolds]

I went on a date & the guy was playing this in the car! I was mesmerized while we drove in silence soaking this sweetness in. I later texted him to get their name & have been listening to them non stop. They were perfect viewing partners for the Eclipse ❤ So much appreciation.

[LDLtt]

I listened the first song so many time in repeat that I almost turned myself in a nopal cactus in a desert. And I was fine.

[anru]

Me gustaría volver a sentir la emoción de descubrir Hermanos Gutierrez por primer vez. Para la gente que no los conocía, disfrutar a este bello dúo ❤❤❤

[jonbohn]

The best music for a summer drive at dusk.

[deadfrg]

Their vibe feels like they’re just at home playing for themselves and each other, like no one else is even there. Hahah. Definitely adding this one to the playlist!!

[leftylugnutz]

The Tiny Desk Series has made the world a better place. Thank you NPR Music. What beautiful music!

[t-turbo]

0:00 “El Bueno Y El Malo”
4:17 “Tres Hermanos”
9:25 “Thunderbird”
13:30 “Pueblo Man”

[mariamaxful]

My God! This is one of those treasures that make you wonder: How did I not know about these guys?! And: Thank God for NPR bringing them to my attention. How beautiful their music is. The intensity!

[ms.glorimar]

I'm obsessed with these guys. Most hypnotic Tiny Desk ever.

[krabbatOne]

At this point I would like to praise the team of NPR Music for this really extraordinary concert series.

I have been listening and watching you for several years now and am always surprised to find such great new music and musicians that inspire me as a musician myself. This concert by Hermanos Gutiérrez is one of those wonderful discoveries that I would never have made without you!

For this, my sincere thanks!

[ahermy]

You can tell great music when you don't need a voice. Thank you!

[kellyperrine]

i am a mother to three sons, one of which passed away from SIDS in 2020 at 24 days old. alejandro and estevan, i feel my son in the stars when i listen to your music. i listen to tres hermanos on repeat and cry a whole spectrum of tears. i am getting a hollow body gretsch tattoo with the words tres hermanos as an addition to his already present memorial tattoo. thank you for speaking the way you do through your music.

[smohan]

Whoa, youtube just started autoplaying this and i was gonna click to the video i was meaning to watch and about six notes in, it hit me like a bolt of lightning.

Volume up, max quality, fullscreen, eyes closed.

[pablot]

Their music tell a story without saying a word, amazing.