From the ACL Taping Program on March 18, 2007:
Paolo Nutini has captured international audiences with his universal lyrics and soulful sound. Born and raised in Scotland, Nutini began his career with relatively little musical experience at age 16 as a roadie. By 18, he had signed a record deal and by 19 he had released his debut album These Streets. Nutini’s swift rise to fame took him from working in a pub in London, to performing with artists such as KT Tunstall and Amy Winehouse, and eventually to his own tour in Europe and a performance at the 2006 Austin City Limits Music Festival.
Influenced by such artists as the Drifters and Van Morrison, Nutini writes songs about his personal experiences. “Basically, the album is an autobiographical journey,” said Nutini. “A diary if you like, of my last three years.” These Streets has attained critical praise worldwide,, going platinum only four weeks after its release. The Observer hailed Nutini as having “a talent for elegant, melodic songwriting and an admirable willingness to vary the tempo.” Nutini was also named one of Rolling Stone’s “10 Artists to Watch in 2006.” “Everything that has happened to me so far has been really good, really fluent,” Nutini said. “There have been a few bumps along the way, sure, but nothing fatal. All I want now is for enough people to identify with my songs so I can keep on singing them. I like to think they’re worth hearing.”
From the ACL Taping Program on May 30, 2007:
Grupo Fantasma transforms traditional Latin music into something brand new by fusing together funk, cumbia, hip-hop, salsa, merengue and much more. This Austin-based 11 piece collective has been called the “future of Latin music” [
Knowtheledge] and “one of the all-time great Texas dance bands” [
Pop Culture Press]. Tonight, the band
The Austin Chronicle called “the best band in Austin” makes their makes their Austin City Limits debut.
With multiple awards for their danceable tunes and high-energy live shows. Grupo Fantasma has been gaining fans across the world. Their sounds have also garnered them the admiration of musical legend Prince, who invited the band to play at his club in Las Vegas, his Golden Globes after-party and his post-Super Bowl performance party.
Featuring band members from New York City, Managua, Nicaragua and Texas, Grupo Fantasma consists of a talented cast. On their CDs including 2004’s
Movimiento Popular and 2006’s live release
Comes Alive the band works to obliterate the clichés catchy sounds straddle so many musical genres that putting them in a particular niche seems pointless” wrote
Pop Culture Press.
Skillful songwriting and inventive arrangements are key to Grupo Fantasma’s sound, but the band also wants people to have fun. “Just flow. Dance how you want to dance,” primary songwriter and percussionist Jose Galeano said. “If you don’t dance to our music something is just not right. When in doubt, just follow the cowbell.”
