El Pino & the Volunteers
El Pino & the Volunteers |
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El Pino & the Volunteers is a band from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The band’s music mixes alt. rock with Americana. In 2006 the band’s debut album Molten City is released on Excelsior Recordings.
Biography
During an exchange project in Vancouver David Pino, singer of Wiseguy, meets two Canadians who introduce him to alt. country. In exchange for a six-pack of beer and a tank full of gasoline El Pino obtains an acoustic guitar. Together with his Canadian accomplices he travels across the country playing for cash or free beers. Back in the Netherlands he brings together like-minded musicians and El Pino & the Volunteers is born. The band gets together every once in a while and concerts are held on an incidental basis.
After a couple of months of playing the band starts to get more serious. This newfound professionalism is solidified with the band’s first EP Cougar. It is released in May 2005 by the small Stardumb record label. The EP sells out in no-time and receives much praise in the Dutch music press.
In December MTV airs a special on the band in its Brand New show. Pino decides to leave his main band Wiseguy to focus completely on El Pino & the Volunteers.
In early 2006 the band is invited to the prestigious Noorderslag festival in Groningen. The press is enthusiastic and praises the band for its musicality (de Volkskrant). Dutch Excelsior Recordings, home of Johan, Daryll-Ann and GEM, signs the band immediately. Playing at Club 3voor12 in February, recording an Apers song for a tribute album in March, and performing at Motel Mozaique in April. And, in May, the band performs at the 10th anniversary party of Excelsior Recordings together with several of their labelmates.
In May and June the band records 16 tracks for its debut album. Reyn Ouwehand produces. On August 31 the album, named Molten City, is presented in Rotown in Rotterdam. The album is received well by the music press, becoming album of the week at 3voor12 (link). In September and October the band supports Johan during their Dutch club tour.
The band rounds out the year by performing at the Fine Fine Music tour in December 2006.
The next record, also produced by Reyn Ouwehand, will be released November 16 2009.
Discography
Template:Albumstabel |- |align=left|The Long-lost Art of Becoming Invisible||2009||Excelsior Recordings || On vinyl and CD |- |align=left|No One Knows A Thing These Days (split single with Mono)||2007||Excelsior Recordings, Zabel, LVR en Rara Records ||Exclusively on vinyl |- |align=left|Molten City (album)||2006||Excelsior Recordings ||On vinyl and CD |- |align=left|Cougar (EP)||2005||Stardumb Records || |- |align=left|These Are Not The Days (EP) ||2001||Eigen beheer ||Exclusively on vinyl |}
Band Members
- David Pino – vocals, lead guitar, acoustics guitar & harmonica
- Mark van der Waarde – bass, backing vocals
- Job Roggeveen – keys
- Tjirk Deurloo – acoustic & electric guitar, backing vocals
- Jeroen Kleijn - drums, percussion
Former Band Members
- Skip Ross - drums
- Cary Da Costa - lap steel, mandoline, melodica
- Harm Goslink Kuiper – 5-string banjo, dobro / lap steel, mandolin, accordion
- Wouter de Waart – drums, percussion