First you hear the energetic sound of the guitar. Next, an up-tempo percussion beat made from the sound of stomping feet on the hard, wooden floor. The spirited Spanish vocals and charismatic side conversations with the audience, bridging artist and fan together into one common soul, subsequently follow at a suave, almost perfunctory pace. This is the music of Muchachito Bombo Infierno, an inventor and re-creator of traditional musical styles derived from the sounds of Spanish flamenco, rumba, folk, and rock.

Dubbing his personal style as “Rumboxing,” the trendy and restless Muchachito (Jairo Perera Viedma) is bringing the flavors of Spain to New York City in his street-based, one-man-band North American debut performance this Saturday, March 10 at the eclectic SoHo club, Sounds of Brazil (S.O.B.’s) as part of the 2012 Flamenco Festival series entitled Flamenco and Beyond.

Though the singer/songwriter is now at the peak of his career with three recorded albums and sold out concerts, his beginnings were anything short of effortless. Much like other musicians, Muchachito first began his career serenading the streets and cafes of his native Barcelona. It is there that his personal style first emerged and transgressed into the unpredictable extravagance that it is today. Yet, it was not until 2005, 12 years after forming his first band (which underwent vast changes), that his first album came out eliciting profound success and paving the way to his second album in 2007 and his last in 2010.

Despite a two-year gap between albums, Muchachito has dedicated this year solely to concerts spanning across North America and Spain, and according to him, he cannot wait for Saturday night’s performance, which he plans to elongate by a few hours. This should not come as a surprise to fans of his music as his concerts have been known to last over three hours, with even a record-breaking performance of six hours. Taking a quick break from his packed schedule, Muchachito spared a few minutes to share with GALO his inspirations and percussion playing technique as well as what Barcelona artist Santos de Veracruz will be doing on-stage alongside him tomorrow night.

GALO: I think I read that this is your first North American debut! What are your expectations, feelings, and perhaps fears, over performing for the first time in the city that is quite distinguishable, and one might say, revolutionary, in the music world?

Muchachito Bombo Infierno (Jairo Perera Viedma): Above all, [I would have to say], illusion. After this, looking forward, fear, and [having] less of a continent to fly to another. I have no [discomfort].

GALO: Barcelona painter, and your friend, Santos de Veracruz will be performing alongside you, creating paintings as you play music, and sometimes helping you out with the vocals. This is a very creative approach. Do you have any other surprises in store for the NYC audience?

MBI: We thought about doing a striptease, but we discarded the idea; without clothes we are the worst. Everything else [revolves around the idea] that we love improvisation. I will play as a one man band and Santos will paint during the show; Rumboxing in Santos’ pure essence.

GALO: What songs will you definitely play during your show?

MBI: I don’t know. [But] I can decide at the last minute. That is the best [part] of playing as a one man band!

GALO: Your show along with Canteca de Macao’s and La Shica’s is part of the Flamenco 2012 Festival (now in its 11th year). Do you think such festivals are important in communicating, especially in regards to the younger generations, the various musical styles and sounds found across the world, and in turn, educating them about the diverse cultures and traditions? Is this perhaps part of the reason why there is a fusion of both traditional and modern sounds in your own music?

MBI: It is important to explain [that] our music is far away from flamenco. Our music is very vital, with a rumba accent – true Spanish street music. By fusing different types of music, I explain my stories.

GALO: You used to perform in the street cafes of Barcelona, eliciting an intimate experience with your fans. Now you are going back to your street-based, one-man-band performances in this NYC show. Does this bring back any memories for you of the days when you first started out?

MBI: During the last seven years, I have been playing with my band. I am lucky to play with all of them and to have an audience that loves us. I never stop playing alone. It helps me to break my routines, to get in touch with the public, and to start from zero in places where nobody knows me.

GALO: The playing of the guitar is like second-nature to you. Your fingers almost do a dance when you play causing audiences as well as critics to be mesmerized at the speed and sound they produce. How did you learn to play so eloquently and swiftly? Were you inspired by some other musicians, perhaps?

MBI: I learned to play in the streets of Barcelona. My perseverance made me develop a peculiar style. My guitar style is influenced by great artists like Peret, Pata Negra, and the Gipsy Kings. I always play a classic Flamenco guitar. And the guitar is always accompanied by the found of my feet; I even create a special small “floor” with a microphone, so [that] I can make percussion with my feet. In American music, I love Bo Diddly, Jimi Hendrix, and George Thorogood.

GALO: Some of your performances have been around three hours such as your rehearsal concert after the release of your third studio album, Idas y Vueltas, or the concert in Buenos Aires at the Niceto Club. Can New Yorkers expect the same lengthy treatment to your music?

MBI: Sometimes I lose the notion of time, and my happy partners do not advise me what time is going by. My concert record is six hours with a break for a cigarette! Yesterday I was at S.O.B.S. to meet the workers, and I think it is a good place to play for a few hours.

GALO: Your music is very joyous and lively, much like yourself when you are performing. Do you hope that people dance at your performances?

MBI: I give as much as I can every day. I do not expect anything. I only hope people enjoy [themselves].

GALO: What is Rumboxing?

MBI: It is to play without a stage; a concert body-to-body with the audience. Playing like this, especially at late night shows, I had a few bad problems. Sometimes people fall onto my legs and I break their fall before they hit the floor. Once, I could not help, and I broke my teeth. This is Rumboxing!

GALO: Your last album came out in 2010. Can we expect a new one this year or at the beginning of next?

MBI: This year I cannot record. I will simply do shows.

GALO: Lastly, where might one find you and the band after your performance in New York? In other words, what’s next on the menu?

MBI: After the performance you can find me two blocks from S.O.B.S. [smiles]. Next week we are looking forward to playing at the SXSW in Austin, Texas. Back home we will play at European festivals and pirate gigs in Spain. We discovered very kind people here in New York — a nice surprise. Thank you to all New Yorkers!

Muchachito Bombo Infierno will be performing on Saturday, March 10 at 12 a.m. located at 200 Varick Street, Basement, New York, NY 10012. For ticket information please visit www.sobs.com or call 866-468-7619.

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