Published
The day had finally arrived.
It was time to find out what Iónica are made of on stage, the band who have pulled off what seemed impossible: generating real anticipation with a single song. Their single "Iónica", released on 25 September, has had a more than impressive reception and is just the first root of their debut EP, "RAÍCES". Their next step, "Quema", scheduled for Friday 30 October, confirms their chosen path. No support slots to make a name for themselves. They are taking the direct route: recording with care at Neo Music Box, with production and mixing by José Caballero, and making their first appearance at Clasijazz. With overwhelming confidence. Who can top that?
That was precisely the night's appeal. Witnessing the debut of a band with just one song out in the world. The curiosity was immense: what songs would they play? What sort of live show would they deliver? What do they really sound like beyond the studio?
At 10:15 p.m., the room was still yawning empty. Fifteen minutes later, the trickle had become a full house.
Right on time. No messing about. The whole of Iónica on stage: Javi Trujillo on vocals, Gerardo Úbeda and José Morales on guitars, Alejandro Pino on bass, Pedro Montiel on keyboards, and José Trujillo on drums. Six musicians, six parts of a machine that sprang into action from the very first bar.
The sound started out solid and kept growing. It took a couple of songs to come together properly. And then everything clicked.
The songs that will make up "RAÍCES" unfolded, including "Iónica" itself. I admit I had my doubts about how it would work live. Doubts dispelled within seconds. The band displayed a magnetic connection you would never expect from a debut. They sounded huge, heavenly.
And they surprised us. In the best way. Six superb musicians playing immensely appealing indie rock, sometimes bright, sometimes dark and atmospheric, leaving you floating. You can hear the schooling of their direct influences —Ultraligera, Supersubmarina, Arde Bogotá, Siloé— but without imitation, with an identity of their own, rooted in Almería. In the city itself, in Roquetas, in Macael.
Javi Trujillo deserves a special mention. A confident, well-placed voice, singing without reaching his limit, with an ease and control rarely found on today's indie scene. He makes the difficult sound easy.
And there was nerve: tackling Supersubmarina's "Viento de Cara" without flinching and delivering it with assurance, avoiding mimicry and making it their own. They can do whatever they set their minds to.
And one thing needs to be made clear: Iónica are not four friends getting together to pass the time making noise in a rehearsal room. There is real professionalism here. Years on stage, at conservatoires, in other bands, of hard-earned experience. You can see it in the way they look at one another, listen to one another, inhabit the stage. This is no beginner's band: these are fully fledged musicians who have decided to put all that experience into an ambitious project. And you can hear it.
So, from these pages, we are sending a direct message to Almería's promoters, venues and festivals: Crash Music, Cooltural Fest, Pulpop Festival, Festival Murmura, Festival otoño y sal, El Ejido al Natural, Almanzora Sound, Sala Berlín Social Club, The Time, Malasombra and company. Book Iónica. Now. Back local quality. Because Iónica are going to break out of Almería, and being able to say in two years' time, "they played here first", will carry serious cachet. Supporting them now is no favour: it is good instinct.
Iónica proved they have deep roots and wings to fly. And the tour has only just begun.
UPCOMING DATES - Tour (for now):
- 14 November – Terra Madre (Aguadulce)
- 20 November – Playmobil Club (Granada)
- 27 November – Sala La Resistencia (Lorca)