Artist description Fernando Y Los Cochinos Genre: Folk/Country Hometown: Portland, Oregon CLARIFICATION: Fernando Viciconte is the man. Fernando is the band. HISTORY: Fernando Viciconte has a voice that rivals Hank Williams for it’s sheer creaking glory and songs that cut clean to the bone. A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Fernando spent years in the L.A. music scene fronting the hard rock band Monkey Paw. before moving to Portland Oregon in 1994 to chart a new path. Focusing on folk, roots rock and country-western oriented material as both the solo artist Fernando and the fully realized band, “Fernando,” Viciconte has truly blossomed as an artist and found his own voice since making the trek North. With the 1996 release of his first Cravedog Records album, “Season in Hell,” Viciconte hit the ground running and has yet to look back, churning out several distinctly different flavors of music, including some harder numbers that recall his So. Cal days on, “Widows,” and the tasty Latin rock of, “Pacoima.”Sure enough, he changed gears yet again for Old Man Motel (1999), indulging in a powerful collection of relatively straight-ahead rock. 2001 found Fernando leaving Cravedog for Domingo Records and releasing Dreams of the Sun and Sky, a startlingly gorgeous collection of gauzy, narcotic tracks with Latin and country-folk accents. While these diverse approaches make his sound hard to immediately peg, Fernando’s voice is the essential, integral agent that binds his work into a unified whole. Gritty, honest and with a slight rasp to his pipes, Fernando can swoop from the low-down agonized depths of despair to shouts of sheer unbridled joy in a heartbeat: brimstone to treacle in a single gulp. An easygoing and jocular fellow by nature, much of Fernando’s material -especially his earlier tunes- comes from the darker side of the street. The honky-tonk blues appear to be the least of his worries, compared to what’s Viciconte chews on in these songs- depression, suicide, death and abandonment. It’s all very good, but it’s often not good fun. But then, when was anything so passionate and worthwhile ever sugar-coated and nicey-nice? Available Recordings CDR-018 Season In Hell 1996 CDR-025 Widows 1996 CDR-027 Pacoima 1998 CDR-031 Old Man Motel 1999 Dreams of the Sun and Sky 2001 Members fernando viciconte: Songwriter

Music Style Alternative

Musical Influences Pescado Rabioso,Vox Dei,Los Lobos,Ritchie Valens,Leon Gieco

Similar Artists NO ONE

Artist History A distinct and abrupt shift from the gloomy country-rock of, “Season In Hell,” or the menacing stomp of, “Widows,” “Pacoima,” is Fernando’s Spanish-language masterpiece: Rock en Espanol. A collaboration with fellow Cravedog artist Luther Russell (Freewheelers, Federale), “Pacoima,” crackles with images of neighborhood life from the home-grown American barrio of Pacoima, Ca. Working on themes of love, loyalty, friendship and family, the notion of, “Pacoima,” started out as a simple songwriting session between Viciconte and Russell. Deciding to try out one of the new tunes in Spanish, the effect felt so natural and right the two decided to churn out an entire disc’s worth of material. With the exception of some bright and brassy mariachi trumpet work by noted Portland sideman Paul Brainard, all sounds on, “Pacoima,” are made solely by Fernando and Luther. Paying homage to the gritty tradition of border rock and Mexican R n’ B, “Paicoma,” rips out of the gates with the John Lennon-esque rager, “Oye Mamasita,” before sliding delicately into the heartfelt ode to good times, friendship and loyalty on, “Mi Amigo.” From the breathy crooning of, “Como Sueno,” the bounce and Tex-Mex of, “Chanchos Sucios,” to the CD’s single cover and sole Anglo-track, “Ooh My Head” (By the fellow chicano rocker and Pacoima homeboy Ritchie Valens) or the gentle lullaby, “Para Ti,” that puts Pacoima to bed, the disc snaps with electricity and grace. Keeping the arrangements striaght and simple and the harmonies sweet, “Pacoima,” recalls the low-rider vibe of classic War, and the snapping pulse of James Brown at his most decisive and funky- Make no mistake: this is a groundbreaking

Albums Pacoima -1998 Justicia will be released sept 2003

Press Reviews A A Magical mystical experience! Reviewer: Laura T. Lynch of Kweevak.com (click for website) Diversity of instrumentation adds to the very rich sounds found through Fernando's latest release. Fernando merges R&B, world, eclectic Spanish and rock to create a dazzling collection of songs. His reflective lyrics about life, love and dreams are haunting and compelling. This CD has a broad range of elements, moods and deep tones. I enjoyed the entire CD but especially liked the first five tracks. 'The Jackal' has a mysterious dark feel. 'The Climb' is poignant. 'Away' is Lennonesque and beautifully accented with the lap steel. 'White Light' has a variety of sounds including some wonderful clarinet playing. 'Blue Room' has a steady beat that just flows. Dreams Review Reviewer: Impact Press (click for website) Fernando • Dreams of the Sun and Sky • Domingo Records • The music on this disc has a mellow folk-pop, bluesy feeling to it. Full of soulful, dark emotions that instill a rage of optimism when it's all done, this album is great from beginning to end. This effort displays musical diversity by Fernando while playing electric and acoustic guitars, percussion, lead and background vocals. From the opening track "The Jackal"to "Blue Room,"the vocals are smooth and stand out among the many instruments and sounds in each track. The lyrics are a perfect compliment to the mood setting. A number of musicians contributed with guitar, cello, violin, clarinet and upright bass sounds to add to an atmospheric follow up for Fernando. This release doesn't have the "shattering rock attack"sound that his debut Old Man Motel consisted of but the delivery is just as strong, only from a different angle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Responses to this messages: Marty Hughley Pick Reviewer: Domingo Records Dreams of the Sun and Sky was picked by the Oregonian(Oregons leading newspaper) as on of the top 10 CD's released in the United States in 2001. review by Adam Mckibbin Reviewer: Entertainment Today For all the many divergent roads as music has taken, at the end of the day I’m still a big sucker for a lone guy or gal with a guitar. The singer-songwriter isn’t exactly an endangered species, and it’s usually pretty easy to find a likeable one with easy acoustics and intimate lyrics. The trick, of course, is finding someone who stands out from the throng. Fernando Viciconte — d.b.a. as simply Fernando — definitely stands out. A big part of his appeal is his ability — and insistence — to transcend genre. Before this release, his last projects were a rootsy Spanish album and a noisy guitar rock album. Fernando’s latest, the unfortunately titled Dreams of the Sun and Sky, finds him walking down a much more subdued path of introspective folk-pop. The big guitar sound is mostly shelved, and its few appearances feel out of place. The crunchy end of “White Light” seems overly indulgent, and the heavy punch of “Greenfield” falls flat compared to its neighbors. The rest of Dreams — minus the shoddy art design — is an unmitigated success. The album’s mood changes as quickly as your own. There are moments of brave optimism, like the triumphant ballad “Only One For Me,” in which Fernando gravelly asserts, “And now there won’t be no crying.” It’s hard not to compare the piano-driven “Hold On” to a Lennon song (the mid-song swirling build feels like a salute to “A Day In The Life”). “You will always have each other, nothing else exists,” Fernando sings. But even here there is a sense of sadness since the source of happiness is decidedly detached from the singer himself. There is no “we” or “us” in this tale. There is an Everyman quality to Fernando’s vocals that is reminiscient of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. And, like Tweedy, Fernando is comfortable piloting both the lively tracks and the languishing ones, from the infectious rocker “Blue Room” to the chilling harmonica retreat of “Fade Out,” the album’s sorrowful closer. This versatility-and unpredictability-help make Dreams an easy recommendation. CMJ Review Reviewer: Alex Naidus FERNANDO: Dreams Of The Sun And Sky Fernando Viciconte may not be a household name, but the Portland, Oregon singer has the dynamic persona of a certified rock star. Drawing on hard rock, folk, pop and punk influences in addition to a more traditional Spanish makeup, Fernando's music has attracted a swarm of industry heavy-hitters - including majors like Interscope and Columbia. Jaded by major label bureaucracy, he shocked everyone by releasing his latest effort, Dreams Of The Sun And Sky, on his own Domingo Records. The labels hounding Fernando will be surprised by the sound of Dreams as well - rather than rehashing the bluesy hard rock sound of 1999's Old Man Motel, he crafted a folk-pop record that strays into pretty melancholia. Though most tracks rely heavily on an acoustic guitar formula with only sparse piano and horn accompaniment, it's Viciconte's somber vocal melodies that steal the show. Occasionally the band's panache for light pop tunes surfaces (the horn-peppered "Blue Room"), but stripped-down tracks like "The Jackal" and "Killer Waits" dominate the album with an engaging authenticity. �Viva la independencia! - Alex Naidus: CMJ New Music Report Issue: 731 - Sep 10, 2001 Pulse Magazine Review-Tower Records Reviewer: David Greenberger Pulse! Magazine | October 2001 | Sections | On Record | Fernando FERNANDO Dreams of the Sun and Sky ( Domingo ) This second CD from Fernando (last name: Viciconte) has the feel of a song cycle. The instrumentation is both varied and subdued, favoring acoustic instruments, but also wisely and skillfully employing their electric brethren. Over the core of guitars, keyboards and a rhythm section, there are sympathetically arranged flourishes of trumpet, string trio, lap steel and other tonally vibrant sounds. Fernando's singing is rich and expressive, equally capable of giving confident focus to a moody ballad or to a propulsive little rocker ("Blue Room" pumps along with infectious verve). The sequencing of the songs masterfully links them into a continuous and sustained feel throughout the set's 11 songs. Though the album title suggests the buoyancy of a summer day, from the opening chords of the first song, "The Jackal," they are suffused with the layered mystery of dawn and dusk. By David Greenberger music website review Reviewer: Musicmission (click for website) Fernando – Dreams of the Sun and Sky Fernando has created one of those albums that you can listen to over and over again and it never tires. I’m not saying that Dreams of the Sun and Sky is a perfect album but it is one that doesn’t irritate or grate on ones nerves. It’s a mellow ride any way you look at it and it sooths the soul as you go down Fernando’s road. He really knows how to do the heartbreaking indie rock thing. There is all the emotion necessary in his voice as well as brilliant minimal arrangements. His songs really do ring with a characteristic that seem like a fresh look at life after everyone important has let you down, including your best friend. Take Fernando for a spin and try to cheer him up. (Domingo 2001) Try if you like – John Lennon, Elliott Smith AMG review Reviewer: Erik Hage AMG EXPERT REVIEW: This album of roots- and Latin-flavored dream pop is hard to shake. Fernando Viciconte has a pleasant rasp of a voice that can come off like Wilco's Jeff Tweedy or even ohn Lennon at times. (The latter particularly on "Away.") The songcraft is gorgeous, varied, and highly original, however, whether it be the way the plaintive Spanish trumpet sails in just as Fernando purrs "…clarion call" on "The Jackal," the driving indie rock of "Blue Room" or the stark, cascading beauty of "White Light." There are also plenty of Beatlesque flourishes, while "Killer Awaits" showcases Fernando's country-folk roots. This is a stunningly pretty album by a criminally overlooked Portland, Oregon artist. Dreams of the Sun and Sky is packed with gorgeous mystery. — Erik Hage CD BABY - the CD store with the best independent music | HOSTBABY - web hosting for musicians

Location Portland, Oregon - USA

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