El Pino & the Volunteers
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, 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
Excelsior Recordings
Excelsior Recordings is an independent record label located in Utrecht, Netherlands, born out of a love - for 7" vinyl, and anger - over almost-famous Dutch band’s Daryll-Ann's luck. First up was a single release; Nothing sucks like Electrolux...
.
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
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
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
Noorderslag
Noorderslag is a one-day annual pop music festival that takes place in January in the cultural center of Oosterpoort in Groningen. Noorderslag is part of The European Music Conference and Showcase Festival Eurosonic Noorderslag. The festival takes place on the Saturday after Eurosonic.Over 50 Dutch...
festival in Groningen. The press is enthusiastic and praises the band for its musicality (de Volkskrant
De Volkskrant
de Volkskrant is a national daily Dutch morning newspaper, the leading centre-left broadsheet, although now in tabloid size.-History:...
). Dutch Excelsior Recordings, home of Johan
Johan (band)
Johan was a Dutch band based around singer/guitarist Jacco de Greeuw. Their music has been primarily influenced by bands such as The Beatles, Crowded House, and The Byrds.-Biography:...
, Daryll-Ann
Daryll-Ann
Daryll-Ann was a Dutch rock band stemming from Ermelo, a small rural village in the east of the Netherlands. Between 1992 and 2004 the band released six studio albums, plus one live album. Daryll-Ann was the first signing of Dutch label Excelsior Recordings...
and GEM
Gem (band)
GEM is a band from Utrecht, The Netherlands. The five-piece, founded in 2003, plays energetic rock, mixing grit with melody. GEM has released two albums of which Escapades is the newest.-Biography:...
, 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
Motel Mozaïque
Motel Mozaïque is a music festival, held annually in Rotterdam, the Netherlands in April. Motel Mozaïque focuses on music, art, poetry, dance and crossoverforms...
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
| Title | Release | Label | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Long-lost Art of Becoming Invisible | 2009 | Excelsior Recordings | On vinyl and CD |
| No One Knows A Thing These Days (split single with Mono) | 2007 | Excelsior Recordings, Zabel, LVR en Rara Records | Exclusively on vinyl |
| Molten City (album) | 2006 | Excelsior Recordings | On vinyl and CD |
| Cougar (EP) | 2005 | Stardumb Records | |
| 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