Oh history, sweet history...what would become of us without you ?!?

People ask us for some more "serious" info about us. We usually just stare blankly at them, wondering what they truly mean, because we are very formal indivuduals ourselves, but we thought that if we posted this blog with some our most oustanding achievements, then perhaps those souls would find their peace.

So here goes (this is the official bio our label usually sends out):

We Are Balboa have just finished recording a few songs off of their new material which will follow up their international debut album "Space Between Bodies"  produced by Jon Gray (The Zutons, The Subways,etc.)

"Space Between Bodies" did beautifully well in Spain, where it was distributed by PIAS, and was excellently received by both press and fans.

We Are Balboa started in 2003 when Carlos and Lua started to write songs together and began to look at music in a different way to that of other bands and music industry people in Spain. Whilst kids his age were listening to Europe, Carlos was devouring anything decent that fell into his hands from AC/DC to The Buzzcocks, from Johnny Cash to the Ventures, from Neil Young to The Jam or Blondie, imbibing every chord or melody that came out of his beloved vinyl player. When he met Lua, of British descent, they found in each other the soul mates they had always been searching for.
That same year they released an album with an independent Spanish label, when they were still called Balboa, which received all kinds of praises in their home country, and opened for various platinum selling bands in sold out venues, playing for 20,000 people, and played on many national tv and radio programmes.

Since then they met up with Jose and David, in the summer of 2005 and created We Are Balboa, setting out to rock the world with their luscious melodies and vigorous sound. They began their new sonic adventure by winning an important award in 2005 in Spain, which took them to London, where some friends of Jon Gray saw them performing at the Astoria and gave them his number. They soon got in touch and decided that making an album together was the greatest thing that could come out of this newly found friendship.
At the beginning of 2007, ITV chose their song, Space Between Bodies, from amongst 40 other British bands to play it on the Granada Soccer Tonight show.
In April, We Are Balboa landed in the UK ready for a tour which took them to venues such as Manchester's Academy 3 and Liverpool's Barfly, where they found the warmth of the English people and started to create a buzz.
During the summer, We Are Balboa played all the important festivals in Spain, and saw how the Spanish editions of Vogue and Elle recommended their album. All music radio stations played their music, as did the music tv channels with their video. .
November 2007 saw WRB fly back over to London, to play live concerts in famous venues such as the Dublin Castle and Bull and Gate, amongst many other places. We Are Balboa loves London and London seems to love We Are Balboa!

2008 sure seems to be We Are Balboa's year. It began with them flying to Holland to play at the famous Eurosonic festival, where bands such as Franz Ferdinand and Magic Numbers have played before. This concert has helped them get slots in festivals in Germany, Holland, England and Canada (NXNE)!

2009 also looks good as they have been asked to play CMW in Toronto in March!

We Are Balboa have supported many great bands such as The Sounds, Mudhoney and The Charlatans.

These guys will leave you totally hooked to their sweet melodies and powerful guitars, and will have you wondering why you haven't already tattooed their name on some part of your body! 


FLAIR RECORDS
Pza. Carlos Cambronero, 1 – 4izda 28004, Madrid, Spain
Tel: (+34) 91 522 0030 Cell: (+34) 636 966 029
rose@flairrecords.com
www.myspace.com/wearebalboa

Would you rather we synthesize it all into a neat list?

-Having their song Space Between Bodies chosen to be played on UK's ITV Granada Soccer Tonight programme.
-Opening for cool bands such as The Charlatans, The Sounds, Mudhoney, and other platinum selling artist which allowed them to play to 20,000 people audiences etc...
-Playing at the London Astoria.
-Playing at awesome venues throughout the UK! (such as Manchester's Academy 3, Liverpool's Barfly, Birmingham's Club Academy, London's Bull and Gate, Dublin Castle and Goonite Club, etc... which are the venues that saw then-small sized bands such as Blur, Oasis, begin their successful careers!)
-Having the amazing Jon Gray (The Subways, Radio 4, Editors, etc...) produce their album "Space Between Bodies".
-Getting this same album mastered by Kevin Metcalf (The Kinks, Supergrass, Oasis...)
-Being played on all the national radio and tv programmes worth being played on.
-Playing all the national radio and tv programmes worth playing.
-Being recommended by all music-oriented magazines in Spain.
-Playing at a ton of cool festivals, such as the Eurosonic Festival 2008 in Holland, and other great summer festivals at great slots, on just before bands such as The Charlatans, Primal Scream, etc...
-Being recommended by Vogue and Elle in Spain.

There are a few other things such as touring their asses off and other such beauties of being in a band, but what they most like is for you to listen to their music! So listen away!

About the album:

We Are Balboa have just finished recording what will be their international debut album "Space Between Bodies" with producer Jon Gray (who has also worked with The Zutons, The Subways, The Coral, etc...).

Twelve infectious rocking tunes which mix harsh sounding guitar riffs with a crunchy rhythm section and honey drenched female vocals which will make you want to drop it all and sing along to their songs at the top of your voice. Songs about love and aliens, uplifting tunes about erratic marriage proposals, and soaring melodies which depict places we've never been to before.

And here is what some press people said about our previous album:

NOVEDADES MAGAZINE Said: This band is one to keep a close eye on. They manage the perfect equilibrium (not always all that easy to find) between the mainstream melodies and their rockin guitar sound

EL PAIS "TENTACIONES" Said: Harsh guitars mixed with an angel-like voice could be the perfect combination that We Are Balboa seems to master

MONDO SONORO Said: One of the freshest and inspiring sounds we have heard coming from Madrid. We Are Balboa deliver a vigorous sounding Pop which remind us of the best McDonald brothers (Redd Kross) albums.

POPULAR 1
In the current times of musical shortage We Are Balboa save the day
The outcome is direct, fresh and contagious. The song which gives title to the album is a wise combination of melodies (with Lua's angelical voice) and original guitar riffs (by hand of Carlos del Amo) which excellently define what We Are Balboa are, but we're not talking about a one-song band, the end result is lavishly solid and we can enjoy tracks such as "Wink," the explosive "Down" or the intense "Some Places". We have at long last found a band that can climb the hit lists!
7.5 stars

EP3/EL PAIS (Nº1 National newspaper)
The changes in name and band members really do suit We Are Balboa, who have automatically evolved from being a band to "keep a look out for" to a real band. They have completely found their sound and the way to enhance the melodies with her spectacular voice and his amazing pounding guitars.

METROPOLI/EL MUNDO (2nd most important National newspaper)
We Are Balboa, the most international band !!!
With a change of name (Balboa was already taken by a Philadelphia Hardcore band) Carlos del Amo and Lua Rios' band have released their album filled with the classic (and still inmensly magical) formula of srtong guitars plus melody. Powerful and shameless, these guys drink both from Fountains of Wayne's power pop (even their label's name is taken from one of their songs) and Ash's nineties rock. They are one of the most "exportable" bands in this country. Keep a close eye out for them.

ROCKZONE
Good music, that's what We Are Balboa do !!!
I don't think I'd be at all mistaken if I were to say that We Are Balboa is one of the most interesting national newcomers. What's more, I would be lying if I were to say that I didn't fall totally in love with them from the very first time I listened to Space Between Bodies. My weakness towards them is a result of twelve fantastic tracks which radiate freshness and naturalness from every note and which plead to be sung along with. A formula which seems to be an absolute success with Carlos' excellent song-writing and guitars and Lua's admirable voice, which collects the strength and sweatness necessary to provide the band with an overflowing personality and a compact rhythmic section, by the hands of Jose and David, who recorded the tracks at the same time and in one go, which underlines the spontineity and imediacy of their sound. Rock and pop in complete equilibrium, guided by Jon Gray's production and mastered at Soundmasters Studios by Kevin Metcalf. Songs, like the one which gives title to their album, or the adictive "Some Places" or "Wink", prove that these guys have nothing to envy of international bands. They have achieved the difficult task of crossing the channel and begin to conquer the English audience, having played at the London Astoria. There are many factors which influence the rise of a band and that they may reach their aims, but the most evident one is to make good music. Which is just what We Are Balboa do.

CALLE 20
Space Between Bodies: powerful guitars in an amazingly rounded song which gives title to their album.
This album is turning point of a new era for this band, with Carlos' stong chords and vigorous choruses and Lua's voice, which she can use in any way she pretty much wants to. To chose any one of these songs as a favourite is complicated, but perhaps one could fish out Flavour, Its All Been Done, Don't Make me Waste my Time and Some Places (which should clearly be the next single) as front-runners.