| Els Pets | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Constantí, Catalonia, Spain |
| Genres | Pop rock, Rock català, Rock agrícola |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | DiscMedi (Discos del Mediterrani) |
| Website | www.elspets.cat |
| Members | |
| Lluís Gavaldà (singer/guitar) Joan Reig (drums) Falin Cáceres (bass) |
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| Past members | |
| Ramon Vidal (guitar) Marc Grau (guitar) |
|
Els Pets is a Catalan pop rock band with lead singer, composer and guitarist Lluís Gavaldà from the village of Constantí (Tarragonès, Catalonia, Spain). Joan Reig plays drums and Falin Cáceres bass. At present, the band has the collaboration of the musicians Joan-Pau Chaves (keyboard, bass and singer), David Muñoz (guitar, singer) and Brad Jones (bass, guitar, keyboard, singer). In Catalan, Els Pets means "The Farts".
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In spite of the differential characteristics between this band and the rest of the groups that emerged in the late '80s and '90s decades in Catalonia, the origin of this pop-rock band can not be considered as an isolated event: it belongs to the musical movement of Rock català.
The band Els Pets was formed in 1985 in Constantí, by Lluís Gavaldà, Joan Reig and Falin Cáceres. Two female voices joined them, Les Llufes. Unlike the trends of the leading bands that appeared in Barcelona, Els Pets were proud of their rural roots, and therefore marked their own style in opposition to the music that was made in the capital. The result was a bitter, ironic and humoristic complaint against the lack of their region. They name their genuine substyle Rock agrícola (agricultural rock). They began making concerts in the surrounding villages, coinciding in many occasions with the local celebrations.
In 1986 they recorded a sample in Tarragona, which was distributed manually. The following year Lluís Gavaldà moved to the United States, pausing the activity of the group. When he came back, the band was reinforced with Ramon Vidal, a guitar player, and a new section, Els Vents de Baiona ("The winds of Baiona", sax and trumpets).
The first album is named like the name of the group, and appears in 1989. It is a mix of rockabilly and ska, among other genres. It has clear links with british rock, with references towards groups like The Jam or The Specials. Songs like Terra Billy or No N'hi Ha Prou Amb Ser Català are examples of their political claims.
Two years after, they recorded Calla i Balla! ("Shut up and dance", DiscMedi, 1991), the second album. They achieved a better sound and became stronger in their local criticism with songs like Tarragona M'esborrona (in English, "Tarragona horrifies me") or Constantí, Molta Merda I Poc Vi. This trend is maintained in the following album Fruits Sex (DiscMedi, 1992), through which they reached the sound quality that defines the first period, adding to the band the guitarist Marc Grau (the producer of the group) and the pianist Toni Saigi.
Brut Natural (DiscMedi, 1994) represents the maturity of the band, the improvement of the sound that would define the following years. In it, the group combines the original criticism (slightly decreased) with a renewed style. During the year 1995, the band makes a tour throughout Catalonia, the Gira Cua, and records the live album Vine a la Festa (DiscMedi, 1995). But the total success comes with the album Bondia (DiscMedi, 1997), musically more rocker, which is sold 75.000 times and becomes Disc d'Or. This success places the band as one of the best in the Catalan rock. With the following studio album, Sol (DiscMedi, 1999), the group marks a difference in the tone of the songs, that become more introspective and melancholic, in detriment of the original criticism.[1][2]
In 2001, the band released their eighth album, Respira (DiscMedi, 2001). With that work, the band utterly renewed its sound, characterized by being more upbeat than its predecessor. Agost (DiscMedi, 2004) followed in this trend, with an added component of political and social commentary, as well as a richer variety of instruments. More recently, the band have taken part in the film Rock&Cat (2006) a docummentary on Catalan Rock. Els Pets have also continued touring extensively, and in a recent tour they chose to play only theaters and small venues throughout Catalonia, for a more intimate sound.
Com Anar al Cel i Tornar (DiscMedi, 2007) is the ninth album of the group. With it, the band refined its sound by moving further away from their once-trademark rock style and towards classic pop songs inspired by everyday stories and rich in melancholic yet life-affirming lyrics.
Fràgil (DiscMedi, 2010) is the title of its tenth album, which is to be available at April 10, 2010.[3] Recorded at La Casamurada studio at Baix Penedès during February 2010 and mixed at Alex the Great studios (Nashville, Tennessee) by its productor, Brad Jones, who also worked with the band since the album Respira, Fràgil carries twelve songs which talk about the fragility of things and the way of overcoming the highs and lows of life.
The band will begin the tour in Castelló d'Empúries, Alt Empordà at April 23, 2010, coinciding with the Catalonia patron saint day, Sant Jordi.[4]
Pep Blay “Els Pets. Cara a cara” (Rosa dels Vents, 2003) is the biography about the rock band which is a phenomenon in the Catalan rock history.