The Gipsy Kings are playing at the Wolf Trap (a little informal outdoor venue with a relaxed-country feel to it) this week. The first time I heard about the Gipsy Kings playing there, I was thinking, Hey I have some of their music in mp3s. Let me go dig it up and have a listen, see if I like em. Turns out I have no Gipsy Kings. I was thinking of Dire Straits. How did I get that mixed up? They’re not remotely similar. Or maybe it was the Sultans-Kings connection. Eh, close enough. I went to YouTube instead and listened to a couple of their well-known-to-everyone-cept-me songs. Latin flavor; acoustic guitars; and Spanish singing.

A flamenco dancer during one song.

They are excellent in person. Nothing fancy. 11 guys on a stage playing mostly acoustic instruments; lively, rhythmic, and perfectly relaxing. Now I wish I could play the guitar!! The artists spoke in Spanish to introduce some of their songs which I was only able to vaguely understand. No matter, music doesn’t require any translation or explanation.