Weird Tales by Lupe Veléz

released June 2, 2018

Lupe Vélez are an Italian band founded in Livorno in 2014. The first line-up was composed by the founder of the project Stefano Ilari (Lead vocals, texts and music), the guitarist Alex Gefferson, the bassist Gianni Niccolai and the drummer Gianfra. During the recording and the pre-production of the first songs, the Lupe Vélez collaborated with other musicians playing various musical genres: the guitarist Dome la Muerte (CCM, Not Moving, Dome la Muerte and the Diggers, Dome la Muerte E.X.P.), the keyboardist Fabio Marchiori (Linton Kwesi Johnson, Bobo Rondelli), and two musicians from classic music, Matteo Fusaro (piano) and Anita Salvini (cello).
The keyboardist Luca Valdambrini joined the band just before the release of the EP “Mystic Man” (Inconsapevole Records, 2015). The EP contained four songs recorded at the Banana Studio in Livorno and it was produced by Valerio Fantozzi (Snaporaz e Bobo Rondelli). The EP began to delineate the sound of the band that was finalized when the bassist Donatella Doda Mariotti and the guitarist Iride Volpi joined the band.
The repertoire of the band is composed by songs with a sound garage-rock, that are alternated with others with a British rock sound and references to the Australian scene, forming an explosive mix of sounds with its roots in rock’n’roll.
To be noticed, among the live concerts of the Lupe Vélez, the openings at Nabat in 2015 (Newroz, Pisa) and at Sham 69 in 2016 (The Cage, Livorno).
The turning point for the band is the recording of the first LP in September 2017 at the Orfanotrofio Studio (Lorenzana, Pisa) by Niccolò Mazzantini (Appaloosa).

The line-up:
Stefano Ilari – he was the singer in the Mumblers (1987-1990), who participated to the Arezzo Wave (1989). He was the singer of other local bands and then of the Stella Maris Music Conspiracy with whom recorded “Operation Mind Fuck” (Area Pirata 2013), a record ranging between hardcore and Detroit sound and that was positively judged by the critics. Syd Migx, ex-singer of the Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers (CCM), collaborated to the recording of the album.
Alex Gefferson – he is a guitarist engaged since several years with various local band. He is collaborating with the garage rock band Steve Sperguenzie and the Incredible Lysergic Ants. He was also the guitarist of the Stella Maris Music Conspiracy.
Gianfra – he has played drum in several local bands. He has participated to the recordings of the Zedded, See Your Skills e Ruiha and the Kelavra. He has also collaborated with the Biffers, a band with two CDs released by Kung Fu Records (USA). He is playing drums in the band Dome la Muerte and the Diggers.
Donatella Doda Mariotti – she was the bassist of Senza Sterzo in the 80s (Granducato Hardcore). She has played bass in the last line-up of Not Moving with whom recorded the album “homecomings” (pick up records) in 1995. She has also played with other groups such as acid rain, philomankind and delirememami.
Luca Valdambrini – he is a keyboardist and a multi-instrumentalist with many live show experiences. He has played with The Pipelines, Surfer Joe & his boss combo and with other surf band. He has also played with the Pam, a folk-rock band with whom recorded a homonymous LP. He is playing with Dome la Muerte E.X.P. (Lazy Old Sun, Go Down Records 2016) e he is leading the Trenchtown Train.
Iride Volpi – she is a young guitarist that played with several local band. She is playing with Dome la Muerte and the Diggers with whom recorded “Supersadobabi” (Go Down Records, 2014). She played with Dome la Muerte and the Diggers in several live shows, among which the opening to the concert of the Flamin Groovies at the “Go Down Summer Fest” in 2015.