El Saguaro Releases Debut EP "Enthusiecstacy", an Authentic Representation 60/70s Retro Rock for the Modern Era
All it took was a fifteen-second teaser of their debut single Ticket to Fly to sell me on El Saguaro, a new band from Lisbon, Portugal. The vibrant, rich, and deliciously fuzzy sounds that graced my ears are created by this small but mighty trio, composed of Lucas (guitar and lead vocals), André (bass and backing vocals), and João (drums and backing vocals). The band specializes in heavy psychedelic sounds that pay homage to their musical influences from the 60s and 70s such as Grand Funk Railroad, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Cream, and Led Zeppelin. The authenticity of El Saguaro's retro tone is right on the money, but their music has an equal amount of a modern aura, overflowing with infectious energy that bubbles up like a lava lamp. And I know I'm not alone in my opinion that it's always refreshing and encouraging to see contemporary bands keeping this killer sound of decades past very much alive.
El Saguaro released their debut EP, Enthusiecstacy, on April 11, 2025 via Pink Tank Records. This four-track release is quite a memorable first impression that shows the band enthusiastically (pun intended) bursting out of the gate with a sound that is both nostalgic yet all their own.
El Saguaro - Enthusiecstacy
1.) Ticket to Fly
The EP's lead single opens the EP with El Saguaro's live wire energy and Hendrix-esque confidence, groove, and most notably, soul. The guitar tone in the verses floats up with an effervescent effect and switches to a wailing swagger for the choruses, creating a far-out mood that could have flown in on a time machine straight from Woodstock.
The official music video for "Ticket to Fly"
2.) Viaje
Viaje, the longest track on the EP, slows things down immensely. It's undoubtedly a woebegone lament, the lyrics describing the narrator's shattered world and loss of identity following a parting of ways. The best part of this song for me is how its unhurried pace draws attention not only to El Saguaro's ultra expressive and soulful delivery, but it also highlights a more laid back but just as sophisticated side of their instrumental aptitude. In the first third of the song, the guitar weeps over the situation at hand, but by the halfway mark, it escalates into wails atop a perfectly contrasting but complimentary percussion feature that's very tropical in nature. I can't help but be reminded very much of early 70s Santana at this point. This emotion only intensifies, particularly in the very impressive guitar work, and the addition of a few spacey sounds provides some trippy support as Viaje comes to a hard-rocking end, a far cry from its dejected beginning.
3.) Nazare
Nazare combines the vibrancy of Ticket to Fly with the moodiness of Viaje. This instrumental track truly lets the guitar do the talking, moving fluidly through the entire spectrum of emotion. In doing so, it seamlessly influences and molds the support of the incredibly adaptive bass groove and warm, malleable drums that manage to vacillate between soft and complimentary to crashing and standout without missing a beat.
4.) Slow N' Easy
This marvelously rich song combines soulful blues, an expressive howling vocal, a bit of a desert cowboy vibe, and (of course) a ton of proto metal flair to create a brilliant tapestry of heavy music. In that way, the diversity of El Saguaro's influences shines through more than ever, and the band brings it all together flawlessly for this song.
Final Thoughts
Enthusiecstacy strongly demonstrates one of the primary reasons I love EPs: it packs a powerful, concentrated punch of everything the band does best and, especially in this case, that wallop is a very memorable and impressive one. Four tracks are all you need to know that El Saguaro is a band that can cover many bases with skill both technical and creative. The band keeps a retro 60s/70s heavy rock tone as their base and, while looking through a creative lens tinted with the aura of sounds from decades past, adds a contemporary touch to a remarkably authentic and evocative sound. More than anything, El Saguaro proves on Enthusiecstacy that they're not just popping by to introduce themselves...they're here to stay.
More About El Saguaro:
El Saguaro Is:
Lucas: Guitar and Lead Vocals
André: Bass and Backing Vocals
João: Drums and Backing Vocals
You can follow El Saguaro and listen to their music at the following links:
A massive thank you to Broken Music for the promo!
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