NEXUS
Lalo Huber-
keyboards, backing vocals
Mariéla
González- vocals
Daniel
Ianniruberto- bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Carlos
Lucena- guitars, backing vocals
Luis
Nakamura- drums & percussion
Nexus was
born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the late 1970s. Four schoolmates
with a deep love of progressive music came together to make symphonic
rock in the style of their idols Yes and E.L.P., and the classic
Argentinian prog band Crucis. The founding lineup was Lalo Huber,
Carlos Lucena, Daniel Ianniruberto and Luis Nakamura. In 1990,
vocalist Mariéla González joined the core four members
to complete the present lineup and bring a new element to the
band's sound. (The original vocalist was Lucena.) Not content
to be a cover band, Nexus produced a prodigious amount of new
compositions during the '80s and '90s. According to the band,
Nexus means "union"
the common goal of the musicians was
to pour their hearts in uniting their influences to produce meaningful,
original music. They steadfastly refused to allow the unpopularity
of progressive rock at that time to compromise their vision. Nexus
performed concerts of full-sounding symphonic progressive rock
in underground clubs all over Argentina for a 15 to 20 year period.
In 1996, already a veteran band, Nexus made plans to record their
debut album, drawing on the best material developed during their
rehearsals and live shows as well as some brand new compositions.
The songs that were to comprise their debut record Detrás
del Umbral won over Record Runner label executive Alberto
Vanasco, who provided financial backing for a worldwide CD release.
Featuring superb symphonic rock compositions led by Huber's keyboards,
the sultry Spanish vocals of González, Lucena's slightly-Latin
tinged progressive guitar playing and a crack rhythm section,
Detrás del Umbral received rave reviews in
noted publications such as Progression, Mellotron,
Collossus, and Harmonie.
Inevitable
concert and festival invitations ensued, as word spread about
the excellence of the debut disc. On their home continent, Nexus
has performed at the Rio Art Rock Festival '98 and Buenos Aires
Prog '99. They opened for the venerable English band IQ at a show
in the Argentinean capital in June 1999. At Baja Prog 2000 in
Mexico just over three months ago, Nexus made their North American
debut and were the surprise hit band of that festival. Nexus is
currently completing the recording process for their second CD,
entitled Metanoia. In addition to performing songs from
Detrás del Umbral, the band will unveil some
pieces from this forthcoming album at NEARfest.
Just after
NEARfest '99 we asked Ken Golden (The Laser's Edge) and John Collinge
(Progression) if they knew a virtually unknown foreign
band that could come to the 2000 edition of the festival and make
a big impact on lovers of symphonic progressive music. They both
put Nexus at the top of their lists. After we both heard Detrás
del Umbral, without hesitation we concurred that we
wanted Nexus to play at NEARfest 2000. We're ecstatic to be able
to open Sunday's festival proceedings with a high energy set from
this world-class progressive band from the other half of the world,
who are making their United States debut. We hope Nexus' NEARfest
2000 appearance will result in even bigger and better things in
the future!
Discography:
Detrás
del Umbral (1999)
Metanoia
(2000)
website:
www.impsat.com.ar/~lalo
contact:
lalo@elsitio.net