 |
Fernando Perdomo |
No Place Like Home
Thankfully, Fernando Perdomo is Not Moving to L.A.
By David Tanner
If you pay any attention to the local music scene here in merry ole’ Miami, chances are you’ve heard of Fernando Perdomo. To merely say that Perdomo has a tight grasp on self-promotion would put my limited credentials as a reporter of sorts in question. Fernando Perdomo is everywhere. He’s prolifically posting on Facebook, he’s intensensely ingrained in Myspace with multiple music pages. Hell. Google him. He’s got an extensive Wikipedia entry.
Check out Perdomo’s latest incarnation (myspace.com/dreaminginstereo): lush power-pop, or progressive-pop in Perdomo’s terms, that’s guaranteed to soothe the soul and put a smile on your face. Listen to “I’m not gonna move to L.A.,” a gnarly track about the sad state of South Florida’s consistent artist flight and Perdomo’s reflections of “There’s No Place Like Home.” That’s part of what makes Perdomo stand out in a town that’s always been a source of consternation for anyone trying to make a go at anything other than dance, hip hop, or pure Latin music. Other tracks include the Foo Fighter-ish “Smile,” Perdomo’s manifesto to pharmaceuticals, “Misery Loves Companies” and the pure pleasure of “Steal This Song.” (Make sure to scroll down a bit on the left of the page for the hilarious video.)
Perdomo’s music has always been spot-on. Over the years I’ve barely brushed sleeves with him as he made his way from one session or another, and every group he’s worked with has benefited from his contributions. As a closet guitarist, I have to say that my ego has been crushed quite a few times hearing his “face-melting” solos, and his compositions are phenomenal.
Born Aug. 17, 1980, Perdomo has been honing his skills as a guitarist, singer-songwriter, arranger, and producer since his years at Miami Beach Senior High, where he studied rock and classical guitar under the tutelage of professor Doug Burris. Then the roller-coaster ride that has been Perdomo’s artistic life began.
Perdomo would creep into local clubs just out of high school to jam with a laundry list of Miami’s local talent. He’s recorded all over town, Criteria, South Beach Studios, and Middle Ear. Perdomo’s been blessed by the industry, doing guitar work for the likes of Christian Castro, Ed Hale and Transcendence, arranging horns for the legendary Charles Calello, has acted as musical director/bassist for Hilary McRae, done album production for Jorge Moreno and Andy Pratt, and he has multiple film credits.
In 2008 Perdomo formed Dreaming in Stereo, signed to Dying Van Gogh, a New York-based record label. His live line up includes Perdomo on guitar/vocals, one time drummer for Hall and Oats Eddie Zyne, and Giuseppe Rodriguez on bass.
He is currently working on bringing in a keyboard player and a cellist. In the studio Perdomo is a multi-instrumentalist having recorded drums, keys, bass, guitars, percussion and various other bizarre effects during the sessions for the debut Dreaming in Stereo album.
It’s not clear how he does it, but Fernando Perdomo manages to be in a constant state of performance. In the past two weeks, Dreaming in Stereo was featured on the CBS 12 morning show out of West Palm Beach, where they performed “Smile.”
These days chances are you’ll find him at any of the local venues. He recently perfomed at Buck 15 and Dreaming in stereo will play at the Vagabond this week. Then it’s time to jet to New York and Jersey to play a few shows, then back to Miami to play Kitchen 305, the Ecomania rock fest, and an “in-store” at Apple in Dadeland. If we’re lucky this prolific, determined, and enterprising artist won’t burn out and will manage to stay true to his mantra, and ignore L.A.
Technical difficulties, terrible reception, broken web links, and general bad timing aside, I was able to chat with Perdomo for a bit:
David Tanner: How was the CBS channel 12 show?
Fernando Perdomo: It was sick, I loved it!
Fernando Perdomo: Did you get alot of feedback from fans/friends?
Yeah…well the vid has almost 300 hits since Sunday afternoon.
How about the “Steal This Song” video. I bet you’ve got a tons of hits by now?
Almost 600 in less than two weeks.
You’re on the way to New York. How do you feel about the city as far as gigging is concerned?
It’s always great ’cause people listen and the clubs dont play club music.
You’re quite prolific. How often do you try and play out?
Two to three times a month, and acoustically as much as possible. I also do a bunch of open mics and songwriter nights.
What are your favorite venues locally?
I like The Van Dyke. Buck 15 is my favorite. I also like Kitchen 305.
You seem to be influenced by “power-pop.” Who are some of your favorites?
Elliot Smith, Jason Falkner. The whole L.A. power-pop scene, like Jellyfish, and Phantom Planet. I really like Swedish power-pop, like The Cardigans. I also like this band from France called Phoenix.
How does being a multinstrumentalist help in with writing and getting work?
I’m more of a guitarist and bassist when I sit in on live gigs — I only get paid for my guitar/bass work. I love playing drums and keys but I only play those instruments in sessions or on my own material. I got into playing so many instruments because I am heavily influenced by people like Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and especially Todd Rundgren — for me he is the bench mark.
Dreaming in Stero will perform at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14 at Vagabond, 30 N.E. 14th St., Miami. Call 305-379-0508 or visit thevagabondmiami.com.
comments@theleadmiamibeach.com |
