Pombagira
Biography
Pombagira have forged for themselves a formidable reputation since their formation at the beginning of 2007. Initially the band was a three piece and featured various bass players while Peter and Carolyn Hamilton-Giles acted as the married anchor. Finally dispensing with needing a bass player in mid 2009, Pombagira have gone on to carve their Rhythm and Doom style of music across the UK, the continent, and the West Coast of America. Along the way they have released four albums and a split 12” with Southern Lord band Eagle Twin.
The lyrical focus of the band orientates toward Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Brazilian religions. Drawing heavily from the experiences encountered during magical secret order engagements as well as attending ceremonies in Haiti, Pombagira have generated their own aesthetic style. Acting as a counterpoint to the occultism normally portrayed by bands captivated by vintage horror films, Pombagira intentionally and in opposition to sensationalist portrayals wish to convey the vulnerability experienced by practitioners on a daily basis in countries such as Haiti and Brazil. Far from wanting to simply dwell on the fantastic Pombagira wish to impart a social message to the proceedings.
Influences are more apparent with the older releases rather than with the new. Easy comparisons that have been made are Sleep, Electric Wizard, SunnO))) and Acid King, and all of these have played an indirect part at particular points in the band’s development. Pombagira generally refer to older bands when asked about their influences, Edgar Broughton Band, Amon Duul II and Pink Floyd being their particular favourites.
One of the key aspects to the Pombagira experience is the sound two people produce. Running a massive vintage backline which usually extends to having six to nine amps running at once has caused as much attention as it does consternation from worried promoters that they may bring the ceiling down. It would be wrong though to think of this band as just a heavy band, because there is so much more to their sound with the array of colours and quiet introspective sections bringing variation to all of their songs.
Pombagira stand alone as one of the only two-piece bands in Europe who are capable of creating mind numbing monolithic songs, where one song can span the whole of their set as with their latest release Iconoclast Dream. Supplanting a meditative haze to proceedings makes time stand still, leaving many who have seen them live wondering why they only played for five minutes when in reality they played for 50 minutes. So set the controls for the heart of the grave and embrace the Pombagira.
Gallery
Media
Booking / Availability
Currently available for gigs in the UK and Europe, contact us if interested.
Online
www.myspace.com/pombagiradoom
www.facebook.com/pombagiradoom