Phenomden
7. April 2026
Can Bayoglu
8. April 2026
UMBERTO PORCARO
Umberto Porcaro, born in 1979, has been playing guitar for the last 30 years. His passion for Blues music started in his early age, and it has brought him to play along with the greatest, international blues men. After his first experiences with local bands, Umberto visits Chicago for the first time, where he gets to perform with Billy Branch and The Sons of Blues, Fernando Jones, Eomot Rasun, Johnny Dollar. He publishes his first record “You Belong To Me”, followed by “Burn The Day Away”, receiving a great appreciation from national and international press.
He later wins the auditions for “Obiettivo Blues In”, during the Pistoia Blues Festival, earning the chance to perform with amazing artists such BB KING, BUDDY GUY, ROBBEN FORD, ROY ROGERS, CANNET HEAT, THE BLUES BANDand to be included in the compilation of the Pistoia Blues Festival album. Umberto moves to the States, between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Here is where he gets to exhibit in the most famous Blues clubs of America, such as Café Boogaloo in Hermosa Beach (Los Angeles), The Saloon (San Francisco), Mojo Lounge (Freemont), and the “Biscuit and Blues” also in San Francisco. While in California, Umberto meets other great Blues artists such as Kim Wilson, Kid Ramos, Junior Watson, Murk, Hollywood Blues Flames.
Collaboration
As a Blues aficionado myself, it was just a matter of time that Umberto Porcaro called my attention, over the years I've developed a good ear for music, for expressive & profound guitar playing, for the Blues in particular.
April 2024, when I saw that the UP Trio were playing at the Hollywood Club downtown Lugano, not far from where I live, I decided to go see the show that same day...bringing my all original 1952 Gibson Les Paul All Gold with me.
Arriving at club while presenting myself just in time before the show, I took out the '52 Les Paul saying...Umberto, you can use it if you like...realizing what he had just in front of him...of corse he agreed...and he put that place on fire that night...it was fantastic, see last video...so this encounter led to our friendship...and thats how we became Blues brothers.
Months later, when I started the project developing the Fandango Multi Range Booster, together with Nick Schnider from Nikel Audio Arts, I did not hesitate a blink of an eyelash and I asked UP if he would test the pedal for us, and play it live. He accepted, and his enthusiasm for it confirmed the quality of our product, and with his input, we made even more improvements.
Meanwhile, the Fandango Multi Range Booster has become his signature tone and an inspiration for his music [in fact he told me he leaves it on all the time!]
Also, he has brought it to the attention of other guitar players around the globe…we couldn’t be happier about it, thank you Umberto. You are the man!
Find the Fandango Boost in the menu under effects, check it out for yourself
Adrian Egli
