Denton, TX-based singer/songwriter Robert Gomez is also an accomplished guitarist, having studied and played Cuban guitar with Nelson Gonzalez. Besides performing with the son group Septeto Habañero, Gomez has also toured with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and played dates in Spain, Turkey, and the U.S. with Omar Faruk Tekbilek. Gomez's own music, however, mixes literate, bittersweet songwriting with a moody Southwestern twang reminiscent of Calexico. He released his first album, 2005's Etherville, on his own Basement Front label. Fellow Dentonites Midlake championed Gomez's music to their label, Bella Union, and by 2006 he was also signed to the imprint. Another Denton resident, Centro-Matic's Matt Pence, helped Gomez record his second album, Brand New Towns, which was released early in 2007. ~ Heather Phares