I’ll be honest here– I normally shy away from shows at the Orpheum. As beautiful as the historic 19th century theatre can be, here the sweeping rows of seats and mezzanines and painted ceilings can lend themselves to a somewhat stiff performance and an audience as still as the carvings on said ceiling.

Not so in the case of Rodrigo y Gabriela, beloved Mexican acoustic guitar duo who swept through town this past Wednesday and exited stage left to a roaring standing ovation.

Generally, the phrase “acoustic guitar duo” doesn’t get me riled up and out of my apartment on a Wednesday night. But this particular duo, and I say this without hyperbole, puts on one of the most riveting and astounding live performances I’ve ever seen. Both have their roots in the Mexican metal scene, which has heavily influenced their songs and style of playing. During most of their songs, as well as insane Metallica medleys they sprinkled throughout the show, Rodrigo picks the lead melody at lightning speed while Gabriela hammers out a percussive melody by hitting her guitar body and strings so quickly that the band announced a hiatus in 2010 due to injury from her strumming style. If that’s not the most metal thing you’ve ever heard, you are absolutely lying.

What makes their live act so amazing, apart from their jaw-dropping technical skills, is the level of energy they bring to the performance. Despite their stop at the Orpheum being the last on an almost year-long tour, the duo was all smiles and jokes, pausing to regale the crowd with stories and the most energetic cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” I’ve ever heard. What brought the entire crowd on their feet, and kept them there despite the upholstery’s best efforts, was how palpably excited they were to be playing, and how completely enthralled in music they became. That, and their music is catchy as hell.

If at this point, you’re feeling bad about missing their tour, or gleeful that you were there and are well aware that it’s probably one of the greatest shows you’ll see this year, calm down– you can live the magic by spinning their new record, 9 Dead Alive.

If you’re more of a visual person, you can drink in a micro version of the live Rodrigo y Gabriela experience by watching their performance on KEXP below, and, like me, wait with bated breath until their next stop in town.