Dream Theater, Megadeth, Funk, Nirvana, Early radiohead, Rush, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Metallica, Blind Melon, Extreme, Alice in Chains, Jazz guitar, bossa nova.
Picasso Smiling began back in 2008. The band was originally founded by Andres Barros on vocals and rhythm guitar, Alex Butawan on lead guitars and Len Desales on the drums. The band had 3 originals when it performed at its first gig at the Battle of the Bands 2 the (now defunct) Blues Room bar in Shanghai. At that gig Nicky Almassy lent a lending hand on bass. After that gig, due to band members moving to different cities, the band was put on a temporary hold, that became longer and longer due to the difficulty of finding the right bass player and a new lead guitarist.
In 2009, Andres started another band with Nicky Almassy, Nathan Denny and Davide Zabeo. Andres took up bass duties as well as backing vocals. At the same time he decided to continue Picasso Smiling with drummer Davide Zabeo, who had been friends and played with Andres for a long time already, and had a more metal and agressive edge to his playing, which was needed for Picasso. However the search for a bass player kept putting the band off track.
Out of the blue, Kip Oxman answered and add by Andres. The trio began to work on the songs, and decided to keep it as a trio, sacrificing the extra color of a lead guitar for the stability of the trio. Finally, a tight, connected and musical amalgam had been found.
Unfortunately, king of groove and Mojo; Kip Oxman, had to part ways with the band since he lhad to leave China. The band is at the moment looking for a new bass player. You may contact us through my space.
