Spanish musician Rubén Pozo will launch the second leg of his 50 Town tour in October, performing concerts across Spain alongside his backing band Los Chicos de la Curva. The upcoming concert series will feature performances at Rebel Rebel in Alcázar de San Juan on October 30, Sala Acapulco in Gijón on November 13, and El Veintiuno in Huesca on December 12, before expanding to major Spanish cities next year.
Pozo is continuing to focus on smaller concert venues that foster an intimate and direct connection between the musician and the audience. The tour supports his latest studio album, titled 50town, which was released last year to mark his 50th birthday.
Album Origins and Personal Milestones
The musician explained that he had never previously named a record or a concert tour after a specific age milestone or career anniversary. After writing a track titled 50town about reaching 50 years of age, he decided to title the entire album after the song as a personal gift to mark reaching half a century of life, noting that he wanted to make the most of the occasion.
Pozo has been active in the Spanish music industry since 1995 and has released fifteen albums across his career. His early work includes ten records split between the rock groups Buenas Noches Rose and Pereza, followed by five solo studio albums and a collaborative album with musician Lichis. Pereza, which Pozo co-founded with José Miguel Conejo Torres, known as Leiva, became one of Spain's most prominent pop-rock acts during the 2000s.
Reflecting on recent life changes, including burying his father and seeing his son leave home, Pozo said youth comes in fleeting moments. He noted that while he sometimes feels like a 21-year-old, at other times he feels 120 years old and can barely walk, adding that although he is no longer conditioned for marathons, he can still manage short runs.
Songwriting Evolution and Live Improvisation
Pozo stated that he is currently enjoying his craft more than ever, having learned to relax in the studio and on stage after decades in the music business. He admitted to previously spending weeks, months, or years polishing individual songs to make them sound spontaneous, whereas he now embraces direct spontaneity and writes with greater frequency and joy.
Addressing his composition pace, Pozo remarked that he has lost the fear of writing poor songs and does not mind discarding weaker tracks, as they always teach him something. Although record label schedules previously forced hiatuses between his album releases, he expressed that he is generating enough material to happily release an album every year.
Regarding his live performances, Pozo explained that his setlist changes every night depending on the location, mindset, and atmosphere created by the crowd. He said his band, Los Chicos de la Curva, leaves significant room for improvisation, allowing unexpected musical ideas to develop organically on stage.
Roots in Madrid and Barcelona
Born in Barcelona because his mother was from the city, Pozo moved to Madrid before turning one year old and grew up in the suburbs of the capital. He maintained close ties with Barcelona through his grandparents, who lived in the Poble-sec neighborhood, and recalled fond childhood memories of visiting the district alongside Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter.
Pozo described himself as a mix of both cities and dismissed traditional rivalries between Madrid and Barcelona, attributing much of the friction to football. Commenting on regional rock music scenes, he noted a common industry perspective that Catalan rockers possess superior technical execution while Madrid musicians offer a distinct flavor, though he highlighted Loquillo and Burning as premier acts from each city respectively.
Views on Artificial Intelligence and Musical Passion
When asked about generative artificial intelligence in music, Pozo stated that the technology does not worry him and that he relies on standard tools such as Wikipedia and Google. He compared artificial intelligence to a knife, observing that every human invention possesses both constructive and destructive potential depending on how it is used.
Pozo expressed that he has yet to be emotionally moved by a song created entirely by artificial intelligence, adding that if that day comes he will accept the reality. He remarked that audiences ultimately seek human connection and emotion, though he acknowledged that holograms and automated compositions could become common on stage within five years.
Closing on his ongoing passion for music, Pozo explained that performing requires both a cool head and an intense internal fire. He recalled his early days learning to play a Spanish guitar at his mother's house, praying to recreate the thrilling sounds of the artists who inspired him as a child.
