Classics influence Rodrigo Y Gabriela's latest album

Rodrigo Y Gabriela first started playing metal music in their native Mexico.

After a stint performing on the streets in Ireland, they're now touring to promote their sophomore record, "11:11," which has songs inspired by, and dedicated to, 11 different artists. The album currently is ranked No. 3 on the Billboard World Albums chart.

Just two people, Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero, are behind the Mexican rhythm guitar act.

They both grew up surrounded by music, Sanchez said, and being musicians was just what they knew. They met as teenagers in Mexico City, and when they first started playing together, they played thrash metal. They've adapted over the past decade to where their music has taken them.

When they didn't find the success they wanted in Mexico, they moved to Dublin, Ireland, hoping to play in hotels. They switched to acoustic guitars.

"To travel with Mexican guitars, it was a pain so we wanted just to buy two guitars," Sanchez said.

They found they couldn't play in hotels, so they played the only place they could: on the streets.

They lucked out, too. Sanchez said performing on Dublin streets not only got them the amount of money they wanted, but they also got to know a lot of other performers, including Damien Rice, who brought the duo out on performances with him after he got a break.

"Traveling gives you a lot of influences on a personal level, and you change on a personal level," Sanchez said.

"Obviously, whatever you do, you have to be affected, and that's what happened to our music," he said. "We've met a lot of people and a lot of friends and musicians around the world who have shared with us some of their talents, and that's kind of the influence you want to bring on."

And, to share some of their numerous and varying influences, Rodrigo Y Gabriela recorded "11:11," inspired by 11 artists, including Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana.

"End of the day, the goal was to share the knowledge of these artists with people that buy our album," Sanchez said.

"11:11" was released last fall and is the duo's second official album.

"It's pretty encouraging for us to come up with something more related to what we started with," Sanchez said. "We come from the rock 'n' roll theme, and we spent ages with a metal band."

They recorded the album in their studio and current base in Ixtapa, Mexico.

But, don't expect a mellow night if you catch Rodrigo Y Gabriela's show.

"We just kinda run around the stage and have a great time and try to, you know, have fun with people," Sanchez said.

"It's pretty much a rock show, just in case some people think that they will go and see two guitarists sitting down in chairs," Sanchez said.