I've just got to spread a little more Calexico-love here, because their hometown concert at the Rialto Theater last night was one of the most astonishingly good performances I've seen in a long, long time...maybe ever. With two full mariachi bands and a host of other musicians (there must have been 30-odd musicians on stage by the end), it's a wonder they didn't blow the roof off the place with their energy, their passion, and their big, bold, beautiful sound. This band encapsulates everything I love best about Tucson: the fusion of laconic cowboy style with vibrant Mexican border culture; the exuberant mix of Sonoran cultural traditions, aesthetics, and languages; and the ever-present dusty heat of the desert, which is almost palpable in Calexico's music. Bravo, guys, and thanks for a great show.
Above, the video for their song "Crystal Frontier" (containing references to the La Llorona folktale), which was performed to perfection last night as one of the evening's finales. YouTube has a number of good Calexico videos if you want more, including live performances of "Hit the Ground Running" and "Across the Wire."
Ooo! I just bought Hot Rail, but now I've got find "Crystal Frontier," too.
Posted by: Grey Walker | May 24, 2008 at 09:50 AM