Almanac Music: Calexico – a musical sound of their own
Calexico is a town on the border of California and Mexico from where the Tucson, Arizona based band take their name. The locality of Calexico reflects the band’s musical sounds so hence their name, their music a mix of Tex-Mex, traditional Latin sounds, country, jazz and rock to create a special sound all of their own.
Joey Burns – (vocals, guitars, bass, cello, piano, keyboards, accordion, percussion, vibraphone),and John Convertino – (drums) are the driving force behind the unique Calexico sound; other members are, Martin Wenk – ( trumpet, guitar, keyboards, accordion, glockenspiel, vibraphone, theremin, vocals, occasionally harmonica & French horn); Jacob Valenzuela – (trumpet, vocals); Sergio Mendoza – (keyboards, accordion, percussion); Brian Lopez – (guitar, vocals); and Scott Colberg – (standup bass, electric bass).
I first came across Calexico, as I usually do for new music, on Brian Wise’s Off The Record show on 3rrr. The song he played was ‘The Ride – Pt 2’, and I was immediately hooked by the sound particularly the drums. Later I came across a copy of their second album The Black Light in a throw out bin for $10 which I had no hesitation in buying. Ever since I have played that CD many times and it remains one of my all time favourite CDs.
I’ve seen Calexico perform a couple of times in Melbourne, firstly at the Athenauem, September 2013, secondly at the Melbourne Recital Centre early in 2019. Both were memorable performances. Enjoy the music.
‘The Ride – Pt11″ from The Black Light
The Spotify playlist for The Black Light
Calexico’s new single ‘El Mirador’
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About Colin Ritchie
Retired teacher who enjoys following the Bombers, listening to music especially Bob Dylan, reading, and swimming.
Love Calexico, Col. Highlights for me were the set they played at The Myer Music Bowl after Neko Case and before The Bad Seeds. Also The Corner where their rendition of Not even Stevie Nicks blew the top off the joint. Agree that Black Light. is a top album. Have you heard Robert Plant and Alison Krauss do their version of Quattro (World drifts in)? It’s not bad but the Calexico original trumps it.
Great call, excellent band. Their version (with Jim James of My Morning Jacket, another excellent band) of the Dylan song, Goin to Acapulco is a ripper.
They’re great Col. They’ve made a couple of albums with Sam Beam from Iron and Wine that you might like too. this one is good. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Reins