It’s been almost 8 years since the first time I saw Calexico. During their tour for Feast Of Wire I caught them at a small restaurant/club called NXNW in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The band put on a truly wonderful show. After that album the band released a decent collaborative EP with Iron & Wine, and two albums I wasn’t particularly fond of, Garden Ruin and Carried To Dust. Still, that first show I witnessed in Philadelphia is remembered as supremely enjoyable and fun.
Yesterday — May 5th, or Cinco de Mayo — marked the four-year anniversary of the day I moved to Los Angeles. So I met up with Fawn and Brian for dinner in Echo Park (just as I did my first night in town four years ago). When I told them that I’d been here for four years now Brian deadpanned, “Oh yeah? How’s that been?” We talked about our first meeting and everything that has happened to us since then. We drank margaritas and ate some yummy food, and then I left them to go see Calexico at the Echoplex down the street.
The club was completely decked out last night, with green, white and red ribbons hanging from the ceilings. The cervezas was flowing. The room was absolutely packed and excited for a vibrant, energetic show. Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta kicked things off by bringing the crowd almost immediately to a frenzy. With the exception of maybe Dub Club I don’t think I’ve ever seen that room moving and dancing as much as I did during their set.
After a few minutes of setting up, the Mariachi Luz de Luna took the stage and performed a couple numbers. Then the members of Calexico hopped on stage and began to play. For almost two hours, they along with their friends the Mariachi and Salvador Duran put on an incredible show. Everyone on stage seemed to be having a great time, there were long extended solos from several of the mariachi (the harp solo had to be one of the best moments of the night), the show included one mariachi pouring a can of beer down bandmate’s throat mid-solo…the atmosphere in the room and on stage was fantastic. I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend Cinco de Mayo than with a packed crowd of hollering, dancing music fans listening to some amazing music. When all the musicians finally left the stage after a rousing encore of “Guero Canelo,” all I could think to say was “Wow.” So good.
Oh, and in case you missed it — the band performed with the mariachi last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live! So here’s a glimpse of what you missed if you weren’t at the Echoplex last night.
And if you guys couldn’t already tell…I’m fucking in love with my new camera.
Setlist:
Across The Wire (w/ Mariachi Luz de Luna) [MP3]
Roka (w/ Salvador Duran)
Deep Down
Jesus & Tequila
News About William
Inspiracion (w/ Salvador Duran)
Not Even Stevie Nicks
Two Silver Trees
Alone Again Or
Fractured Air
Stray (w/ mariachis)
Ojitos Traidores (w/ Mariachi)
Minas de Cobre (w/ Mariachi)
Linda Paloma (w/ Mariachi)
Theme de Mariachi (w/ Mariachi)
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Three-song Mariachi Luz de Luna set
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Corona (w/ Mariachi)
Crystal Frontier (w/ Mariachi)
Man Made Lake (w/ Mariachi)
Cascabel (w/ Mariachi)
Guero Canelo (w/ Mariachi)
