world drifts in

the title of a live concert dvd featuring calexico at the barbican in london
they are one of those bands that a lot of people have heard of but not many people know about
which was certainly the case for me up until earlier this year when i saw them live at the basement in sydney
it was an unforgettable show - at least 7 band members on a tiny stage playing to a full monday night house
i bought this dvd as a momento of the night and occassionally haul it out and reminisce - as tonight
except the more i watch this particular concert the more i realise how i only saw a glimpse of what this outfit is capable of
there may not be many groups with a more apt name
for calexico present music that seems west coast american influenced by their southern neighbours
no doubt mexifornia was also considered as a band name but i think they got it right
the band is centered around singer/guitarist/songwriter joey burns
though wikipedia informs me that drummer john convertino is his partner in the group and certainly seems central to all that goes on
the core group is augmented by steel guitar, double bass, brass and vibraphone
these boys obviously love their music and perform with all due seriousness and conviction
alt.country is the official tag slash genre but that is taking the easy way out
it's almost undefinable music which is what probably makes them unique
every song has a structure, depth and feel of it's own and usually features some standout instrument
steel guitar, piano-accordian, vibraphone, airline guitar, trumpet, voicebox all feature at various times
they seem very comfortable on the large stage at the barbican with a very receptive audience
there's a song called not even stevie nicks which leaves me wondering what they have against her
with a head like a vulture and a heart full of hornets
after 6 or 7 songs things are rolling along quite nicely then we enter a complete new phase
fellow tucson arizona residents mariachi luz de luna are brought on stage
this is a large ensemble of violin, acoustic guitar and trumpet players in mexican clothing and sombrero hats
that lift an already very impressive concert to a new level both aurally and visually
this is quite complex music played very confidently with each musician adding their special part
the title track world drifts in is performed particularly well with brass, strings, and vocals all meshing beautifully
and then we go up yet another level with the introduction of french chanteuse francioz breut
whose voice sits brilliantly in the mix with the band and laterly added string/brass/guitar section
this is a real meeting of music cultures with the most unlikely combination
hick like country-twang lyrics/voice with tijuana-brass style instrumental backing and a sensuous french female voice on vocal backup
it works together beautifully and even more so on a slower number titled si tu disais
this is a totally original band with total confidence in their material
not wanting to go overboard here but at times the 20 or so musicians on stage
could be a well drilled orchestra for they are so in control and tuned in to each other
there's no end to the combinations of instruments that feature in the various tunes
but there's nothing like massed acoustic guitars, brass and strings
ok rave stops here
world drifts in
calexico
superb