Calexico above all reminded me of the transportational power of live music, and its close relationship to place. Based in Tucson, Arizona and named after the Californian border town, they brought a the atmosphere of Latin America to Manchester. Joey Burns enthused the audience with his gestures and energy, whilst multi-instrumentalist Martin Wenk surprised me by rocking out to guitar. My recent musical plans were disrupted by illness, of both myself and my car, and after the disappointment if several missed shows, it was a revelation to once again be swept way onto a different plain, away from the mundane concerns of the everyday life.
The seven players' instrumentation had two trumpets to the fore, a reminder of Beirut, and also included an upright bass, vibraphone, glockenspiel, keyboards and accordion, alongside the customary electric guitars and drums. They have previously supported Arcade Fire, and have rich textures and expanded line-up in common. However, the energy level is lower: their vibe is relatively laid back, more relaxing than energetic. For once, the visual element was relatively important, and watching the technique of these true musicians humanised the experience. Paradoxically whilst it was collaborative effort on stage, it felt like music to nourish the inner self, rather than to celebrate extrovertly.
Yet, Joey Burns ensured that the room was involved: a turning point was when he produced an improvised performance based on an audience member shouting 'more guitars', joined by his ensemble. The set list was generous, as can be seen below, and ranged widely across their extensive back catalogue (the recent Algiers is their seventh album). Calexico were surprisingly charismatic performers on stage and are a refreshingly wide blend of cultural influences. If they didn't quite inspire ecstasy in me, they did lead to a state of deep feeling of well being with the world. That in itself is demonstration of the power of live music to improve quality of life.
Set List
- Epic
- Across the Wire
- Splitter
- Roka
- Dead Moon
- Para
- Minas de Cobre
- Inspiracion
- Man Make Lake
- Improvisation 'House of Guitars'
- Fortune Tellers
- Not even Stevie Nicks- Quattro
- Two Silver Trees
- Dub Latina
- Crystal Frontier
- Alone Again or
- Puerto
- Sunken Walz
- Corona
- Guero Canelo
- The Vanishing Mind
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