Status: Single
City: AUSTIN
State: Texas
Country: US
Signup Date: 4/24/2006
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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My good friend Amy Cook has a new
record coming out in the spring. You can hear the track “Hotel Lights” on
iTunes.
Please go to Amy's website and enter your email address to download this track for free!
The track features guest vocals from Patty Griffin and a very cool arrangement by Tosca String Quartet, off of her upcoming record, "Let the Light In", produced by Alejandro Escovedo.
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Monday, December 07, 2009
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Hey everybody! Nakia here…
Back in September, I posted a story about Alejandro Escovedo inviting me to sing with him at the recent Buick MacKane reunion show at Hole In The Wall. In that post I talked about bumping into Al at this year’s HAAM Benefit Day performance at Whole Foods. That day he mentioned he was preparing for a long series of shows at Austin’s legendary, Continental Club.
A residency where he would be working out material for the new record
he is working on. He invited me to stop by and sing some tunes with him
and so I have been.
 Alejandro & Nakia singing "Beast of Burdon" at Sessions on South Congress at Austin's Continental Club.
These shows have been dubbed the South Congress Sessions and each Tuesday night at 10PM, Alejandro and guitarist, David Pulkingham
break out 2-3 brand new tunes on acoustic guitar, then call the rest of
the band up to work ‘em out loud and plugged in. So far there have been
three of these and it sounds like Al & company will be at the
Continental every Tuesday possibly through January, but I wouldn’t wait
to get out there. The line to get in has been over a block long the
last two weeks!!
I can’t recommend these shows enough. It’s truly Alejandro at his
finest and the band is really on fire with Hector Muñoz on drums, David
Pulkingham on guitar, and Bobby Daniel on bass. There’s talk of even adding myself and the Fresh Up Girls to some of the new tunes.
Adding to the cool factor of these sessions is that Alejandro has been choosing the acts to follow him. So far he’s had the Frank Mustard Project, Amy Cook (Look for the Alejandro produced new album soon!), and this past week the explosive Hacienda from San Antonio. On board are acts like Grady, Tom Gilliam, Stone Twisted (featuring Alex Ruiz of Del Castillo), and more!
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Sunday, December 06, 2009
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Alejandro Escovedo was in studio Q for a chat and two performances from his album 'Real Animal'. To watch and listen, click on the link below:
http://videos.apnicommunity.com/Video,Item,180480219.html
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Tuesday, December 01, 2009
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Alejandro Escovedo's 2008 release Real Animal easily topped my
Albums of the Year list last year. It probably would have popped up on
this list as well if not for Alejandro's tremendous 2001 effort A Man Under the Influence. Of course, I'm limiting myself to one album per artist on this list. This has to be the one.
It
will probably be hard for me to articulate exactly why this album is
one of my favorites. I always find it especially hard to write about
Alejandro's music because of the complexity it presents. In doing
research for this post, I found separate reviews that compared parts of
this album to Hank Williams Sr., Leonard Cohen, John Cale, and The
Rolling Stones. It's hard to believe that one album or one artist could
possibly conjure up comparisons to such a diverse group of artists...
but this album does.
Alejandro expertly
captures Williams' heartbreak, Cohen's poetry, Cale's punk
experimentalism, and The Stones' Rock & Roll swagger. He does it
all while also creating his own sound of textured, Austin roots rock.
There is a reason No Depression magazine named Alejandro their artist of the decade for the 1990's.
As
for the themes presented on the album... It would be easy, given
Alejandro's well publicized history with drug and alcohol abuse, to
assume that the title referred to being under the influence of some
sort of narcotics or distilled spirits. Closer inspections, though,
reveal the songwriter to be affected by the far more intoxicating
influence of love in all of its forms.
In some
cases, it's the love of an idea that motivates the characters in the
songs. The album opens with "Wave," a song based on the story of how
Alejandro's father first came to the United States from Mexico.
Alejandro's grandparents had left for the States when Alejandro's
father was very young. As a boy, Alejandro's father would go to the
local train yard with his grandmother to wave at the trains as they
left to journey across the border. They would wave to those who, like
Alejandro's grandparents, had snuck aboard the trains in an attempt to
find a better life, and a better way to provide for their families.
When he was twelve years old, Alejandro's father jumped on one of those
trains motivated by the idea of seeing his parents again and joining
them in their new land. He never told his grandmother what he was about
to do, and she was left behind, not knowing that she was waving at the
train that carried her grandson away.
The
album continues with "Rosalie," a tender song that tells of a love
carried out through letters between two lovers separated by a border
and miles of desert. The love fades, however, in "Across the River" as
Alejandro is forced to ask the question, "What kind of love destroys
another?"
In fact, most of the tunes on this
album deal with heartbreak in one way or another. "Rhapsody" reads as
an apology to a departing lover even though the narrator can never seem
to find just the proper way to express himself. In the plaintive "Don't
Need You" the singer sounds as though he is trying to convince himself
of that fact rather than actually declare the statement to someone
else.
Even my favorite track on the album,
the fiery "Castanets," finds Alejandro dealing with inflamed passions
for a woman he can't stand to be around. He begins by running through a
list of things he loves about this woman... her tangled hair, the
sunshine on her dress, the way she "turns me on like a pick up truck."
In the end though, this is a woman who drives him so crazy that he
finds he likes "her better when she walks away." This song is built
around a Hall of Fame worthy guitar riff and is not only my favorite
song on the album, but also one of my favorites of all time.
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Friday, November 13, 2009
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For an interview from WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio, click on the links below. Many thanks to Frank Stasio, host for the interview.
http://wunc.org/tsot/archive/sot1113abc09.mp3
http://www.wunc.org/programs/tsot/
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009
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Photo by Dave Prewitt
Expanding from the roots-rock world outward, Alejandro Escovedo is many
things to many people—including a musical melting pot. As Ira Robbins
of Trouser Press puts it, he's "a one-man travelogue of places,
eras and styles." Escovedo hit both coasts in the '70s before settling
in Texas, journeys that no doubt contributed to his multifaceted,
multicultural approach to rock music. His sound is a study in dynamics
and extremes, his work personal and profound. To witness him move from
the hushed confessions of his solo outings to the beautiful
thunderstorms he stirs up with various glam-twang ensembles and the
speaker-trembling Buick MacKane is to be awed by his ability to revel
in both the glory that's found in words and the glory that's found in
noise. He's clearly signed on as a music lifer—it's not for nothing
that his '80s Austin-based band was named True Believers. And though
his work caused No Depression magazine to proclaim him Artist of the Decade for the '90s, last year's hard-riffing Real Animal demonstrated that he still has plenty in the tank. Sharing the bill is
Lambchop, exemplifiers of the more-is-less-is-more phenomenon. Its
overflowing roster somehow equates to less sound clutter and more space
for Kurt Wagner's parlor room-soul vocals. At Reynolds Industries
Theater.
By Rick Cornell - indyweek.com
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A405503
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Monday, November 02, 2009
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Guitarist Alejandro Escovedo has been through a lot over the course of
a career that's lasted nearly 30 years. He started in the seminal San
Francisco punk act the Nuns, who had the distinction of opening for the
Sex Pistols on their single, disastrous U.S. tour; he went on to become
one of the founding fathers of alt-country with Austin-based bands Rank
and File and the True Believers in the 80's.
After
nearly succumbing to hepatitis C in the late 90's, Escovedo bounced
back, and at nearly 60 years old, he took the stage at Voodoo looking
fit, if battle-scarred. With his face half obscured by dark shades,
fronting a band clad all in black, he tore through a razor-sharp,
take-no-prisoners set of buzzy, blistering country-tinged punk rock
n'roll.
The band left the stage a good
half-hour before they were scheduled to, but returned for a two-song
encore. Up till then, they day had been blustery, but sunny, hot and
humid. But as he unleashed the stomping, honky-tonk rhythm of
"Castanets," the sky began to darken. When he dedicated the closer,
David Bowie's "All The Young Dudes," to Iggy Pop, a cold wind suddenly
snaked through the crowd. And as he left the stage, the first chilly
raindrops began to fall.
The man in black and his vicious guitar were gone. The storm howled in, soaking City Park. Night fell.
Can you control the weather with rock n' roll?
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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October 13, 2009 (New York) – Alejandro Escovedo
is a rock star. Even though he may not be a household name, in a world
of wannabes he’s got the goods. On Sunday night at the Highline Ballroom
on West 16th Street, sandwiched in between Texas newcomers Hacienda and
headliners Los Lonely Boys, Escovedo showed the youngsters how it’s
done.
Escovedo has been around for ages. He began his career
when most of today’s rockers weren’t even born, in the mid-70’s in San
Francisco’s Nuns and then the True Believers. As a solo artist in
recent years he’s claimed Bruce Springsteen, Beck, Los Lobos and a host
of other luminaries as fans and released several classic albums,
including Gravity, Bourbonitis Blues, Boxing Mirror and last year’s Real Animal. He’s got the look, the swagger and the presence. But more importantly he’s got the voice. And the songs.
After
surviving Hepatitis C six years ago you could expect Escovedo to be a
shell of a performer. In fact he commands the stage, and seems at once
legendary as a result of the tight, intense performance of his stellar
songs and a regular guy via his relaxed, unassuming banter with the
audience.
Escovedo played an acoustic set, backed by violinist
Susan Voelz and guitarist David Pulkingham, but rocked hard. Three
songs from Real Animal and a smattering of classics over about 40
minutes and he was gone. Amazing.
Pity poor Los Lonely Boys who had to follow Escovedo’s set.
By Jeff Slate - examiner.com New York City, October 13, 2009
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009
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About a week ago I saw Alejandro Escovedo in an amazing early morning performance at Whole Foods in support of HAAM
Benefit Day. It was phenomenal for sure. Afterward, I said hello and
out of the blue, Al says, “When you gonna come sing with us?” to which
I quickly replied, “When & where?” - LOL! He mentioned they would
be starting up a new residency at the Continental Club in November and December and to “brush up on my Stones.”
I went off to my workout over at Castle Hill and didn’t think much more of it.
Then Saturday after my show at Jovita’s, I rushed over to catch his band Buick MacKane’s much talked about reunion show at Hole In The Wall.
Simply put it was the best rock show I have seen in years and certainly
the best one in Austin since moving here in ‘02. I can’t believe people
used to get to see this all the time! I arrived toward the middle of
the set and went straight up front to join my friends Nanette and Roggie.
Everyone was there. It seemed like 500 people were packed in that room
and the guitars were wailing so loud I had heard them as I approached
the building a half a block away.
At the end of the set, Al cut into some real rock and the band
started up “All The Young Dudes.” As I looked up, Al looked at me and
then looked over at the mic as he looked back and nodded me up. I have
to admit, at first I looked around to make sure he was talking to me. I
kinda did the “Are you sure” look and he nodded again, so I hopped up.
He pointed me to David Fairchild’s mic and the song kicked in. Almost immediately, Paul Minor was on stage behind me with that famous grin of his. We sang a chorus together and as I turned to look back at Joe Eddy Hines jangling a riff, I saw Matt Meshbane
take the stage as well. After a quick hug, Matt moved over to the mic
with Paul and I backed off and joined Alejandro on his mic for a chorus
or two. At that point it was a blur.
As the song ended, I thanked Al and he told me “Stick around - we’re
going to do Shine A Light.” I thanked him and took my place again up
front. I think it was Raoul Hernandez from the Austin Chronicle
who helped me down from the stage and I remember saying something
stupid like, “Holy shit!” or “Oh my God!” Two more songs and Shine A
Light came up and Al looked down at me as he said, “We’re gonna need
some backup on this one,” and this time he pointed at me and waived me
up. He told me to introduce myself and then he called for the crowd to
give me a hand. It was sweet of him to say the least.
The song started, Al began to sing and my skin was covered in
goosebumps. This was unlike any experience I had known yet on stage. I
can’t explain it really, but it certainly is a credit to Alejandro’s
level of talent and cool. As the chorus approached he looked over to me
and I let out the best chorus I had in me and I was lost in the moment.
Thank God that DaveTV.org
was there to film it all and snap pics. It’s times like these that I never ever
want to forget.
By Nakia Reynoso
http://nakia.net/2009/09/29/nakia-sings-with-alejandro-escovedo-buick-mackane/
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Sunday, September 27, 2009
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I
didn’t get the license number of the vehicle that plowed me over
Saturday at the Hole In the Wall, but I got a make and model: Buick
MacKane. Have these guys, who have played only a couple shows in the
past five years, been secretly practicing for months? That was one of
the best rock n’ roll club shows I’ve seen in a long time, as the
four-piece turned the Drag into the Bowery.
Although Alejandro Escovedo is the frontman of this marrow-massaging
‘90s garage/ glam rock band, drummer Glenn Benavides (ex- Doctors Mob)
is the driver, thundering in such relentless manner that Escovedo
called him “the Mexican John Bonham” and nobody laughed.
It was Benavides’ birthday and he blew out, no, moved enough air, to
extinguish the candles on a set that mixed revved-up Escovedo oldies
(“The End,” “Gravity,” “She Got”), with glittery classics (“All the
Young Dudes”) and Buick originals (“Queen Anne”). Just like the old
days, bassist Dave Fairchild stepped up to deliver “Supersonic” by
Oasis, an unlikely cover for these louts.
There are at least two Alejandros. One is the socially-conscious
rock poet in touch with his inner self. Another one is the
guy from Buick, who asked “Wasn’t that (expletive) great?” after
opening number “The End” and talked trash between the nuggets that
didn’t rub together. (Band of Heathens has replaced Poi Dog Pondering
as this year’s whipping boys). A Buick show is like Halloween without
the costumes: you get to be what you really want to be for a night. In
Escovedo’s case, that’s the midpoint between Johnny Thunders and Don
Rickles.
With the extremely underrated Joe Eddy Hines trading guitar licks
with Escovedo, Thin Lizzy style, this was the kind of show that made
you feel 20 years younger. The packed audience of about 200 was
definitely reliving glory years, especially on a version of “Loose”
that, here comes the blasphemy, at least equaled the Stooges original.
And that’s Iggy’s best song!
The cover was $3. The music was as loud and loose and full of
swagger as in the band’s heyday, when they rocked the Hole as hard as
it’s ever been rocked.
Anyone who still questions that Austin is the live music capital of the world wasn’t at the Hole Saturday night.
By Michael Corcoran - austin360.com
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