Act One: The Cave Singers
(Contributed by Nicole, who was able to get to the show on time.)
In the increasingly crowded Indie-rock scene, The Cave Singers stand out as a talented, enjoyable group. Why they are called the Cave Singers is a mystery, since only one member sings. Playing in their home town of Seattle, The Cave Singers had great rapport with the crowd despite the number of folks arriving late to the show. The opening two songs reminded me of a cross between the Barenaked Ladies and Rusted Root; from there they changed gears, all moving to guitar to play rhythms reminiscent of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Though their sound isn't particularly unique, it's certainly catchy. Lucky for them, I am a sucker for the harmonica, which Pete Quirk played almost as well as John Popper.
Act Two: Calexico
(Contributed by Stephanie, who was unable to get to the show on time.)
Running into the Moore Theatre rather late on Friday night, I witnessed an uncommon scene in the live music world: other than a few ushers, absolutely no one was loitering outside the theater. There was no one talking on their cellphone, no one taking a smoke break, no one quarreling with their significant other. It was actually a little disconcerting, and for a moment I thought that I had missed the entire show, until I heard the faint notes of a trumpet coming from inside.
This was my first time seeing Calexico and the last time that I would ever doubt the loyalty of their fans. Having remained popular for so many years, released several albums, and still packing out venues such as the historic (and notoriously haunted) Moore Theatre, I should've known better. Though the core of Calexico is made up of the Tucson-based members, Joey Burns and John Convertino, they have picked up a rather large touring entourage who have added their talents on horns, pedal steel, accordion and vibes, among other instruments. All this to produce a sound that blends several early forms of American popular music such as folk, jazz, and country with a whole lot of Latin flavor.
As corny as it sounds, once I found a seat, I closed my tired eyes and let their seamless sound overwhelm my senses. Calexico's music was as beautiful and haunting as the venue they played in. Though a newbie to their sound, I was made acutely aware of their great admiration for their Southwestern roots. Their performance was rich and alluring; some songs seemed like they could be played as the backdrop to an old Western cinema - especially during "Roka" where the guitar picking and languid sounds of the percussion where so colorful it was as if I could see a dusty ghost town with two outlaws about to have a shootout.
The even more subtle, "Two Silver Trees" from their latest album Carried to Dust, was masterfully performed with the incredibly romantic vocal style of Joey Burns. While several of Calexico's songs were melancholy and almost delicate in nature, they turned the tide dramatically about halfway through their set with a number of Spanish dance numbers including "Guero Canelo" and "Crystal Frontiers" which got everyone moving. The compactness of the seats made it rather hard for people to get their full groove on, prompting several to leave their seats and spill into the aisles. Some brave souls even practiced their Flamenco skills (I use that term lightly). But the energy was addictive and everyone seemed to be having a grand ol' time.
At the end of the show, all the guys put their arms around each other and took a bow to thunderous applause, a sure sign that Calexico, even after all these years, is far from slowing down.
