Calexico

Yeah! Talk about some good old fashioned 90’s Southwest Indie Americana. Calexico was spectacular the other night at The Queens Hall. So good, in fact, that at times you almost forget that Britney Spears ever existed and instead fall under the impression that grunge rock is still on the radio, people care about global warming, Clinton is the prez, and it’s still cool to go to a liberal art college and major in philosophy (I don’t think it is anymore… aren’t “Media Studies” and “International Affairs” the new hip majors?).

Calexico brings us a Mexican American subculture of cheap tacos in dark cafes and old cadillacs lingering around back alleys. Combine this with lost, hip adults lurking around Tucson coffeeshops and railing against the government (remember that movie The Tao of Steve? People like that), and you’ve got Calexico–a welcome injection of grassroots international diplomacy from the days before “neocons.”

Oh, did I mention that they can play? They are gnarly musicians and come with a full band, launching into retro 50’s noir or upbeat mariachi.

Great show!