My general rule when seeing anyone at the Kentish Town Forum is that they’re actually about 20% better (at least, that is) than they sound because for some reason there is always something a little off about the sound quality in that place. And so, with that in mind: I think Calexico may be one of the most talented groups of musicians the industry is lucky enough to have around right now
From the opening track they grew to create the most awe inspiring noise, with each song getting bigger and bigger until finally climaxing somewhere around the brilliant Love cover; Alone, Again, Or with a most tremendous, plump and firm cushion of musical duck feathered delight. Song after song fell into each other seamlessly, my ears party to a fusion of traditional American folk rock and the samba rhythms of Spanish trumpets, belting out a carnival into the dark, intensely packed and very overheated crowd below. Each of the bands 7 members are in there own right immensely talented and tonight showcased in a rather blinding spectacle of musical ability.
So it was pretty good, like. They cram the best bits of Iron and Wine in with Devandra Banhart and top it off with some Ojos de Brujo for good measure. Joey Burns, at times, sounds rather like Rufus Wainwright with his dancing shoes on after a couple of Sambucca's.
They have an energy and a passion for music that just bursts from the stage and dazzles the audience to the point where you cant help but lose yourself in the rhythm. It's really quite refreshing to see a band so musically in tune and so entirely faultless.
The Forum on the other hand has my vote as the worst venue in London, its too hot and the sound is generally awful, but tonight that didn’t matter a dime. Calexico were on fire, I was pretty steamed up and the roof was raised to the rather dizzying heights of musical excellence.
Posted In Live Reviews, Oct 12 2008.
Words - Rebecca