Calexico
Calexico is an indie rock band from Tucson, Arizona. Blending other musical genres like country and folk, many of their lyrics deal with the social and political issues facing bordertowns in the southwest.
Fast Facts
- Origin: Tucson, Arizona
- Years active: 1996-Present
- First recorded under the name Spoke
- Band named after the bordertown of Calexico, California
- Core members: Joey Burns and John Convertino
Background
Comprised of two core members, Joey Burns and John Convertino, Calexico's beginnings were rooted in another band called Giant Sands that formed in California and moved to Tucson in 1994. While Burns was attending school in Irvine, he met Convertino, who was playing drums for Giant Sands, and joined the band.
After relocating to Tucson, the two formed a side project, Friends of Dean Martin, which later became the Friends of Dean Martinez. After relationships with that band became rocky in 1996, Joey Burns and John Convertino formed Calexico. Ultimately, Calexico began to take priority over Giant Sands and both Burns and Convertino parted ways with the band to concentrate on Calexico full-time.
In the Public Eye
Through the years, Calexico has gradually gained more recognition, having collaborated with such artists as Iron and Wine, Barbara Manning, Richard Buckner, and Victoria Williams. They have often taken part in music festivals, including making annual appearances at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, All Tomorrow's Parties, and the Hurricane Festival. They have also backed up such bands as Pavement, Lambchop, and the Dirty Three.
I'm Not There
In 2006, Calexico spent time in Montreal, Canada, recording music with Willie Nelson, Sam Beam of Iron and Wine, and Jim James of My Morning Jacket for the I'm Not There Soundtrack. Five of Calexico's covers of Bob Dylan songs were featured on the album, as well as an iTunes bonus track. The band also took part in an I'm Not There benefit concert held November 7, 2007 at the Beacon Theater in New York City alongside such artists as The Roots, Eddie Vedder and fellow collaborators Willie Nelson and Iron and Wine.
Studio Albums
- 1997: Spoke
- 1998: The Black Light
- 2000: The Hot Rail
- 2003: Feast of Wire
- 2006: Garden Ruin
- 2008: Carried to Dust
EP's
- 2001: Even My Sure Things Fall Through
- 2004: Convict Pool
- 2004: Black Heart
- 2005: In The Reins with Iron and Wine
New Music Releases
Related Pages on Mahalo
Will Oldham | Neko Case | M. Ward | Iron and Wine | Yo La Tengo | Wilco | Friends of Dean Martinez | My Morning Jacket | Camera Obscura | I'm Not There | I'm Not There Soundtrack
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