OK, Howe was doing his thing and John and Joey seemed to have kind of spun off Calexico as an occasional gig, besides doing things like playing behind the great Richard Buckner, etc. Those of us who are from Tucson and remember the heyday of Giant Sand(worms...OK, now I'm showing my age!) miss the good ol' days, but Calexico has turned out to be just as awesome, if not moreso! Calexico's eclectic blends of music capture the crazy blend of cultures that come together here in the Old Pueblo, so in a way Calexico seems to reflect Congress Street meets South Sixth Avenue, with a detour through Barrio Anita (grab me some tortillas at the Anita Street Bakery while you're there...ok, so it's a Tucson thing, y'all...). Calexico is a great band...with potential for GREATNESS (if it matters).
Jac from Tucson
tucsondeadhead@yahoo.com
db.etree.org/tucsondeadhead

From Calexico's archives - this one is a great early 2-piece set - the roots of today's Calexico.

Enjoy

Comments from the original taper:

I hope everyone is enjoying the new show Jim posted on archive.org. Jim did a wonderful job cleaning up the DAT I recorded that night. I am really glad he posted this show so everyone can hear how different and great it was back then. I am not sure if anyone else on this list was there that night, so I thought I would post a little more about the show.

I had been a fan of Giant Sand and then I saw Calexico play at the SXSW festival in 1997. I was blown away by both bands at the festival and began buying the whole Giant Sand catalog and the first Calexico (I think they were called Spoke then?) LP from Joey through mailorder. I was really excited when I saw they would be opening for the Dirty Three in the Northwest in the spring of '98. Armed with my DAT I made my way up to the Showbox in Seattle the first night and got to be the "Calexico" roadie that night. I already had my ticket, but it was cool to get in early and hang out with John, Joey, and Warren from the Dirty Three. I really liked the Showbox, for it wasn't too full, and everyone who worked there was so nice. Calexico played a great set, that was much different than the night later in Portland (maybe we can post this one sometime in the future too!).

The Portland show posted was at the late, great, famous portland club, The Satyricon. I have great memories of this place and miss it, even though it was a dive and the heat in the summer was often unbearable. The Dirty Three/Calexico show that night was one of those nights. My friend Miki (who is now my wife), swears even the walls were sweating that night. Satyricon rarely sold shows in advance so you had to line up for popular nights with the hopes of getting in. The Dirty Three already had a loyal following so Calexico played to a full house that night. The show was as good as it sounds. John and Joey won over the crowd and gained many new fans that night. I actually left after their set and didn't stay for the Dirty Three for the sweat was dripping off my chin and Miki was feeling like she was going to pass out.

After those shows I have traveled far to see Calexico play in many cities. My favorite show, which we can post sometime in the future, was when they opened for the first ever Lambchop show on the west coast in San Francisco in January of 1999. That was the first time I saw them not as a duo, but they had members of lambchop and amor belhom duo filling out their band. I was blown away. Calexico and amor belhom duo then played as members of Lambchop for their set later that night.

I love the Calexico band now and the music they make really moves me still. But as a duo, it was a whole nother beast. So I hope everyone gets a chance to hear the show. It is really special to me and I am so glad Jim was able to polish it up and make it available to everyone.

Enjoy
Erik

Calexico is now on my list of bands to see. Great sound quality. Thanks to the archivist.