Calexico, DePedro, Wagons @The Hi-Fi, Brisbane(02/03/2010)

Tue 9th Mar, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Apologies to The Fumes, as the ironing of country shirt, downing of beer and general pfaffery hindered this reviewer’s punctuality.

Henry Wagons, dressed as the Jack Black of country music, announces in a quintessentially Australian accent that the wet coupled with humidity that fogs his glasses and makes him look more of a “dork, nerd” than he really is, is “not fucken appreciated, Brisbane. Not wanting to be a whiney arsehole,” he insists he’s having a great time and leads Wagons into their second track Love Me Like I Love You which sounds like a colaboration between Sixfthick and Nick Cave.

Straight outta Melbourne, fresh from Falls and BDO, the band are tight as fuck, driving, stomping country rock at it’s best. Guitarist ‘Iron’ Jeff Maiden on his big red hollow body shreds through Drive All Night Till Dawn. The gruff plodding of Man Sold is bookended by covers of Elvis’ Never Been To Spain and Melbourne band Wayfaring Strangers’ Willie Nelson.

The sinister fun of latest single Goodtown is the predictable closer, ending with four-part a cappella that is perfect until the last laughable note, which Henry shrugs off with a “We’ve been Wagons, seeya later!”

Jairo Zavala – a Spanish guy with bad chops and a sexy guitar announces he’s the warmup for Calexico.

His voice is strong, he’s easy to look at and his simple guitar-strum accompaniment to his Spanish tunes are enjoyable. He brings a pedal steel player on board for the second track, adding more country to the tunes.

Two songs in, the remaining five members of Calexico march onstage to flesh out DePedro ’s flawless set, with highlights Comanche, Equivocado and Two Parts In One.

After what one imagines to be a bottle of tequila being downed backstage, the band return intact but with a decidedly different flavour – one that is wholly Calexico’s. The same instruments are used to different, more volatile and dynamic effect – trumpets, vibraphone, and gorgeous trumpets compliment the breathy vocals frontman Joey Burns.

Burns’ guitar is decked out better than a tourist bus to Las Vegas, his blue shirt just as gawdy. And while the band are a mismatched lot to look at, the aural output is a cohesive mesh of Americana, Creole, Mariachi, straight up Latin, madness, measured chaos and honest story telling.

Multi-instrumentalist Martin Wenk cuts an awkward shape on guitar and John Convertino ‘s furious traditional grip drumming gives momentum to a rollicking cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart. Trumpet and vibes player Jacob Valenzuela belts out the most incredible whistle solo to rapturous applause on a new track.

Crystal Frontier, Two Silver Trees and Victor Jara’s Hands are shimmering melodic flickers in a solid set of Calexico favourites. In what seems to be a renaissance of genuinely musical, no-gimmick acts passing through town, tonight’s lineup is stellar, and Calexico rightfully shine brightest.