Sunday, August 19, 2012

Alejandro Escovedo @ Bimbo's 8/16

We got back into town last week in time to catch Alejandro Escovedo's show at Bimbo's in San Francisco on Thursday. I've been a die hard Escovedo fan since seeing him six years ago at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass where I was completely captivated by his live show, which encapsulates his punk roots, sensitive songwriting and rock and roll swagger. At Bimbo's, he and the latest incarnation of his band The Sensitive Boys was especially tight from nonstop touring behind his latest release "Big Station." The CD includes more standout tracks including Sally Was a Cop and San Antonio Rain (video below, albeit  from a recent Austin performance rather than SF). The disc, like his past two "Real Animal" and "Street Songs of Love" was co written with SF's own Chuck Prophet, who came onstage late in the show to sing Always a Friend. That song is usually a rocker, but tonight the band came out from behind their instruments to stand at the lip of the stage and sing accompanied only by hand claps and a bit of percussion. Suddenly the rock and roll band was a boys choir, Escovdeo and Prophet sharing a mic and trading verses to access the sweetness of the song as well as the swagger ("But if I do you wrong, take the master suite, I'll take the floor Sleep in late, get your rest, I'll catch up on mine Still be your lover, baby, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh"). It was truly a special moment. Escovedo, who is from Texas, has deep roots in the Bay Area, having lived here and been on the punk scene in the 70s with his band The Nuns. While I was surprised the venue wasn't sold out (but then again it was a Thursday in SF), it was clear that everyone in the club was a true fan, riveted to the action on stage and singing along as much as possible. I've never not enjoyed Escovedo's bands, which often includes string sections and back up singers, and this one is no exception, and exceptionally fierce (except when they're singing without instruments). Bolstered by the blistering guitar of Billy White (whose got some metal and some flamenco in his blood), these guys simply rock hard. By the end of the evening, with Prophet onstage jamming along on closing numbers including Real Animal and Neil Young's Like a Hurricane the sound was downright ferocious.
 

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