See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Danielle Furfaro
Brooklyn Daily
Prospect Park is far from the desert, but for one night this summer, the sounds of the arid southwest will pulse through Brooklyn.
Calexico, the standard bearer of indie rock played through the lens of spaghetti westerns, mariachi and 1950s jazz, will hit the stage on June 15 in one of the first Celebrate Brooklyn shows of the season.
Calexico fits in with other moody, world-music influenced groups like Beirut, the National, and Black Heart Procession. The band plays intricately-composed atmospheric songs with narratives steeped in Americana that sound like they were born next to a tumbleweed.
For their latest album “Algiers” the band holed up in a recording studio in an old church by the Mississippi River in New Orleans. Their latest album is named after a neighborhood in that mythic city.
“We let the vibe of the place and being that close to the river makes its way into the record,” said drummer John Convertino. “It gets in your bones.”
Guitarist Joey Burns and Convertino formed Calexico in 1995 after working with a handful of alt-country bands. At first, they worked with a cadre of studio and touring musicians but now they have a steady lineup that includes stand-up bass, keyboards, and horns.
Convertino said he is influenced by early 20th century jazz and country music, while Burns is obsessed with world music.
“Anywhere we go around the world, the first thing he wants to do is find the record store and hear what the local musicians are doing,” Convertino said of Burns.
The band often brings guests onstage with them, especially to tackle many of their Spanish language songs. This time, they will have Spanish signer and guitarist Jairo Zavala, who also goes by Depedro.
Calexico with Susana Baca and Radio Jarocho & Akoko Nante Ensemble at the Prospect Park bandshell [Ninth Street and Prospect Park West in Park Slope. (718) 683–5600]. June 15, 7 pm, $3 suggested.
Reach reporter Danielle Furfaro at dfurfaro@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2511. Follow her at twitter.com/DanielleFurfaro.