Hubbry Logo
Calexico (band)Calexico (band)Main
Open search
Calexico (band)
Community hub
Calexico (band)
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Calexico (band)
Calexico (band)
Calexico (band)
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Zelt-Musik-Festival 2016

Key Information

Calexico is an American indie rock band based in Tucson, Arizona.[2][3][4] Founded in 1996, the band's two main members, Joey Burns and John Convertino, first played together in Los Angeles as part of the group Giant Sand. They have recorded a number of albums on Quarterstick Records and City Slang, and their 2005 EP, In the Reins, recorded with Iron & Wine, reached the Billboard 200 album charts. Their musical style is influenced by traditional Latin sounds of mariachi, conjunto, cumbia, and tejano mixed with country, jazz, and post-rock.

The band is named for the border town of Calexico, California, and has been described by some as "desert noir".[5]

History

[edit]

Formation

[edit]
Joey Burns

Calexico had its origins in 1990 when Joey Burns, who was studying music at the University of California, Irvine, met up with John Convertino, who was playing drums with Howe Gelb in Giant Sand. Burns also joined Giant Sand,[2] after first playing upright bass on a European tour.[citation needed]

Around this time, Burns and Convertino also played in the Friends of Dean Martinez along with Bill Elm.[2] This group signed a record deal with Sub Pop. However, the pair split up with Bill Elm, the co-founder of The Friends of Dean Martinez in 1996.[citation needed] The band subsequently became a kind of indie rhythm section for hire, working with the likes of Victoria Williams, Bill Janovitz, Barbara Manning and Richard Buckner before forming Calexico.

Calexico first recorded Spoke in 1995 for German independent label Hausmusik with a limited edition of 2,000 copies. At that point the band was still called Spoke and the album was technically self-titled. After the band signed with Quarterstick Records (a subsidiary of Touch and Go Records) and changed their name to Calexico, Spoke was reissued by that label in 1997. Burns and Convertino also collaborated with Gelb and Lisa Germano on the album Slush released under the name OP8 that same year.[citation needed]

Early years (1998 - 2005)

[edit]

Their second album, The Black Light, was released in 1998. This was a concept album about the desert of Arizona and northern Mexico and received excellent reviews, with the critic from the Wall Street Journal rating it as one of the best records of the year.

The band built their profile by touring as support acts for bands such as Pavement, the Dirty Three and Lambchop. Calexico has regularly played festivals such as the Bonnaroo Music Festival, the Hurricane Festival and All Tomorrow's Parties. The Road Map album was a limited recording released in 1999 for sale only at Calexico's live shows.

Calexico released its third album Hot Rail in May 2000 featuring the addition of horns and violin to their sound. The duo was busy in 2000 as they also appeared on a Giant Sand record called Chore of Enchantment as well as a tour only record Travelall.

At the end of 2000, Burns and Convertino joined with two French friends Naïm Amor and Thomas Belhôm to record "Tête A Tête" (Wabana Records, 2001) released under moniker ABBC (Amor/Belhom/Burns/Convertino). Calexico released two collections of rarities during 2001. Even My Sure Things Fall Through collected outtakes from previous albums, B-sides, remixes and material previously unreleased in the US. The album also featured Mariachi Luz de Luna who frequently played live with the duo. The Aerocalexico album was sold exclusively at their gigs in 2001. Their songs "Ballad Of Cable Hogue" and "Service And Repair" were featured in the 2001 German comedy movie Lammbock.

Calexico released Feast of Wire in 2003. The album is considered their breakthrough album; further, it was praised by Mojo.[citation needed]

Garden Ruin to Edge of the Sun (2006 to 2017)

[edit]

Released in 2006, Garden Ruin is Calexico's fifth studio album and was produced by JD Foster. The sound strays slightly from earlier works, focusing less on the horn section and placing more emphasis on guitar and vocal tracks, giving the whole album a more contemporary Indie sound.

Their sixth studio LP is called Carried to Dust, featuring Sam Beam of Iron & Wine, Douglas McCombs of Tortoise and Pieta Brown. It was released in the US via Touch & Go Records on September 9, 2008.[6] The album was positively reviewed.[7] On October 16, 2008, a three-song live acoustic video performance premiered on LiveDaily Sessions, featuring Joey Burns performing the songs "Two Silver Trees", "Writer's Minor Holiday" and "Man Made Lake."[8] In 2009, the song "Banderilla" was featured in an episode of AMC's Breaking Bad.[9]

In 2010, Calexico released the soundtrack of the documentary Circo. The band also spent part of 2010 touring with Arcade Fire along the US west coast. In May 2011, their song "Slowness" was dedicated by Gabby Giffords to her husband astronaut Mark Kelly as the wake up song aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on its final flight.[10] Algiers was released 11 September 2012 on Anti-Records and City Slang (Europe). Algiers is titled after the neighborhood of New Orleans where it was recorded, Algiers, New Orleans. This was Calexico's seventh studio album.

In April 2013, Calexico released the album Edge of the Sun. The album features guest appearances by Neko Case, Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), Gaby Moreno, Carla Morrison and members of the Greek instrumental group Takim.[11] Burns commented how happy he was to work with Sergio Mendoza on writing the songs for the album. Mendoza also co-produced the album along with Burns and Convertino.[12] This album was also released on Anti-Records. In 2016, the band performed on the main stage at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival.[13]

The Thread That Keeps Us (2018 to present)

[edit]

In 2018, Calexico released The Thread That Keeps Us. The album was recorded in Northern California in a home-turned-studio called Panoramic House. The band called this space “The Phantom Ship”.[14] The album was co-produced by their longtime engineer Craig Schumacher. Calexico and Schumacher recruited musicians from all across the globe to find an earthy yet expansive sound.[15] “There's a little more chaos and noise in the mix than what we've done in the past,” Burns points out.[14] The rugged coastline of northern California impacted the making of The Thread That Keeps Us.[14] This sound is heard throughout the album. The album was released by Anti-Records and City Slang on January 26, 2018.[14]

The Thread That Keeps Us was #2 on the Alternative Albums retail chart and #5 on the Americana / Folk Chart in the USA in its first week of sales (Billboard).[16] The Thread That Keeps Us also entered the charts in Europe at #7 in Germany, #13 in Belgium, #21 in Netherlands, #47 in France, #58 in the United Kingdom, and #60 in Italy.

On March 21, 2019, Calexico and Iron & Wine announced Years to Burn, their first full-length collaboration album. It was released on June 14, 2019 via Sub Pop.[17]

Then, on December 4, 2020, they released their eleventh album Seasonal Shift via Anti- and City Slang.[18]

In February 2022, Calexico announced that their thirteenth studio album, El Mirador, would be released on April 8, 2022.[19]

The band reissued and toured Feast of Wire in 2023; the album's twentieth anniversary.[2][20]

Members

[edit]

Current members

[edit]
  • Joey Burns (1996–present)[2] – vocals, guitars, bass, cello, piano, keyboards, accordion, percussion, vibraphone
  • John Convertino (1996–present)[2] – drums
  • Jacob Valenzuela – trumpet, vocals, keyboards, vibraphone
  • Martin Wenk – trumpet, guitar, keyboards, accordion, glockenspiel, vibraphone, theremin, vocals (occasionally harmonica & French horn)
  • Scott Colberg – standup bass, electric bass
  • Sergio Mendoza[12] – keyboards, accordion, percussion

Touring members

[edit]
  • Jairo Zavala (2013) – bouzouki, baritone guitar, vocals
  • Ryan Alfred (2013) – bass, vocals
  • Brian Lopez (2018, 2022–24) – guitar, vocals

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Calexico discography

Albums

[edit]

EPs

[edit]

Soundtracks

[edit]

Live

[edit]
  • Scraping (2002)
  • World Drifts In (2004)
  • Ancienne Belgique (2008)
  • Spiritoso (2013)
  • Ancienne Belgique Vol. 2 (2013)

Critical acclaim

[edit]

Their debut album Spoke received three stars from AllMusic, which called the album "a Santa Fe rummage sale of sounds."[22] Their second album The Black Light, released in 1998, gained the band notoriety and attention. AllMusic praised this sophomore effort and gave the album 4.5 stars. The album was praised for being "deeper and richer than their debut."[23]

Hot Rail was released in 2000 and continued off the success of previous albums. Pitchfork gave the album a 7.9.[24] The band then took a brief hiatus and released their next studio album in 2003, Feast of Wire. The album received an 8.9 from Pitchfork, which described it as "the album we always knew they had in them but feared they would never make."[25]

Feast of Wire was well received by Mojo, describing the 2003 album as, “Seductive, stirring songs about crushed hope and the corruption of beauty and some of their most ambitious arrangements make this their most fully-realised and accomplished album”.[citation needed]

Again after another hiatus, Calexico returned in 2006 with Garden Ruin. Amazon gave their album a 90/100 and described it as "what Sigur Ros might sound like if they came from Arizona, and it's truly excellent."[26] In 2008, came Carried to Dust. By now Calexico was already established as a band who meticulously created beautiful albums. This success continued with Carried to Dust receiving 4.5 stars from AllMusic. Describing the album as "their most balanced, channeling their experience and potential into a subtly dramatic, chiaroscuro tour de force."[27]

2012 was a busy year for Calexico, giving birth to a new album titled Algiers. The A.V. Club gave the album an A−.[28] Another studio album came in 2015; titled Edge of the Sun. This album also received high ranks from reviewers. Rough Trade called it the twenty-first best album of 2015.[29] Their next studio album came in 2018, The Thread That Keeps Us. Exclaim! rated the album a 4 out of 10.[30]

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Calexico (band)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Calexico is an American band formed in 1996 by multi-instrumentalists Joey Burns and John Convertino, known for their eclectic blend of roots music influences including , , , , and sounds, often evoking the cultural landscapes of the American Southwest and the U.S.-Mexico border. The band's name derives from the California-Mexico border town of Calexico, reflecting their thematic focus on borderland mythology, migration, and cross-cultural fusion. Originally a duo based in , after meeting in , Calexico evolved into a collaborative ensemble incorporating global musicians and diverse instrumentation such as , , , and . Burns and Convertino, who first played together in the band , established Calexico as a vehicle for their cinematic, atmospheric compositions, drawing from influences like Ennio Morricone's film scores, Portuguese fado, 1950s jazz, and artists such as and . Their debut album, Spoke (1996), marked an intimate, instrumental-leaning start with dusty, evocative tones recorded in Tucson. Subsequent releases expanded their scope, with The Black Light (1998) introducing more songwriting depth and elements, followed by Hot Rail (2000), Feast of Wire (2003)—a critical favorite blending noir ballads and upbeat rhythms, reissued in a 20th anniversary deluxe edition in 2023—and Garden Ruin (2006), their first to chart on the Billboard 200. Over nearly three decades, Calexico has released ten studio albums, including the politically charged Carried to Dust (2008), the exploratory (2012), and their most recent studio album, (2022), a hopeful collection of rock, blues, and Latin American styles recorded amid the , featuring collaborators like and Jairo Zavala. In 2025, they released the collaborative single "Two Parts in One (Cruce de Caminos)" with Depedro (Jairo Zavala). The band has built a reputation for relentless touring and live recordings, such as the Road Atlas series (1998–2011), while fostering collaborations with artists including , , and , cementing their role in the alt-country and Americana scenes. Core members Burns (vocals, guitar, bass, various strings and keys) and Convertino (drums, percussion) continue to lead, often joined by longtime contributors like Sergio Mendoza (keys, ) and a rotating ensemble that includes trumpeter Martin Wenk and bassist Volker Zander.

History

Formation and early releases (1996–2000)

Calexico was formed in 1996 in Tucson, Arizona, by multi-instrumentalist Joey Burns and drummer John Convertino, who had previously collaborated as the rhythm section in the band Giant Sand from 1990 to 1995. Their time in Giant Sand, based initially in Los Angeles before relocating to Tucson, laid the groundwork for their enduring creative partnership. Drawing from the desert landscapes and cultural sounds of the Southwest, Burns and Convertino began experimenting with a blend of indie rock, country, and Latin elements under the name Calexico, inspired by the border town near the California-Mexico divide. The duo recorded their debut album, Spoke, in November and December 1995 at their homes in Tucson using an eight-track setup, resulting in a raw, lo-fi aesthetic that captured their early experimental . Initially released in a limited edition of 2,000 copies by the German label Hausmusik in 1996, the album was reissued in the United States by Quarterstick Records on , 1997. Tracks like "Sanchez" and "Glimpse" showcased sparse instrumentation, including acoustic guitars and subtle percussion, reflecting the band's nascent interest in atmospheric, borderland textures without polished production. Building on this foundation, Calexico's second album, The Black Light, arrived on May 19, 1998, via Quarterstick Records, recorded primarily at Wavelab Studios in Tucson with additional home sessions. The release marked a notable toward more refined arrangements, incorporating Latin rhythms, , and desert noir vibes, which earned early critical acclaim for its evocative mood and instrumentation. Though it did not achieve significant commercial chart success, the album's reception in indie circles helped establish Calexico's reputation for genre-blending innovation. In 2000, the band released Hot Rail on Quarterstick Records, further expanding their sonic palette with additions like horns, , and , as heard in tracks such as "El Picador" and "Ballad of Cable Hogue." Recorded at various Tucson locations, the album's fuller, cinematic quality supported extensive touring across and , fostering a dedicated indie fanbase through live performances that highlighted their improvisational energy. During this formative period, Burns and Convertino also contributed tracks to the for the 2000 film Committed, including pieces that aligned with their emerging style.

Breakthrough and mid-period (2001–2012)

In 2002, Calexico released the live album Scraping, recorded primarily at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall on January 12, 2002, which captured the band's raw early energy through a mix of instrumental tracks and songs from their initial releases, including collaborations with ensemble Luz de Vida. The album highlighted the evolving chemistry between core members Joey Burns and John Convertino, showcasing their ability to blend improvisation with Southwestern motifs in a concert setting. The band's breakthrough came with the 2003 studio album Feast of Wire, released on Quarterstick Records, which marked a significant artistic maturation and garnered widespread critical acclaim as their first "genuinely masterful full-length," praised for its immediate songcraft and mood shifts. Tracks like "Quattro (World Drifts In)" emerged as standout singles, contributing to the album's commercial success, including a peak at No. 71 on the and No. 23 on the chart. Following its release, Calexico embarked on extensive international tours and festival appearances, such as their set at the Music and Arts Festival, solidifying their growing recognition beyond indie circles. By 2006, Calexico shifted to a more song-oriented approach with Garden Ruin, their first full-band studio effort on Quarterstick Records, emphasizing vocal-driven compositions and evolving songwriting that drew praise for its melodic country-rock elements and emotional depth. Critics noted the album's departure from earlier instrumental epics toward accessible, jangly tracks like "Cruel" and "Yours and Mine," reflecting the band's maturation while retaining Southwestern influences. The 2008 album Carried to Dust, also on Quarterstick Records, further expanded their collaborative spirit with guest appearances from artists including Sam Beam of on tracks like "Two Silver Trees," alongside Douglas McCombs and Pieta Brown, enhancing its textured Americana sound. Recorded at Tucson’s WaveLab Studio, the release prompted robust touring across and the , where the band performed at major venues and festivals, building on their established fanbase. In 2012, Calexico signed with Anti- Records and released Algiers, inspired by a recording residency in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans at The Living Room Studio, a converted church that infused the sessions with a sense of displacement and cultural crossroads. The album's thematic focus on global migration and movement—evident in songs like "Epic" and "Sinner in the Sea"—drew from the band's Tucson and the post-Katrina resilience of New Orleans, exploring universal narratives of transition through layered instrumentation and storytelling. This period capped a decade of increasing acclaim, with Algiers receiving positive reviews for its atmospheric depth and the duo's songwriting prowess.

Later career and collaborations (2013–present)

Calexico's ninth studio album, Edge of the Sun, was released in April 2015 on Anti- Records, marking a period of creative expansion as the band wrote and recorded across various locations including ; ; and . The album featured prominent collaborations, including contributions from on vocals for "Beneath the Valley Floor," Iron & Wine's Sam Beam on "Falling from the Sky," and ' on "Tapping on the Glass," blending the band's signature desert rock with indie and Latin influences. This release showcased Calexico's maturing sound, evolving from their earlier indie roots into a more globally inspired fusion. In 2018, Calexico returned with The Thread That Keeps Us, their tenth studio album, released on January 26 via Anti- Records, which addressed social and political themes such as , environmental concerns, and human resilience amid division. Tracks like "Voices in the Field" and "End of the World with You" reflected these motifs through introspective lyrics and atmospheric instrumentation, drawing from the band's experiences in California's . The album supported extensive touring, including U.S. dates starting in and a European leg that fall, allowing the band to connect with audiences on these pressing issues. Building on their prior collaboration, Calexico joined forces with for the full-length album , released on June 14, 2019, via Records, which expanded upon the 2005 EP In the Reins by integrating Sam Beam's folk sensibilities with Calexico's rhythmic, border-crossing arrangements. The project featured eight tracks emphasizing themes of time, loss, and renewal, recorded in Tucson with contributions from both bands' core members, resulting in a loose, collaborative sound that toured and in support. Amid the , Calexico released their first holiday album, Seasonal Shift, on December 4, 2020, via Anti- Records, presenting a multicultural collection of end-of-year songs that transcended traditional fare to include global seasonal traditions like "Mi Burrito Sabanero" and originals such as "Hear the Bells." Recorded remotely and featuring guests like Nick Urata, the album offered solace during isolation, complemented by virtual performances and live-streamed sets that maintained fan engagement without in-person tours. The band's eleventh studio album, , arrived on April 8, 2022, through Anti- Records, embracing a kaleidoscopic rock style that wove , Mexican folk, bluesy Americana, and psychedelic elements into tracks like "Harness the Wind" and " Peninsula." Led by Joey Burns and John Convertino, the record highlighted Calexico's adaptability, incorporating improvisation and diverse instrumentation to create a hopeful, borderless sonic landscape reflective of their post-pandemic introspection. In 2023, Calexico marked the 20th anniversary of their seminal 2003 album Feast of Wire with a deluxe on May 26 via Anti- Records, featuring a remastered original, a bonus track cover of Love's "," and a previously unreleased live album from 2003 titled More Cowboys & Indians.. The reissue was promoted through a U.S. tour in August, where the band performed the full album alongside other material, celebrating their enduring influence in indie and Americana scenes. In 2024, they appeared at the Folkest festival in on July 17. Calexico toured in February 2025 as a trio, commencing on February 4 in , , with unique double performances in select cities to showcase their improvisational energy. In October 2025, the band performed at the grand opening of Tucson's La Rosa venue on October 17 and 18. As of November 2025, no new studio projects have been publicly announced, though the band continues to emphasize and in their ongoing activities.

Musical style and influences

Genre fusion and instrumentation

Calexico's music is characterized by a distinctive fusion of Americana and folk traditions with Latin American styles such as , , tejano, and , further incorporating elements of , , and to create a borderland sound reflective of their roots. This blending draws from the cultural interplay of the American Southwest and , resulting in rhythms that evoke both rustic folk ballads and upbeat Latin dances, often layered with atmospheric textures and improvisational phrasing. Over their career, this genre fusion has evolved through experimentation shaped by their collaborative history, allowing for fluid integration of diverse sonic palettes. Central to their instrumentation is the core rhythm section of Joey Burns on multi-instruments including guitar, bass, accordion, and vibraphone, paired with John Convertino's drumming and percussion work, which provides a foundational groove blending jazz swing and Latin percussion. The band's brass elements, particularly trumpets played by Jacob Valenzuela and Martin Wenk, infuse a Tex-Mex flavor, enhancing the mariachi-inspired melodies and adding cinematic depth to arrangements that also feature marimbas, mandolins, and occasional mariachi strings or Cuban percussion. This setup enables sparse, evocative textures that highlight individual instruments without overwhelming the mix. The "desert noir" aesthetic defines much of Calexico's sound, employing sparse arrangements to conjure the vast, arid Southwestern landscapes through haunting, moody tones reminiscent of spaghetti western film scores and noir cinema. These influences manifest in subtle dynamics, where twangy guitars and echoing brass mimic the isolation and tension of border regions, blending optimism with underlying darkness to evoke a cinematic . Production techniques in Calexico's work have shifted from early lo-fi approaches using home 4-track and 8-track setups for raw, intimate recordings to more polished, orchestral methods in later projects, incorporating live takes at professional studios like WaveLab to achieve fuller, reverberant soundscapes. This evolution allows for greater emphasis on natural acoustics and layered while preserving the organic feel of their fusions.

Thematic elements and evolution

Calexico's lyrics and artwork frequently explore themes of and migration, drawing from the cultural and geographic tensions along the U.S.- . Inspired by their Tucson roots in the , the band weaves narratives of displacement, identity, and cultural , often portraying the lives of immigrants and crossers with and nuance. and loss emerge as intimate counterpoints to these broader social motifs, manifesting in songs that blend romantic longing with personal grief, as seen in tracks evoking fleeting connections amid hardship. also recurs, reflecting concerns over landscapes, suburban sprawl, and apocalyptic ecological shifts influenced by the arid Southwest environment. These elements are enriched by the band's global travels, incorporating perspectives from diverse collaborations that expand their storytelling beyond regional confines. The band's thematic focus has evolved across their discography, shifting from evocative, atmospheric tales in early works to more introspective and socially engaged narratives in later releases. On The Black Light (1998), themes center on metaphorical and physical crossings, delivered through poetic, immersive that captures the mystery and peril of journeys. By the mid-period album Garden Ruin (2006), the emphasis turns inward, incorporating personal reflection on relationships and subtle critiques of societal pressures, though remains a pointed undercurrent in otherwise intimate lyrics. In recent albums like The Thread That Keeps Us (2018), Calexico confronts overt social issues, including turmoil, bigotry, and the human cost of division, framing love as a resilient force against . Similarly, (2022) addresses and global unrest while emphasizing community and connectivity as antidotes to isolation, inspired by introspective . Visually and narratively, Calexico's album artwork evokes a cinematic vision of the Southwest, featuring stark imagery, motifs, and sun-bleached palettes that mirror the lyrical landscapes of vast, unforgiving terrains. This aesthetic reinforces the narrative style, blending English and Spanish in bilingual to reflect cultural fluidity and the multilingual reality of life. The instrumentation subtly supports these thematic moods, with sparse percussion and flourishes enhancing the sense of arid expanse and emotional depth.

Band members

Core and current members

Calexico was founded by Joey Burns and John Convertino, who first met in 1990 while Burns was a music student at the , and Convertino was playing drums in a local band; the duo officially formed Calexico in 1996 after relocating to . Burns serves as the primary songwriter and , contributing vocals, guitar, bass, , piano, keyboards, , percussion, and , while Convertino anchors the band's rhythmic foundation on drums, percussion, , and . Together, the core pair drives Calexico's creative direction, shaping its fusion of , Americana, and Southwestern noir through collaborative songwriting and production. The band's stable lineup has grown since the early with key long-term contributors who expand its sonic palette, particularly emphasizing Latin and borderland influences. and Jacob Valenzuela joined in the early 2000s, bringing mariachi-inspired brass and occasional lead vocals that infuse the music with Tucson-Mexico border flair. Similarly, German multi-instrumentalist Martin Wenk, also arriving in the 2000s, adds , guitar, and percussion, enhancing the group's textural depth and desert rock edge. Keyboardist and accordionist Sergio Mendoza became a fixture around the mid-2000s, providing melodic support and atmospheric layers that amplify Calexico's cinematic and multicultural sound. Bassist and cellist Scott Colberg rounded out the core in the , contributing grounded low-end grooves and string arrangements that bolster the band's evolving arrangements. These members collectively add Latin-inflected instrumentation and harmonic richness, transforming the duo's vision into a fuller dynamic. The band occasionally incorporates touring additions for live adaptations, such as expanded percussion or guest vocalists.

Additional and touring members

Volker Zander contributed as bassist during Calexico's early era, appearing on the album Feast of Wire (2003) and supporting live performances that expanded the band's rhythmic foundation. Paul Niehaus joined as pedal steel guitarist in the , providing a signature twangy texture to recordings including Feast of Wire and Carried to Dust (2008), while enhancing the group's touring sound with country-infused layers during that period. For live tours, Jairo Zavala served as guitarist and vocalist in 2013, infusing performances with his and elements drawn from his Spanish rock background. Ryan Alfred played bass and sang backing vocals during the same 2013 tours, bolstering the rhythm section for international dates. Brian Lopez has acted as touring guitarist and vocalist starting in 2018, continuing through the 2022–2024 tours promoting , where his contributions added energetic solos and harmonies to festival and venue sets. These musicians' sporadic involvement has allowed Calexico to augment their core sound for specific eras and tours, such as incorporating pedal steel for a richer Americana feel in the and guitar-driven dynamics in later live expansions.

Discography

Studio albums

Calexico's debut studio album, Spoke, was released on August 12, 1997, by Quarterstick Records. Produced by core members Joey Burns and John Convertino, the album introduced the band's early experimental sound blending and Southwestern influences, with key tracks including "Low Expectations" and "Sanchez." It did not achieve notable commercial success or chart positions. The band's first full-length album, The Black Light, followed on May 19, 1998, also on Quarterstick Records. Self-produced by Burns and Convertino, it expanded on themes of the American Southwest and border culture, featuring standout tracks like "Gypsy's Curse" and "The Black Light." The album marked Calexico's emergence as a distinct entity but did not enter major charts. Hot Rail, released on May 9, 2000, by Quarterstick Records, continued the band's cinematic style with and noir elements. Produced by the band, it highlighted key tracks such as "El Picador" and "." The album peaked at number 57 on the . Feast of Wire, Calexico's breakthrough studio album, came out on February 18, 2003, via Quarterstick Records. Produced by Burns with engineering by Craig Schumacher, it incorporated diverse instrumentation including and , with notable tracks like "Quattro (World Drifts In)" and "Across the Wire." The album reached number 23 on the US chart and number 71 on the . Switching to Anti- Records, Garden Ruin was released on April 11, 2006. Produced by JD Foster, the album shifted toward a more song-oriented approach with reduced emphasis on instrumental experimentation, featuring key tracks including "Cruel" and "No Te Vayas." It peaked at number 76 on the . Carried to Dust, issued on September 9, 2008, by Anti-, was self-produced by the band at their Tucson studio. It explored mature themes of loss and resilience through tracks like "Two Silver Trees" and "Man Made Lake." The album achieved a peak of number 55 on the . Algiers, released on September 11, 2012, by Anti-, was recorded in New Orleans, infusing the album with local brass and rhythm influences. Self-produced, it spotlighted tracks such as "Algiers" and "." Commercially, it reached number 72 on the and number 60 on the .) Edge of the Sun arrived on April 14, 2015, via Anti-, with production by Burns and contributions from guests like Sam Beam of . Recorded partly in Nashville, it blended upbeat folk-rock with tracks including "Follow the Water" and "Beneath the City of Dreams." The album peaked at number 37 on the and number 6 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart. The Thread That Keeps Us, Calexico's ninth studio album, was released on January 26, 2018, by Anti-. Produced by Burns and recorded in , it addressed themes of home and displacement through songs like "Under the Wheels" and "End of the World with You." It charted at number 2 on the US Billboard Alternative Albums chart, number 5 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart, and number 58 on the . In collaboration with Iron & Wine, was issued on June 14, 2019, by Records. Co-produced by Burns and Sam Beam, the album fused the artists' styles in tracks such as "What Heaven's Left" and "," emphasizing introspective folk elements. It reached number 6 on the US Americana/Folk Albums chart and number 25 on the . Seasonal Shift, a cross-cultural holiday-themed studio album, was released on December 4, 2020, by Anti-. Self-produced, it reinterpreted seasonal songs with Latin and global influences, including covers like "Hear the Bells" and "Mi Burrito Sabanero" featuring . The album did not enter major charts but highlighted the band's exploratory side during the pandemic. The tenth studio album, , came out on April 8, 2022, via Anti-. Recorded at Sergio Mendoza's home studio in Tucson amid the , it was produced by the band and featured guests like on tracks such as the title song and "Pájaros." Emphasizing themes of community and hope, it blended rock, , and Latin sounds without notable chart peaks.

Live albums, EPs, and other releases

Calexico has released several live albums that capture their dynamic performances, often incorporating guest musicians and orchestral elements to expand their desert noir sound. Their debut live effort, Scraping (2002), is a tour-only compiling live recordings from 2000 to 2002, featuring raw, energetic renditions of tracks like "Gift of Guile" and "Stray" performed across various venues. This was followed by World Drifts In: Live at the Barbican (2004), a DVD and set documenting a 2002 in with the ensemble Luz de Luna, highlighting collaborative arrangements such as "Quattro." In 2008, the band issued Ancienne Belgique: Live in Brussels, a limited-edition live album recorded at the iconic venue, showcasing their evolving setlists with songs from Garden Ruin and earlier works, emphasizing intricate instrumentation in a club setting. Spiritoso (2013) marked a symphonic turn, featuring live recordings with the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, blending Calexico's with orchestral swells on pieces like "Frontera" and "Epic." Subsequent volumes in the Ancienne Belgique series include Vol. 2 (2012), captured at the AB Club in with a focus on atmospheric ballads, and Vol. 3 (2015), from an April performance that incorporated newer material from Algiers. The band's EP output includes exploratory and remix-focused releases. Even My Sure Things Fall Through (2001) is an eight-track EP of European B-sides and remixes, produced at Wavelab Studios in Tucson, featuring cinematic s and collaborations with Mariachi Luz de Luna. Convict Pool (2004), a four-song EP, delves into textures with tracks like "Convict Pool" and "Hey Moje," reflecting the band's Hot Rail-era experimentation. The iTunes Live Sessions EP (2006) offers acoustic live versions of songs such as "Roka" and "Bisbee Blue," recorded and mixed in June of that year. Additionally, the 2000 single Service & Repair serves as a standalone release promoting Hot Rail, with its title track addressing urban expansion themes over a mariachi-infused backdrop. Calexico has contributed to soundtracks and holiday-themed projects, showcasing their versatility in film and seasonal contexts. For the 2007 Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There, they collaborated with Jim James on a cover of "Goin' to Acapulco," infusing the track with twangy guitars and subtle percussion. Full soundtracks include Circo (2010), a score for the documentary on a Mexican circus family, blending folk elements with ambient soundscapes, and The Guard (2011), an original soundtrack for the Irish comedy featuring upbeat instrumentals like "The Guard." Their holiday output features Seasonal Shift (2020), a full-length album of covers and originals such as "Hear the Bells" and "Mi Burrito Sabanero," evoking Southwestern yuletide traditions. Compilations and reissues round out their non-studio catalog. The Road Atlas 1998–2011 (2011) is a limited vinyl compiling tour-only CDs like Aerocalexico (2001) and (2007), alongside a 40-page booklet of road photography and . In 2023, the 20th anniversary deluxe edition of Feast of Wire was released, expanding the original with a bonus track, "," and the previously unreleased live More Cowboys & Indians, recorded during early tours to highlight their live evolution.

Critical reception and legacy

Album-specific reviews

Calexico's debut album Spoke (1997) received positive notices for its lo-fi production and evocative desert imagery, with praising its atmospheric field recordings and instrumental textures that conjure vast landscapes. Album of the Year aggregated scores based on user and critic input, highlighting the record's charm in blending elements with Southwestern motifs. The follow-up The Black Light (1998) built on these foundations, earning widespread acclaim for its innovative fusion of Americana, , and influences. gave it 4 out of 5 stars (equivalent to 8.3/10), describing it as deeper and richer than the debut with a sun-baked, cinematic quality. Album of the Year rated it at 82%, noting its irresistible instrumental tracks and stronger infusions. Hot Rail (2000) continued the band's atmospheric explorations, receiving a 76% score on Album of the Year for its vivid Mexican sound influences and classy, immersive arrangements. Critics appreciated its grilling, richly layered air that deepened the group's cinematic style, though it remained somewhat niche compared to later works. The 2003 release Feast of Wire marked a , hailed as a masterpiece by , which awarded it 8.9 out of 10 for its masterful songcraft, shifting moods, and open-ended exploration blending immediate hooks with eclectic instrumentation. Album of the Year aggregated an 83% score, emphasizing its varied journey through Americana and Latin textures. Garden Ruin (2006) represented a bold shift toward more straightforward rock and pop structures, eschewing instrumentals for direct songwriting. scored it 7.8 out of 10, noting its accessibility and immediate discernable differences from prior releases while praising its emotional depth. Album of the Year gave it a 75% rating, viewing it as a transitional yet delightful pivot to poppier tunes. Carried to Dust (2008) was lauded for its maturity and lush blend of Americana and Latin elements, earning 4 out of 5 stars (8.3/10) from for tracks like "Writer's Minor Holiday" that showcased jazzy drumming and sparing vocals. Pitchfork highlighted its beauty in laid-back grooves and harmonies, while Album of the Year scored it 74% for its reflective lyrics and standout instrumentation. Algiers (2012) drew praise for its worldly sensitivity and conspiratorial vocals, with assigning an A− grade and calling it a remarkable record full of subtleties and instrumental interplay. rated it 7.3 out of 10, appreciating its great sound but noting occasional lack of standout moments. aggregated a 76/100 based on positive reviews emphasizing its creeping allure. Edge of the Sun (2015) featured prominently on year-end lists, with describing it as the band's most textured and dimensional record to date, full of striking and percussion grooves. gave it 7.3 out of 10, praising its rusty tangles of notes and Southwestern indie-rock reliability. called it the best in the latter half of their career, benefiting from a richer palette. The Thread That Keeps Us (2018) elicited mixed responses, with Exclaim! scoring it 4 out of 10 and criticizing it for being overshadowed by uneven moments despite enjoyable tracks. awarded 7.0 out of 10, commending its impassioned stories on border politics and environmental themes. Album of the Year aggregated 70%, noting its gentle flow but lack of peaks. The post-pandemic release (2022) was celebrated for its hopeful, community-driven vibe and magical Southwestern amalgam, with No Depression praising its textured instrumentals as a love letter to the desert region. PopMatters highlighted its emphasis on togetherness and political change through colorful fusions. Metacritic scored it 83/100, positioning it among the band's strongest works akin to Feast of Wire.

Broader impact and recognition

Calexico has significantly influenced the fusion of , Americana, and genres, pioneering a sound that integrates , , tejano, and elements with and influences. Their approach has expanded the boundaries of U.S. by incorporating global rhythms and textures, particularly those from the U.S.-Mexico border region, inspiring a broader appreciation for multicultural sounds within the genre. The band has received notable recognition, including two Grammy nominations in 2020 for their collaboration with Iron & Wine on Years to Burn: Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Performance for "Father Mountain." Additionally, their 2015 album Edge of the Sun was ranked 21st on Rough Trade's list of the best albums of the year. As key figures in the Tucson music scene, Calexico has played a pivotal role in nurturing the city's underground community, often collaborating with local artists and embodying the Sonoran Desert's sonic landscape, earning them status as legends in the region's indie heritage. Their music has extended its reach through film and television placements, including composing the soundtrack for The Guard (2011), contributing to Collateral (2004), and featuring "Banderilla" in Breaking Bad. The band's enduring appeal was highlighted by the 2023 20th anniversary reissue and tour for Feast of Wire, which celebrated their contributions to border culture and innovative genre blending.

References

  1. https://touchandgorecords.com/bands/band.php?id=5
  2. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/calexico-mn0000944293
  3. https://www.casadecalexico.com/about/
  4. https://www.discogs.com/artist/9856-Calexico
  5. https://www.anti.com/artists/calexico/
  6. https://open.spotify.com/album/5IQrSIanSUAfRcj29KKIm0
  7. https://www.casadecalexico.com/blog/
  8. https://tapeop.com/interviews/13/calexico
  9. https://bombmagazine.org/articles/2007/07/07/calexico/
  10. https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2006/09/28/calexico
  11. https://www.allmusic.com/album/spoke-mw0000028071
  12. https://www.discogs.com/release/4674329-Calexico-Spoke
  13. https://casadecalexico.bandcamp.com/album/spoke
  14. https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-black-light-mw0000598537
  15. https://www.discogs.com/release/1397506-Calexico-The-Black-Light
  16. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/calexico/the-black-light/
  17. https://store.touchandgorecords.com/products/calexico-hot-rail
  18. https://www.popmatters.com/136562-calexico-hot-rail-2496082753.html
  19. https://www.amazon.com/Committed-Music-Miramax-Motion-Picture/dp/B00004SUAT
  20. https://www.allmusic.com/album/scraping-mw0001311303
  21. https://touchandgorecords.com/bands/album.php?id=456
  22. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1230-feast-of-wire/
  23. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/4632/calexico/
  24. https://consequence.net/2009/01/its-here-coachella-unveils-2009-lineup/
  25. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1234-garden-ruin/
  26. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/8qf9/
  27. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12175-carried-to-dust/
  28. https://www.casadecalexico.com/welcome/carried-to-dust/
  29. https://www.anti.com/releases/algiers/
  30. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/calexico
  31. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17033-algiers/
  32. https://pitchfork.com/news/58231-calexico-announce-new-album-edge-of-the-sun-share-cumbia-de-donde/
  33. https://www.anti.com/releases/edge-sun/
  34. https://beardedgentlemenmusic.com/2015/06/17/calexico-edge-of-the-sun/
  35. https://www.anti.com/press/calexico-announce-new-album-the-thread-that-keeps-us-out-january-26-2018/
  36. https://entertainmentvoice.com/2018/01/25/joey-burns-of-calexico-discusses-the-inspiration-behind-new-album-the-thread-that-keeps-us/
  37. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jan/26/calexico-the-thread-that-keeps-us-review-freewheeling-alt-rock-thats-more-miami-than-mexico
  38. https://www.subpop.com/artists/calexico_and_iron_and_wine
  39. https://www.npr.org/2019/06/06/729303047/first-listen-calexico-and-iron-wine-years-to-burn
  40. https://casadecalexico.bandcamp.com/album/seasonal-shift
  41. https://floodmagazine.com/83244/calexico-seasonal-shift-track-by-track/
  42. https://www.anti.com/releases/el-mirador/
  43. https://holler.country/reviews/album-review/calexico-el-mirador/
  44. https://www.brooklynvegan.com/calexico-celebrating-feast-of-wire-20th-anniversary-with-reissue-and-tour/
  45. https://casadecalexico.bandcamp.com/album/feast-of-wire-20th-anniversary-deluxe-edition
  46. https://www.folkest.com/en/artists/calexico/
  47. https://www.indieofilo.com/en/news/live-shows/calexico-announce-european-tour-in-february-2025-with-two-concerts-a-day-in-each-city
  48. https://www.ticketmaster.com/calexico-tickets/artist/795538
  49. https://azpbs.org/artin48/2021/01/the-arizona-indie-rock-band-calexico/
  50. https://www.pohodafestival.sk/en/news/calexico-desert-noir-from-arizona
  51. https://aarongilbreath.substack.com/p/calexicos-early-days
  52. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/apr/20/worldmusic
  53. https://www.citybeat.com/music/young-love-environmentalism-immigration-and-apocalyptic-concerns-informed-the-latest-album-from-calexico-12220375/
  54. https://murlough23.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/calexico-the-thread-that-keeps-us-love-in-the-age-of-the-extremes/
  55. https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/calexico
  56. https://louderthanwar.com/calexico-black-light-album-review/
  57. https://thinkchristian.net/calexicos-thread-that-keeps-us-music-without-borders
  58. https://www.popmatters.com/calexico-el-mirador-album-review
  59. https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858498520/
  60. https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Calexico-blends-geographic-influences-3961949.php
  61. https://spunk.com.au/artists/calexico/
  62. https://www.redlightmanagement.com/artists/calexico/
  63. https://www.popmatters.com/calexico-2496113994.html
  64. https://www.npr.org/2013/04/08/176569713/calexico-on-mountain-stage
  65. https://www.casadecalexico.com/homepage/
  66. https://www.discogs.com/release/909221-Calexico-Feast-Of-Wire
  67. https://www.discogs.com/master/64036-Calexico-Carried-To-Dust
  68. https://www.npr.org/2013/03/29/165609044/calexico-on-world-cafe
  69. https://illinoisentertainer.com/2022/10/live-review-calexico-at-metro-chicago/
  70. http://collapseboard.com/calexico-theatre-royal-castlemaine-27-01-19/
  71. https://www.redlightmanagement.com/calexico-announce-feast-of-wire-20th-anniversary-deluxe-edition-tour-dates/
  72. https://www.discogs.com/master/64031-Calexico-Hot-Rail
  73. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/calexico-hot-rail/
  74. https://www.discogs.com/release/1150931-Calexico-Feast-Of-Wire
  75. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/calexico-cooking-up-new-album-62188/
  76. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/calexico-feast-of-wire/
  77. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/calexico-garden-ruin/
  78. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/calexico-carried-to-dust/
  79. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/calexico-algiers/
  80. https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/calexico/189272
  81. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/calexico-edge-of-the-sun/
  82. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/calexico-the-thread-that-keeps-us/
  83. https://www.allmusic.com/album/years-to-burn-mw0003268470
  84. https://www.casadecalexico.com/music/
  85. https://casadecalexico.bandcamp.com/album/even-my-sure-things-fall-through
  86. https://www.discogs.com/release/1530051-Calexico-Service-Repair
  87. https://www.discogs.com/master/44671-Various-Im-Not-There-Original-Soundtrack
  88. http://www.circomexico.com/
  89. http://www.sonyclassics.com/theguard/
  90. https://www.anti.com/news/calexico-announce-new-holiday-album-seasonal-shift/
  91. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/20503-calexico-spoke.php
  92. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/7907-calexico-the-black-light.php
  93. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/20504-calexico-hot-rail.php
  94. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/1576-calexico-feast-of-wire.php
  95. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/calexico/garden-ruin/
  96. https://www.allmusic.com/album/carried-to-dust-mw0000794794
  97. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/837-calexico-carried-to-dust.php
  98. https://www.metacritic.com/music/algiers/calexico/critic-reviews
  99. https://www.npr.org/2015/04/05/396790664/first-listen-calexico-edge-of-the-sun
  100. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20353-edge-of-the-sun/
  101. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18736/reviews/4148889
  102. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/calexico-the_thread_that_keeps_us
  103. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/calexico-the-thread-that-keeps-us/
  104. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/94469-calexico-the-thread-that-keeps-us.php
  105. https://nodepression.org/album-review-calexico-weaves-a-magical-mirage-on-el-mirador/
  106. https://www.metacritic.com/music/el-mirador/calexico
  107. https://worldmusiccentral.org/artist-profiles-calexico/
  108. https://grammy.com/artists/calexico/252093
  109. https://www.brooklynvegan.com/bjorks-vulnicur/
  110. https://www.tucsonunderground.com/legends/calexico/index.html
  111. https://www.tunefind.com/artist/calexico
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.