Calexico
Biography
In the sun-baked borderlands where Arizona meets Mexico, where desert winds carry fragments of mariachi melodies and indie rock reverb in equal measure, Calexico emerged as one of the most distinctive and evocative bands of the late 20th century. This isn't your typical rock and roll origin story – it's a tale of two musicians who discovered that the most compelling music often lives in the spaces between genres, cultures, and expectations.
Joey Burns and John Convertino first crossed paths in Los Angeles during the early 1990s, both serving as sidemen in Howe Gelb's sprawling alt-country collective Giant Sand. Burns, a multi-instrumentalist with a penchant for atmospheric guitar work, and Convertino, a drummer whose jazz background informed his approach to rhythm in ways that would prove revolutionary, found themselves drawn to similar musical visions. When Giant Sand's touring schedule allowed, the pair began crafting instrumental soundscapes that seemed to channel the very essence of the American Southwest.
The duo officially christened themselves Calexico in 1996, taking their name from the border town that straddles California and Mexico – a perfect metaphor for their genre-defying approach. Their debut album, "Spoke," arrived that same year, introducing the world to their singular blend of indie rock, mariachi, jazz, and what could only be described as "desert noir." Convertino's brushed drums and Burns' tremolo-drenched guitar created cinematic landscapes that Ennio Morricone would have envied, while their incorporation of traditional Mexican instrumentation – trumpets, accordions, and various percussion – felt both reverent and revolutionary.
The breakthrough came with 1998's "The Black Light," an album that perfectly captured Calexico's ability to make instrumental music feel as emotionally resonant as any singer-songwriter confessional. Tracks like "Spoke" and "The Black Light" became indie rock classics, their dusty, film-score atmospherics influencing countless bands who attempted to replicate that distinctive Southwestern gothic sound. The album's success established Calexico as pioneers of what some dubbed "desert rock," though their music was far too sophisticated and culturally nuanced for such simple categorization.
As the millennium turned, Calexico's sound evolved to incorporate more vocals and expanded instrumentation. Albums like "Hot Rail" (2000) and "Feast of Wire" (2003) saw the band growing from a duo into a full ensemble, often featuring as many as eight musicians on stage. Their live performances became legendary affairs, transforming venues into temporary border cantinas where cultures collided and merged in real time. The addition of vocals, primarily handled by Burns in his distinctive, weathered croon, added new dimensions to their storytelling without sacrificing the cinematic quality that made them unique.
"Garden Ruin" (2006) marked another evolutionary leap, featuring more prominent vocals and some of their most accessible songwriting to date. The album spawned minor hits like "Two Silver Trees" and demonstrated the band's ability to craft proper songs without abandoning their atmospheric tendencies. This period also saw increased collaboration with other artists, including notable partnerships with Iron & Wine's Sam Beam, which resulted in the collaborative EP "In the Reins" (2005).
Throughout their career, Calexico has maintained a prolific output that would shame bands half their age. Albums like "Carried to Dust" (2008), "Algiers" (2012), and "Edge of the Sun" (2015) continued to explore new territories while maintaining their core identity. Their 2018 release "The Thread That Keeps Us" proved that more than two decades in, they remained capable of surprise and innovation.
What sets Calexico apart isn't just their unique sound – it's their deep respect for the cultures they draw from and their ability to create music that serves as a bridge rather than appropriation. In an era of increasing cultural division, particularly around issues of immigration and border politics, Calexico's music stands as a testament to the beauty that emerges when cultures meet and mingle.
Their influence extends far beyond their immediate genre, inspiring everyone from indie rockers to film composers to world music artists. Directors have consistently sought out their music for soundtracks, recognizing their ability to evoke specific moods and landscapes with remarkable precision.
Today, Calexico continues to tour and record, their music serving as a sonic passport to a world where borders are porous and musical traditions flow freely across artificial boundaries. In a career spanning over 25 years, they've created a body of work that stands as one
