Calexico

Calexico are a Tucson, United States group active since 1996. The core of the band is Joey Burns and John Convertino, who first play together in Los Angeles as part of Giant Sand before building Calexico as a separate project. The current line-up also includes Depedro, Paul Niehaus, Jacob Valenzuela, Martin Wenk and Volker Zander.

Style and name

The band works in americana, country, folk rock, indie folk and indie rock, and is also associated with Tex-Mex and alternative rock. Their sound draws on traditional Latin forms including mariachi, conjunto, cumbia and tejano, alongside country, jazz and post-rock. The name Calexico comes from the border town of Calexico, California.

Early development and recordings

Burns and Convertino first connect in 1990, when Burns is studying music at the University of California, Irvine and Convertino is drumming with Howe Gelb in Giant Sand. Burns later joins the group after playing upright bass on a European tour. Giant Sand moves to Tucson in 1994. Burns and Convertino then form the Friends of Dean Martin, later the Friends of Dean Martinez, which secures a deal with Sub Pop. After splitting from Bill Elm in 1996, the pair work as an indie rhythm section for hire with artists including Victoria Williams, Barbara Manning and Richard Buckner before forming Calexico.

The band first records Spoke in 1995 for the German label Hausmusik in a limited pressing of 2,000 copies. It is originally issued under the name Spoke and later reissued by Quarterstick Records in 1997 after the band changes its name to Calexico. Quarterstick, a subsidiary of Touch and Go Records, becomes an important label for the group, and they record a number of albums there.

Albums, EPs and collaborations

In 1997, Burns and Convertino also record Slush with Howe Gelb and Lisa Germano under the name OP8. Calexico’s second album, The Black Light, follows in 1998 as a concept album about the deserts of Arizona and northern Mexico. The band continues with Hot Rail in 2000, which adds horns and violin to the sound.

In 1999, the limited release The Road Map is sold only at live shows. The duo also appears on Giant Sand’s Chore of Enchantment and on the tour-only record Travelall in 2000. At the end of that year, Burns and Convertino join Naïm Amor and Thomas Belhôm as ABBC to record Tête A Tête, released by Wabana Records in 2001.

During 2001, the band issues two collections of rarities. Even My Sure Things Fall Through gathers outtakes, B-sides, remixes and material not previously released in the United States, while Aerocalexico is sold only at gigs. A live album, The Scraping, appears in 2002.

Feast of Wire arrives in 2003 and becomes the first Calexico release to appear on the Billboard Heatseekers and Independent charts. It includes the single “Quattro (World Drifts In)”, which becomes the band’s first video. The song “Güero Canelo” from the album later appears in Michael Mann’s film Collateral, in which the band also appears.

In 2004, the band releases the live DVD World Drifts In: Live at the Barbican. Calexico also contributes “Burnin’ Down the Spark” to Nancy Sinatra’s self-titled album, and the song is issued in the UK as a single in 2005.

In 2005, Calexico joins Iron & Wine for the EP In the Reins. The recording reaches the Billboard 200 and also appears on the independent chart. The band tours the United States with Iron & Wine after the release. In 2006, Garden Ruin appears, produced by JD Foster, and shifts focus away from horns towards guitars and vocals.

Further collaborations follow in 2007, when Calexico records a cover of Arcade Fire’s “Ocean of Noise” as the B-side to Arcade Fire’s “Intervention” single. The group also records a new version of Bob Dylan’s “Goin’ to Acapulco” for the film I’m Not There, with Jim James of My Morning Jacket on vocals. Several shorter instrumental tracks by the band are used on Public Radio International’s This American Life, and “Ballad Of Cable Hogue” and “Service And Repair” appear in the German film Lammbock.

Carried to Dust follows as the band’s sixth studio album, featuring Sam Beam of Iron & Wine, Douglas McCombs of Tortoise and Pieta Brown. Calexico later releases the soundtrack to the documentary Circo in 2010.

Later releases and live activity

Algiers is released in 2012 on ANTI- and City Slang in Europe. Edge of the Sun follows in 2015 and includes guest appearances by Sam Beam, Ben Bridwell, Gaby Moreno, Carla Morrison and members of the Greek instrumental group Takim.

Calexico also tours widely and supports acts such as Pavement, the Dirty Three and Lambchop. The band plays festivals including Bonnaroo, Hurricane Festival and All Tomorrow’s Parties. “Banderilla” appears in an episode of Breaking Bad, and “Slowness” is dedicated by Gabrielle Giffords to her husband Mark Kelly as the wake-up song aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on its final flight.

Current line-up

Joey Burns performs vocals, guitars, bass, cello, piano, keyboards, accordion, percussion and vibraphone. John Convertino plays drums, percussion, piano, keyboards, vibraphone, marimba and accordion. Paul Niehaus plays steel guitar and guitars, Jacob Valenzuela plays trumpet, keyboards, vibraphone and vocals, Martin Wenk plays trumpet, guitar, keyboards, accordion, glockenspiel, vibraphone and occasionally theremin, harmonica and French horn, and Volker Zander plays standup bass and electric bass.