Pitchfork

Kids, are you getting sick of hearing about "emo" this and "indie" that every time you turn around? Do you want to hear some real meaningful music made by an individual with real talent? Do you want to feel the pain from a man who cares nada about your scene, whose songs are aimed at your heart and not your daddy's money? Do you want to hear some real music while you're waiting for your favorite trendy bands' albums to come out? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we at Pitchfork would like to inform you that our man Al Escovedo is out there, waiting to play you some real music.

Though Escovedo has been active since punk's birth, fronting rarely mentioned yet highly influential bands such as the Nuns, Rank and File, and True Believers, he has eschewed the limelight and let the damn music do the talking. He's a member of the highly talented Escovedo musical family. His father was a renowned Latin mariachi musician, and his brothers, Pete and Coke Escovedo (no, really, Coke!), were leaders in Latin rock in the 1970s, gaining fame with Santana. Alejandro is also the uncle of Prince girl Sheila E, who won the hearts of many a young popper-and-locker with her appearance in 1985's breakin' classic, Krush Groove.

Escovedo recently released A Man Under the Influence on Bloodshot Records, to much critical acclaim. And though he releases records on an "insurgent country" label, his sound is crazily diverse, an indescribable combination of folk, blues, country, rock, and punk that easily breaks the mold of any pigeonholes lazy music journalists like myself enjoy using. In concert, you're just as likely to hear Escovedo croon a sad Hank Williams song as you are to hear him reinvent classic punk rock tunes. And besides, he's a much better dresser than you. Get over it, bifocals.

07-05 Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Fest
07-09 Edmonton, AB - Sidetrack Cafe
07-10 Calgary, AB - Night Gallery
07-12 Vancouver, BC - Richard's on Richard
07-13 Seattle, WA - The Tractor
07-14 Seattle, WA - Experience Music Project
07-17 San Diego, CA - Casbah
07-18 Long Beach, CA - Blue Cafe
07-19 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
07-20 San Jose, CA - Fuel 44
07-21 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
07-22 Beaverton, OR - Taste of Beaverton
07-27 Victoria, BC - Roots Fest
07-31 Salt Lake City, UT - Zephyr Club
08-03 Denver, CO - Gothic Theater
08-09 Chicago, IL - Notebart Nature Museum
08-11 Chicago, IL - Tribune's Rock the River
09-02 Sonora, CA - Strawberry Music Fest