Pitchfork

[Posted Thursday, September 18th, 2003 04:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

I have this theory that Calexico live in giant cacti in the great deserts of the American Southwest. Not unlike the Keebler Elves of Roman myth, Calexico take refuge in these hollowed-out cyclopean structures and make use of them as their headquarters for baking audio snacks of exuberant flavor and dubious nutritional value. On the weekends, they emerge from these massive dwellings and creep into town to get drunk and, inevitably, cause enough of a ruckus to land themselves in a dusty desert jail cell for the rest of the night.

This imagery, of course, stems from their unique brew of desert-rock: Calexico is best described as a nomadic party of mariachi post-rockers with an increasing slant towards pop sensibilities. The band makes use of all manner of objects and instrumentation throughout their discography (triple word score for the typewriters, guys), and even their least engrossing work is respectable on account of their consistently unique experimentation. The band released a new single, "Alone Again Or," back in July. All dates with support from warm, inoffensive folk-rockers The Frames:

09-18 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
09-19 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore
09-20 Santa Cruz, CA - Catalyst (w/ Al Perry)
09-21 Eugene, OR - Eugene Celebration
09-22 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
09-23 Seattle, WA - Graceland
09-24 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
09-26 Edmonton, Alberta - Dinwoodie Lounge / University of Alberta
09-27 Calgary, Alberta - MacEwan Hall Ballroom
09-28 Regina, Saskatchewan - The State
09-29 Winnipeg, Manitoba - West End Cultural Center
09-30 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe
10-01 Chicago, IL - The Metro
10-03 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
10-04 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
10-05 Ottawa, Ontario - Babylon
10-06 Montreal, Quebec - Cabaret Music Hall
10-07 Montreal, Quebec - Cabaret Music Hall
10-08 Quebec City, Quebec - Meduse
10-09 Boston, MA - Paradise
10-10 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-11 Philadelphia, PA - NXNW
10-12 Charleston, WV - Cultural Center
10-14 Washington, D.C. - The Black Cat
10-15 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
10-16 Atlanta, GA - Echo Lounge
10-17 Louisville, KY _ Headliners
10-19 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater