Alejandro Escovedo
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As previously mentioned by my fellow blogger Loganarchy, it isnt easy always finding groovy new tunes to offer up to you dear listener/reader. It is indeed a labor of love, and when I am not engaged in leaving the cave and beating MP3s to death to drag back home for you, I spend my time becoming addicted to great TV shows that have a terribly short life span. The Black Donnellys, Firefly, Wonderfalls but there is one that lasted longer than the rest. Veronica Mars. Not only did it last longer (3 seasons instead of just 1!) it was chock full of GREAT music. It was through this show, created by Austin’s own Rob Thomas (not the suck Matchbox 20 one), I was introuduced to Austin artist Alejandro Escovedo.
Escovedo is from a very musical family that has generated several professional musicians, including longtime Prince collaborator Sheila E (who is Alejandro’s niece). Escovedo began performing in the first-wave punk rock group The Nuns, with Delphine Neid, Jennifer Miro, and Jeff Olener, in San Francisco, California.
In the 1980s Escovedo moved to Austin, Texas, where he adapted a roots rock/alternative country style in the bands Rank and File (with Chip and Tony Kinman) and the True Believers (with his brother Javier and Jon Dee Graham). However, it was with the release of his first solo albums, “Gravity” in 1992 and “Thirteen Years” , that he found his true voice. Although he has yet to crossover to any type of mainstream audience, he has a huge underground following, and many popular artists cite Escovedo as a strong influence. In 1998 No Depression magazine named him Artist of the Decade.
Also in 2005, Escovedo’s song “Castanets” appeared on the iPod playlist of George W. Bush, prompting a three year self-imposed ban on live performances of the song. The song returned to Escovedo’s live shows in 2008 along with an explanation for its absence.
Do yourself a favor and check out his catlogue and do me a favor and watch Firefly and Veronica Mars.
Reliant6 OUT!
I absolutely love the Matchbox 20 link. Good call!
LOL…yeah I couldnt resist
Excellent entry. Way to promote almost everything I hold near and dear in a few short paragraphs (though I don’t recall your presence during the vast majority of my Wonderfalls viewings; that is until Firefly cast members started making appearances
).
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