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Originally a minority cult concern peddling TexMex indie to a devoted few, the release of Calexico's recent Garden Ruin has seen the Arizona collective ease off the sometime throwaway horn-heavy flavourings of previous albums in favour of a more mellow, grown up sound that's reflected in the composition of the crowd for tonight's show. Carl Barat's Dirty Pretty Things are plying their debut album across town, and it's clear from the balding palettes on display at the Academy that it is the ex-Libertine that has secured tonight's the youth vote. But with age comes wisdom, and Calexico – aided and abetted by Iron & Wine, and Flamenco singer Salvador Duran – put together a stunning show embracing country, lo-fi, classic songwriting and some lively Mariachi trumpeting, all underpinned by – whisper it – exemplary musicianship, making a trawl through Garden Ruin and edited greatest non-hits a spectacular night out for more than just a few beard-stroking, middle-aged musos. Pic: Lee Johnson / Words: Adrian Read |
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Calexico