The Gong Show

I attended the Calexico show @ the Allen Room, Lincoln Center… though the show was technically at Columbus Circle, not Lincoln Center. So confusing. Anyway, it was a fabulous show, and I highly recommend people check out any band at the Allen Room, just to soak up the beauty of this venue. Calexico played in front of a majestic 80-foot glass wall. From where I was sitting (dead center, last row) you could see all the way down 59th St to the East River, and we were at 8th ave!!

As you can see from the pictures (one up top, two down below), it was quite a site.

Calexico did a terrific job. They opened the set with just two guys (vocal/guitar and drums), and then slowly invited out the rest of the band along with endless guests, such that by the end of the show it looked like an orchestra on stage. The big latino-inspired orchestral songs were epic.

My only complaint was that they invited Beirut (songs on Myspace page) to perform with them… but they really should have given Beirut an opening set. I would have been elated to see Beirut live alone without Calexico, and it was a wasted opportunity to just have them perform a bit part in the Calexico set. Oh well. Still a fantastic show nonetheless.

Here’s some images and a Hype Machine link for Calexico: