I know that this will probably only even make sense to about 3 other posters, Big Bad Voodoo Lou being one of them, but I just have to get this out.
Calexico is not its own band - not a main feature - it is a side project of a really GREAT band, Giant Sand. Giant Sand have been around for like 25 years and released as many albums. Calexico is the spinoff band - the bassist and drummer of Giant Sand doing their own little thing on the side for kicks. What they do sounds just like Giant Sand for the most part, but without the truly incredible songwriting and distinctive voice of Giant Sand’s Howe Gelb.
Somehow, it seems that tons of people out there are aware of or are fans of Calexico’s music but have never even heard of Giant Sand, which is just totally mindboggling to me. It would be like meeting someone who thinks of Paul McCartney as “that guy from Wings,” but has never heard of the Beatles.
Calexico seems to tour more. Maybe they’re more poppy too. I like Giant Sand, and saw them live once, but I don’t know much about Calexico, though some of my friends like them.
I got into Calexico at first because they’ve collaborated with Neko Case, and then I found out Howe Gelb has teamed up with her too. That just recently led me to Giant Sand, but I didn’t put two and two together and realize Calexico was a Giant Sand side project.
You’re right, I had never heard of Giant Sand until now. Of course, I’ve only heard about 3 or 4 Calexico songs, but I’ve enjoyed them. I’ll try to listen to something by Giant Sand if I get the chance.
I suggest starting with Chore of Enchantment (2001). Killer album - probably their best. Also, a good deal of their back catalogue is out of print and unavailable.
Well, I’ll chime in as a fan of both Giant Sand and Calexico. I saw Giant Sand before the split… they were great(!!!), and I’ve seen Howe Gelb solo… also great(!!!). Calexico I’ve seen several times. The first time ranks as one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, but I have to say that I’ve enjoyed each succeeding show less and less… although even at their worst, the show was still really good(!). Part of my problem is a bit of music snobbery, I guess… each time I see them the crowd (and the venue) gets larger and more generic. But also, I think Calexico is pandering to these newer fans by becoming somewhat of a run of the milll “good time mariachi band”. Or maybe it’s just me.
That said, I thought Calexico’s recent CDEP, Convict Pool was excellent, but mostly for the Love and Minutemen covers. I also just got their split CD with Iron & Wine, but it has yet to grow on me (I’m not a big Iron & Wine fan). Personally, I’d recommend Black Light as the best Calexico album to get.
As for Giant Sand… check out The Chore of Enchantment or Is All Over The Map. Howe Gelb… try Confluence.
I thought it wasn’t so much that Calexico was a side project but that Giant Sand broke up and some of the members formed Calexico. Similar to how Uncle Tupelo lead to Wilco and Son Volt (in that case, 2 bands came from a break up).
Wrong. Calexico was a Giant Side side project that came into existence while Giant Sand was still operating. Only very recently, the two members split off to do Calexico “full time,” though Giant Sand is going on with new members.
I’m 1000000% with you. I saw them in NYC a few years ago, and I was disgusted by the extent to which they played up the whole “haw haw haw mexican music is FUNNY” angle - there was not a moment in the show that was not presented with an oh-so-ironic wink-wink nudge-nudge. Infuriating.
Please tell me that you’re just poking at me, right, and you’re making a joke out of the fact that Sun Kil Moon is simply the new name for Red House Painters, a legendary band, by pretending to have no knowledge or awareness of RHP.