reviewed for FasterLouder

Roots music was the flavour of the night at the Metro with 3 quite different variations on that fairly all encompassing genre. It has become a term that describes anything associated with blues, folk, reggae and country and with The Fumes, Wagons and headliners Calexico we were entertained with the full spectrum.

The Fumes had been conjuring up some heavy blues rock a week ago supporting Clutch and it was nice to see them taking a generally softer hand to their Calexico support slot. With singer Steve Merry seated and hidden behind beard and cap they showed how they can both caress and pound their songs into your consciousness. Drummer Joel Battersby is as solid as they come and allows Merry free rein with his weary vocals and impressive guitar playing that ranges from acoustic beauty on a cover of Van Zandt’s Waiting Around To Die to some raw, reverb laden blues riffing.

Wagons brought another dimension to the evening with their tightrope walking performance, finely balanced between country cabaret and life-affirming rock n roll. Henry Wagons has to be the most affable and amusing frontmen in Australia, boldly introducing each song with cutting wit and self deprecating humour. Their set featured a few covers and some of the best songs from the album The Rise And Fall Of Goodtown, Constant touring has shaped them into a tight, fun and rewarding band.

Jairo Zavala goes under the name Depedro and as well as being the newest member of Calexico he also got to do a short opening set backed by the full band. This may have confused some who wondered why the Spanish singer was getting all the early limelight but once his emotive singing, wide grin and wide ranging musicality got rolling they were firmly in the palm of his hand.

Calexico fans seem to be divided between liking the more subtle indie, post-rock and moody desert side of the band’s music and the stronger mariachi, gypsy vibe which tends to be highlighted by the trumpets and stronger rhythms. Tonight we got a well balanced set that showed off all sides of Calexico.

When they married the two sides of their sound on songs like Sunken Waltz and Quattro the crowd went with them and it felt like the whole room was swaying, lost in the hypnotic swirl of the music. There is definitely a snakecharmer aspect to the way that Calexico can lull you into a mood and then carry you away with them.

Trumpeter Jacob Valenzuela stepped up to the mic for Inspiracion with its sexy flamenco strut and showed his exceptional ability at playing slower jazz styled solos as well as the faster accenting horn parts.

Two Silver Trees was a particular highlight with its delicate glockenspiel and tender melody which showed how great a vocalist Joey Burns is, a fact often overshadowed by the playing of the band as a whole. His partner in crime, John Convertino, was as brilliant as ever behind the kit with his shuffling rhythms and effortless sense of timing. He stands as one of the great contemporary drummers alongside Jim White (Dirty Three).

Calexico rounded out their main set with their magical cover of Love’s Alone Again Or and a mutating and wandering version of Crystal Frontier showing what a diverse and technically proficient band they are.

While the crowd response was warm there wasn’t a complete connection between band and audience. It was a very good show but not one of those special performances that leave you moved in some way. It may have been the late Wednesday night weariness or the ‘rock’ venue but regardless Calexico made it a rewarding evening with some flashes of brilliance.