1st Weekend

[chrisjoseph]

In addition to Jerry Lee Lewis and Percy Sledge, two other "big-names" for the 1st weekend will be Calexico and Alexa Ray Joel.

[saturn]

http://www.subliminalworld.org/heart.gif Calexico -- fabulous news!

[swag]

Alexa Ray Joel is a big name?

[Carolina Beadhead]

Alexa Ray Joel is a big name?

Her daddy thinks so.... :D

[chrisjoseph]

Hmmm....maybe I should have said "out of state talent?"

[pokerchick66]

Hmmm....maybe I should have said "out of state talent?"

Oh, God . . . FOMS. I love Jerry Lee Lewis and I wasn't planning on coming first weekend. Sigh. Angst.

[NeenAtlanta]

In addition to Jerry Lee Lewis and Percy Sledge, two other "big-names" for the 1st weekend will be Calexico and Alexa Ray Joel.

Now I know I'm getting old. :confused:

I'd never heard of either of these big names. Calexico looks pretty interesting though.

[chrisjoseph]

from allmusic.com

Listening to Alexa Ray Joel's music, it's not difficult to imagine the young singer, songwriter, and pianist had parents who nurtured her love of music and encouraged her to follow her muse. You might not guess that one of them was pop star Billy Joel, given the jazz-influenced textures and deeply personal yet playfully insouciant lyrical perspective of her songs. Alexa Ray Joel was born to Joel and his wife Christie Brinkley on January 1, 1986; she's said that her love of music began with her father singing nursery rhymes to her at his piano, and she began writing simple tunes as a youngster. At age 11, Alexa began taking classical piano lessons, which she continued for five years, aided in part by the perfect pitch she inherited from her dad. At 17, Alexa attended a five-week workshop for budding musicians at the Berklee College of Music, which she cites with encouraging her to explore her gifts as a singer and performer. After completing high school, Alexa enrolled at New York University as a musical theater student, but in her freshman year she took a leave of absence and opted to focus on launching her career as a musician. Assembling a band with Demian Sims on guitar, Jimmy Riot on bass, and Scottie Garapolo on drums, Alexa began working up material and played her first gigs at Maxwell's, a venerable indie rock venue in Hoboken, NJ, when she was 19. While Alexa has cited her parents with offering great support to her career, both she and her famous folks insist she's followed her own musical path without interference and at her own pace. In the fall of 2006, Alexa released her first CD, a six-song EP called Sketches, featuring five original tunes and a cover of Neil Young's "Don't Let It Bring You Down," with a full-length album scheduled for release in 2007.

[BigDag]

Well, she certainly is an attractive young woman, but I guess that is to be expected. Her piano stylings sound familiar too, at least in the song I was able to sample on the web. She has an interesting voice; she seems to have some potential. Might be worth checking out.

[Amy Winette]

I'm intrigued!

C'mon Poker, you know you're gonna end up there for both weekends, why fight it! :)

[Fables of Faubus]

Calexico is a great band! I've seen them play a couple of times and love them. Very talented band of musicians, several who play multiple instruments. Ass-kicking horn section; at least one of the guys in the section plays guitar as well. Strong vocals, as well.

Calexico opened two shows for Los Lobos at the Fillmore in early December. Except for Alejandro Escovedo, I have to say that they top the list of my favorite Los Lobos openers for recent years.

After Calexico played their opening set at the Fillmore, members of the horn section and one of the singers joined Los Lobos on stage for "Volver, Volver". That dude has quite a set of pipes! I thought he'd torn the roof offa the place!

Anyway, you might like them. And, yes... I am an old lady, too, Neen!:)

[bluesgirl]

That Alejandro Escovedo guy. I haven't seen him live, but I've heard a couple of boots. He seems quite boring to me. Is he that much better in person? I have a chance to go see him soon in a small venue that's really close to home, and I was wondering if he's worth the effort and $.

[pokerchick66]

I'm intrigued!

C'mon Poker, you know you're gonna end up there for both weekends, why fight it! :)

Amy, don't start. I'm already torn enough as it is.

[funkkjunkie]

With 99 daze and poker already torn, this should be easy.;)

[pokerchick66]

With 99 daze and poker already torn, this should be easy.;)

lol, I hate you all.

[saturn]

That Alejandro Escovedo guy. I haven't seen him live, but I've heard a couple of boots. He seems quite boring to me. Is he that much better in person? I have a chance to go see him soon in a small venue that's really close to home, and I was wondering if he's worth the effort and $.

I don't know about his live performances, but I sure don't think his music is boring. I would rank his latest CD as my favourite for 2006!

http://www.rochester-citynews.com/binary/c988b1b2/alejandro-escovedo-boxing-m.jpg

[bluesgirl]

I don't know about his live performances, but I sure don't think his music is boring. I would rank his latest CD as my favourite for 2006!



Sorry, I tried it and I didn't like it. His music was just putting me to sleep.

[Fables of Faubus]

hi, bluesgirl,

Dunno what "boots" you refer to. Not familiar with this term. Sorry.

I like A.E.'s recordings from way back. All the way back to his stuff w/ John Dee Graham and beyond. A. E. was always sort of legendary to me as he began his career in L.A. and I never figured I'd have the chance to see him perform. Then he was very ill a few years back, but when he began to tour again, I was personally ECSTATIC.

I've seen him perform in the past year and a half with different types of groups. Most recently, I saw him here in Cincy with a rock 'n roll band. Anyway, I love his recorded body of work and I love to see him live. He has quite a story to tell. I think he is one of those "American Treasures" everyone talks about! :)

Anyway, he might not be your cup of tea, I don't know.

However, I'd just like to humbly point out that there are enormous differences in style between Alejandro and Calexico.

Just because you don't like one, it doesn't mean you won't like the other. And, vice versa, I might add!:) Anyway, I'm fairly mad about both of these artists. I love them both, even though they are completely different from each other.

If you haven't seen Calexico, you may want to check 'em out at the Fest. I enjoy them, but I'm not saying everyone will. What do I know? I'm just a fan, but I did want to give props to Calexico! :D

[Fables of Faubus]

I don't know about his live performances, but I sure don't think his music is boring. I would rank his latest CD as my favourite for 2006!

http://www.rochester-citynews.com/binary/c988b1b2/alejandro-escovedo-boxing-m.jpg



Mine, too, Kat; mine, too! :) I think John Cale did a wonderful job of producing this one, too.

[steeleye]

At the end of 1999, the rock critic for the Wall Street Journal named what he thought were the 10 best records released in the '90's. Interesting that both Los Lobos ("Kiko") and Calexico ("The Black Light") were on the list. I was a big Lobos fan already, but discovered Calexico because of his list. "The Black Light" is a great record.

[chrisjoseph]

How 'bout this for a 2nd weekend "headliner:" Martha Redbone, May 4 at the Fairgrounds.

[bluesgirl]

hi, bluesgirl,

Dunno what "boots" you refer to. Not familiar with this term. Sorry.

I like A.E.'s recordings from way back. All the way back to his stuff w/ John Dee Graham and beyond. A. E. was always sort of legendary to me as he began his career in L.A. and I never figured I'd have the chance to see him perform. Then he was very ill a few years back, but when he began to tour again, I was personally ECSTATIC.

I've seen him perform in the past year and a half with different types of groups. Most recently, I saw him here in Cincy with a rock 'n roll band. Anyway, I love his recorded body of work and I love to see him live. He has quite a story to tell. I think he is one of those "American Treasures" everyone talks about! :)

Anyway, he might not be your cup of tea, I don't know.

However, I'd just like to humbly point out that there are enormous differences in style between Alejandro and Calexico.

Just because you don't like one, it doesn't mean you won't like the other. And, vice versa, I might add!:) Anyway, I'm fairly mad about both of these artists. I love them both, even though they are completely different from each other.

If you haven't seen Calexico, you may want to check 'em out at the Fest. I enjoy them, but I'm not saying everyone will. What do I know? I'm just a fan, but I did want to give props to Calexico! :D

I like Calexico.

Boots are unauthorized live recordings. I downloaded some from the internet to check out AE before I bought tickets, because so many people are raving about him.

I guess it's another one of those "American Idol" things. Everyone except me seems to get it.

[nyc gal]

LOVE Calexico--I see them wherever I can. If you havent seen them,try to catch them at the fest. Their trippy, mariachi and cowboy infused music is elegant and compelling--definitely music for the "thinking person"'s set.
Is Alejandro Escovedo going to be there as well????

[funkkjunkie]

I listened to alejandro online and saw calexico at austincityslimitfest a few yearss back and i'm not inspired by either one. And I don't get (sorry, bluesgirl) sonny or los lobos either. Give me some wild maggies or the underdawgs or angelique kidjo or greyboy allstars or lettuce or nevilles or mofro, now we're dancing. THIS is what I love about music and what I love about this jazzfest board. We are all soooo happy in our special musical place and there are so many musical places to explore and discover. Still, I don't get why some people don't love the bands I love.;)

[ohio]

Mine, too, Kat; mine, too! :) I think John Cale did a wonderful job of producing this one, too.
I had heard a little of him on our most excellent community radio before seeing him live. I found him pretty intriuging. He does some fusion-like tunes that I really love. Like the tunes on his ACL appearance with the cellos. I'll be interested to see him at fest!

[ohio]

How 'bout this for a 2nd weekend "headliner:" Martha Redbone, May 4 at the Fairgrounds.
Chris, I listened to some tunes at her site. A bit funky, but kinda pop. Is she big on the radio/tv?

[electric_lady]

any idea what stage calexico would be on?

i was so excited to see they're playing. i think they have a wide appeal and a lot of people who appreciate music (which is everyone on this board) will enjoy them. "Feast of Wire" is an amazing album.