my god, what an incredible show. hands down the best live performance that i have seen this year. this band generates a power that must be heard to be believed. remember the phrase "wall of sound" that was associated w/phil spector in the 60's...well, this is an updated, unabashed, incredible loud and live "wall of sound." all of the basics of hardcore rock and roll, two guitars, bass & drums, supplemented by an amazing cello player and the incomparable "special guest," carrie rodriguez on violin.

tonight was the first night of his "co-headlining" tour w/james mcmurtry (who performed a painfully long hour & thirty minute opening set). after opening 3 shows for dave matthews (and as alejandro said, "having the honor of being ignored by 17,000 people per night"). he fully took advantage and enjoyed playing for his audience, a crowd there to see him. and carrie, dove in head first and rocked her fine little ass off, she was a great compliment/addition to this group of players.

most of the songs played tonight were from his new record (due out june 24th & recorded in lexington, ky) which he sold (and i bought) early tonight for the first time tonight + a several of his standards thrown in. one of the highlights was the title song "real animal" which he wrote about iggy pop and he damn near channeled during the performance of the song. an amazing perfomance. he opened with "put you down" to set the pace and closed out the show with a rocking cover of the stones "beast of burden," during the "pretty, pretty, pretty girls" chant he invited two girls out of the audience that were dancing in front of the stage to join him on stage for the duration. and he enjoyed having them up there. a lot, it seemed.

what a show. go see this man play live. you will not be disappointed.

ben sollee opened the evening and played a beautiful 30 minute solo set. i was standing next to carrie rodriguez who came out to watch ben play and she replied "WOW!" and hooted, whistled, screamed and applauded loudly after each song ben played. pretty high praise from an amazing talent in her own right.

mcmurtry wasn't "bad," just your basic alt-country power trio, after about the third 6-7 minute song that was virtually indistinguishable from the one before or after it, i was ready to move on, unfortunately james wasn't. it would have been a perfect night if it had just been ben followed by alejandro.

but even he and his "set that wouldn't end" couldn't dim the light that was alejandro tonight...

i just put up some pics from ben's set on my picasa page (link below).

i wasn't allowed to shoot alejandro's set because james (play all night) mcmurtry doesn't allow photography. so i was told at the door that, to avoid confusion and problems, that no cameras (other than point and shoot) would be allowed after ben's set and they made me and a couple of others take them to our cars after ben completed his set.

alejandro puts on one of the finest live shows around.
his incredible wall of sound is well....incredible.
like bill said, go see him.
sounds like a great show by him as usual, i've never been disappointed before.

too bad about james mcmurtry, but an hour long set...geez.

i sure hope to find that ben sollee cd up here this weekend, otherwise i'll order it from his web site.
i'm anxious to hear his stuff.

yesterday on pollstar they had alejandro listed playing at the crossings at carnegie in zumbrota, mn on 11/15.
my friend called down there and he was told it was not to be listed and were going to contact pollstar to delist it.
hopefully this will happen. i saw carrie rodriguez play there in feb. and its justs an incredible setting- an old turn of the century
carnegie library that is now an art gallery that seats 75 on folding chairs, maybe 100 if youre lucky, sitting among orginal artwork.
and its in this little small town about an hour south of the twin cities that even has a covered bridge.
i dont think the wall of sound would work there, though, acoustically yes.
keeping fingers crossed for it to happen.