WEEK OF 1/24/2020

Calexico and Iron & Wine / 📷 : Tina Mead

Honestly, I find myself at these Wednesday night shows and I know I’m the lucky one. A packed Thalia Hall and a showcase of supreme musical talent is the way to go after a long day of work. But there’s more to this past Wednesday night than a post-work wind-down. It’s much deeper than that. 

Gia Margaret opened the evening with a dreamy back and forth between her and supporting vox Quinn Tsan. Bass player, Nick Papaleo brought in the synth for their second song yielding an ambient atmosphere. They sounded great for their first show “in a very very long time.”

As I peered back into the crowd, an amalgamation of faces all captivated in the glow from the stage, I couldn’t help but wonder about the shared sense of beauty brought together in one place. Even with minor melodic miscues, Margaret and crew let the light in on a dark Wednesday night. But this was just a warm up for the melodious parade yet to come.

Iron & Wine holds a special place in my heart. In 2004, after eight months in Iraq, I was acquainted with The Postal Service. Those who are no stranger to the duo are no doubt familiar with Sam Beam’s (aka Iron & Wine) cover of “Such Great Heights.” The Postal Service and Beam are a critical part of helping me unpack twelve years of military service and heal after multiple combat tours. They reminded me of the beauty of love and life. 

All that aside, the show was fucking amazing. Calexico and Iron & Wine might’ve been knocking off the cobwebs but these gents came out as professionals. The sound was unrelenting, with the vocal melodies and Jacob Valenzuela on trumpet, I couldn’t contain the sheer joy of witnessing something transcending time and space. 

Beam mentioned early on that each band picked songs from the other’s discography to play. His selections were upbeat and amazing, playing to the crowd as Calexico’s music really can and had everyone clapping along.

Calexico’s southwestern roots poured out proud and true throughout the entire set. Amplified when they welcomed Chicago power duo, Ohmme to the stage. Their backing vocals paired with Joey Burns’ guitar was so damn sweet and smooth. It was the musical equivalent of molasses on a hot day in North Carolina.

As the night progressed, and Burns’ music picks came out, it was evident that the Iron & Wine songs had a perfect balance of sad and beautiful. “Naked As We Came” had Beam’s voice coming thru the mic like an apparition floating in the night. “Midnight Sun” was incredibly poetic and showed all of Burns’ guitar skills. 

When Beam and Burns played “Blue Bisbee” I was taken back to my own drunken wanderings through the sleepy hippie town of Bisbee in the early ‘00s; meandering from bar to bar and gazing up at the Arizona high desert stars. They followed up with a very intimate cover of “On The Road Again.” Though it felt like a last minute addition, it was fitting, considering this show was the start of their tour.  

The latter part of the evening showed off Sebastian Steinberg on the upright bass throwing down the nastiest solo I’ve ever heard. Calexico and Iron & Wine soulfully played their finale with the Ohmme, who came out with “In Your Own Time” as an encore. After years of listening, this was my first time seeing them live. I felt a great sense of closure to years of turmoil and pain on Wednesday night.  

There’s no doubting the healing power of music. It’s an unquantifiable measurement of happiness that I can personally attest to. Sometimes I wonder what is the point of writing about it. I fully believe that music soothes the hurting soul and seeing bands play live has forever changed my life for the better. I consider writing about these shows my way of continuing service to the people of this world I love so much.

-Aaron Pylinski