Punk veteran turned alt-country singer-songwriter extraordinaire Alejandro Escovedo has been crafting amazing and diverse music since the ’70s, and throughout his many years and projects, has become something of a modern legend. Celebrating his latest solo release, Burn Something Beautiful, Escovedo is set to return to Music City for the first time in several years Jan. 14, for a performance at intimate, upscale show space City Winery, along with The Minus 5, featuring Scott McCaughey and Peter Buck, who produced and collaborated on Alejandro’s latest. Tickets are still available right here, so secure your spot, and read on for more about the lineup!
ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO
Born in San Antonio to Mexican immigrants, musical legend Alejandro Escovedo cut his teeth in the ’70s in the original American punk scene, first in a short-lived stint with San Francisco group The Nuns, who had the distinction of opening the Sex Pistols’ final show, 1978 at Winterland (later that year he also opened for former Velvet Underground guitarist John Cale, performing with Judy Nylon). Pivoting in style, Alejandro, whose incredibly musical family includes brothers in various bands as well as famed niece Sheila E, relocated to Austin in 1980, and co-founded alt-country group Rank and File, before recruiting his brother Javier and Jon Dee Graham for similar-minded project True Believers a few years later. Heading into the ’90s, Escovedo launched a prolific solo career, continuing to explore a rootsy, alt-country sound, though never fully shedding his harder, punk sensibilities. Having collaborated with the likes of Chuck Prophet, Ryan Adams and Whiskeytown, producer Tony Visconti, photographer Mick Rock, and more big names in the music world, Alejandro has become one of the most beloved and enduring singer-songwriters that might not always be a household name, and his influence was abundant a decade ago, when an A-list array of performers banded together to help raise money for sudden medical expenses. Most recently, Escovedo appeared in the Veronica Mars movie, and is currently celebrating a fantastic new LP, Burn Something Beautiful, which channels his knack for poignant lyricism and serves as something of a reflection on his long and storied career. With a top-notch band of Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5), Kurt Bloch (The Fastbacks), and John Moen (The Decemberists), Alejandro’s punk prestige and thoughtful folksy stylings should provide a legendary outing from a modern musical treasure.
THE MINUS 5
Featuring both Scott Mccaughey and Peter Buck, pop rock collective The Minus 5 formed in the early ’90s, and have remained something of a revolving door of contributors throughout their 11 full-length releases over the last two decades. Featuring, at various times, contributions from members of Wilco, The Decemberists, The Posies, and more, the band’s nostalgic, indie appeal and musical versatility have helped them reach a wide swath of fans, and they’re perfectly suited to support everything from punk to pop shows.
Alejandro Escovedo and The Minus 5 will perform Saturday, Jan. 14 at City Winery. The show is all ages, begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.), and tickets are available to purchase for $30-42.
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