Calexico with Iron and Wine
Words: Sean Moore / Photos: Kenneth Coles
When Sam Beam better known as Iron & Wine, first connected with the Tuscan based Americana, Tex-Mex-tinged indie rock band Calexico both acts were performing successfully in their own rights. Each had already developed their own unique sounds. Beam was a focused indie-folk songwriter who gained significant mainstream recognition with his incredibly beautiful cover of The Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights,” which was my introduction to him while watching the film Garden State. Calexico was not on my radar, but when they released the collaborative EP In the Reins, I took notice. This was a collaboration made in heaven. It took them about 14 years to come back together for a meaningful project again, 2019’s Years to Burn, which is why the two acts have decided to tour.
Their tour brought them to Portland this week and it was a unique performance, to say the least. At times, I felt like I was transported to an old western saloon, perhaps because Joey Burns was wearing a familiar cowboy outfit complete with the hat, which he tipped to the crowd after a rousing rendition of “Red Dust,” which included an extended bass solo at the end. The historic State Theatre, though, was the perfect atmospheric venue for these tunes and it almost felt like this was a band returning to their roots, even though nobody on stage had a connection to Maine or the Northeast. There were several points during the quiet moments in between songs where the crowd’s hoots and hollers echoed in the otherwise quiet space. Sam Beam made a point to mention how he loved that “Portland Maine showed up to have a good time,” and even called out a woman who clearly “had a few drinks tonight.” These moments showed how comfortable everyone in the room was with each other and the banter between musicians and the crowd was well-received and off-the-cuff.
What I really appreciated and loved about this show was that it was a truly collaborative effort. As a band, Calexico has undeniable chemistry that shined last night, and Beam is clearly a well-respected addition to the band. They played a collective set of each other’s songs, together, not within separate sets. Trumpeter Jacob Valenzuela really adds flavor to the sound, especially when given the opportunity to sing “Flores y Tamales,” which showcases the band’s Tex-Mex influence. Rob Burger pulled double duty throughout the night as he played the accordion and the organ. They were a singular unit for the entirety of the night. This really magnified their own appreciation for each other’s music and Beam’s voice accentuated the Calexico songs in the set, while the band added a sonic sound to the Iron & Wine songs. The extended jam of “The Bitter Suite” was something to witness as the band played off each other so well throughout the eight or nine minutes of the song, often turning and looking at each other while playing their parts. Of course, they played a few songs from their latest album, Years to Burn, including “Father Mountain,” “Follow the Water,” and their encore song was the album’s opening track “What Heaven’s Left,” which was the perfect capstone to a night of gorgeous melodies and boot-stomping western tunes.
One of the best moments of the night, though, was when Beam and Burns remained on the stage, mid-set, and played a trilogy of acoustic songs, including “Naked as We Came” from Iron & Wine’s album Our Endless Numbered Days. The whole night felt like quite a treat for the audience, given the fact that it was a mid-winter, Tuesday night show. It was just what I needed to help me push through the rest of the week, not to mention the next few grueling weeks of winter here in New England. Iron & Wine plus Calexico play music to warm you up from the inside-out. Everyone left with a smile of satisfaction on their faces. They only played for about 90 minutes, but even that did not seem to matter to anyone in the crowd, because they got more than what they paid for with a set that included about 18 career-spanning songs.
