Concert Review: Alejandro Escovedo – Tuning Fork March 15, 2019

If we ever needed the healing power of music, it was last night. Fortunately Alejandro Escovedo and Adam McGrath were there to help ease the pain of what had happened just a few hours earlier.

For us here at The 13^th Floor, the day started with a bit of musical magic when Alejandro and Adam (of The Eastern) arrived at our studio for a brief interview and a couple of songs. Because of our shared love of Mott The Hoople, Alejandro decided to sing I Wish I Was Your Mother, but not before teaching Adam McGrath the tune as we all watched. With cameras rolling, they performed the song together for the very first time and by the time they finished everyone in the room realized they had been in the presences of something very special.

It was a beautiful moment and Alejandro and his people left the studio with smiles all around.

But, just a few minutes later, that afterglow was shattered when we heard the news of the Christchurch shootings. Needless to say, we were devastated.

The remainder of the afternoon was left to watching news reports on TV and commiserating with neighbours at the local bar.

After wondering if the evening’s musical events should/would go on, I realized that there was really no place else I’d rather be than with like-minded individuals, whether they be friends or strangers, gathered together to listen to music together.

That’s what it’s there for.

The atmosphere at the Tuning Fork was different, for sure. But it was also welcoming.

Adam McGrath, a Christchurch native, suddenly became the obvious choice to be opening this show. Adam is, at heart, a folk singer, and, painful as it may have been for him, he fronted up and gave us a beautiful set of songs filled with love.

If Alejandro was a bit nervous or even unsure if he should be singing his songs on this night, it didn’t show.

Armed with only an acoustic guitar, Escovedo held the audience’s attention as much with his stories as with his songs. He spoke to us about his Mexican-American family, particularly his father, his days on the road with cowpunk pioneers Rank & File and basically the people and places he’s encountered over his long and rich career.

At approximately thirty minutes into his set he called for Adam McGrath and the two of them spent the following 30 minutes off stage and in the crowd playing and singing together, including another wonderful version of I Wish I Was Your Mother.

Then the two of them returned to the stage, McGrath accompanying Alejandro with an un-micced acoustic guitar as they played Sister Lost Soul, a tune Escovedo saves for times when beloved artists pass away.

This was followed by Chelsea Hotel ’78…an ode to Sid Vicious…who Alejandro got to know after the Pistols split and then finishing with Down In The Bowery, a tune from his 2010 album, Street Songs Of Love.

And that’s exactly was needed on this dark night in New Zealand history…Songs Of Love.

Thank you, guys.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Veronica McLaughlin:

Alejandro Escovedo set list:

1. San Antonio Rain
2. Five Hearts Breaking
3. Texas Is My Mother
4. Teenage Luggage
5. Something Blue
6. Evening Gown
7. I Wish I Was Your Mother
8. Rosalie
9. Sister Lost Soul
10. Chelsea Hotel ‘78
11. Down In The Bowery