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An intimate portrait

Alejandro Escovedo
Turner Hall
Milwaukee, WI
Apr. 9, 2009
Alejandro Escovedo

Story by Andrea Jenels
Photo by Angela Wangrud

Returning to Milwaukee for the second time in less than a year, Alejandro Escovedo seems to be building a strong rapport with his fans from Brew City. Still freshly promoting his latest solo effort Real Animal (which has been played immensely on the airwaves since its release in late 2008), there was a sense of urgency among the crowd in anticipation of him to take the stage. Escovedo opened the night at Turner Hall with no introduction or hellos (besides the quick tuning of his guitar) which thunderously rolled into the opening ballad. The gentle coos of guitar and violin intro laid the backdrop for Escovedo's bewitching voice. "Some people say the world's a strange and evil place, and all the shadows fall across your face because the world's a strange and evil place."

The band immediately rolled into the upbeat "Friend to Me," which got the crowd out of their seats and enthusiastically cheering and singing along with the buoyant pop tune. The band transitioned into each song thereafter without much interaction with the crowd. Escovedo touched on material from both past and present albums, viscerally painting a picture of the glory and the disdain he has felt throughout his long-standing career. The night was somewhat of an intimate portrait of Alejandro's life and career. His stage presence undoubtedly captured the attention of the crowd and proved that he is one of the most sincere performers to be fully realized in the past decade.

Related articles:

Real Animal - Album review - Aug. 2008
basement tapes session #11 - Live video and free music downloads - July 2008
Summerfest 2008 - Milwaukee, WI - July 2008
Alejandro Escovedo / Corey Chisel - Concert review - Milwaukee, WI - April 2008
Exclusive Interview - June 2006
The Boxing Mirror - Album review - May 2006

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