A bombastic set from Alejandro Escovedo brought down thunder at Voodoo – literally.

Alejandro Escovedo has been through a lot over the course of a career that’s lasted nearly thirty years.  He started in the seminal punk band the Nuns, who had the distinction of opening for the Sex Pistols on their single, U.S. disastrous tour; he went on to become one of the founding fathers of alt-country with Austin bands Rank and File and the True Believers in the 80’s.

After nearly succumbing to hepatitis C in the late 90’s, Alejandro bounced back, and at nearly 60 years old, he took the stage at Voodoo looking fit, if battle-scarred.  With his face half obscured by dark shades, fronting a band clad all in black, he tore through a razor-sharp, take-no-prisoners set of buzzy, blistering country-tinged punk rock n’ roll.

The band left the stage a good half-hour before they were scheduled to, but returned for a two-song encore.  Up till then, the day had been blustery, but sunny, hot and humid.  But as he unleashed the stomping, honky tonk rhythm of “Castanets”, the sky began to darken.  When he dedicated the closer, David Bowie’s “All The Young Dudes”, to Iggy Pop, a cold wind suddenly snaked through the crowd.  And as he left the stage, the first chilly raindrops began to fall.

So the man in black and his vicious guitar were gone.  The storm howled in soaking City Park.  Night fell.

Can you control the weather with rock n’ roll?

I’m just saying.

By Allison Fendsterstock – nola.com

http://www.nola.com/voodoofest/index.ssf/2009/10/a_bombastic_set_from_alejandro.html