TORONTO -- Thankfully, their music brought the heat.
Calexico's appearance at the Phoenix Concert Theatre Tuesday night seemed a bit out of place, since the sun-bleached sounds of the Tucson, Ariz.-based band contrasted with the venue's frigid temperatures.
The group, which recently released its sixth LP, Carried to Dust, has gained fame for its eclectic repertoire, mixing Americana, indie rock and traditional Mexican sounds into a genre-hopping style that some have dubbed "desert noir."
Unfortunately, the Phoenix felt more like an arctic ice bowl than a desert, as patrons checked their coats only to ask for them back a few minutes later. Chilly air seeped into the place, and the prevalence of people wearing gloves and furry hats made you feel like you were standing in an outdoor venue.
When openers Cuff the Duke hit the stage, they addressed the issue right away.
"It's cold up here, so we're gonna try to warm it up," said Wayne Petti, the group's singer and guitarist. The Oshawa-based band made good on that promise, tearing through a refreshingly inspired set, as if the musicians were trying their best because of an inherent respect for the headliners.
The alt-country band, in its first time playing the Phoenix, performed a series of catchy songs such as Remember the Good Times and Rossland Square, the latter being one of the best love songs to a hometown ever.
After the openers left the stage, the venue became three-quarters full and the temperature rose slightly. Calexico's set began with just two band members, frontman Joey Burns and steel guitarist Paul Niehaus.
"Hello Phoenix!" Burns shouted to the crowd, making a joke that the American city with the same name was likely a few degrees hotter. The two musicians went into Bisbee Blue, and Burns altered the lyrics to include nods to the Blue Jays and references to Barack Obama's election victory.
He then called out the other four musicians in the group, and the decibel level soared as the band unveiled the power of its twin mariachi trumpets, a sound that must be heard live to be truly appreciated.
Drummer John Convertino maintained a solid beat during songs such as Man Made Lake and Roka, holding his sticks like a jazz percussionist and occasionally using brushes, mallets and shakers.
While the talented backing band kept things interesting by rotating instruments, they also looked extremely bored at times, standing on the sidelines with their thumbs in their belt loops. Couldn't they have grabbed a shaker or something?
And, unfortunately, the group's southern borderlands music became a bit dull after a while, especially during lengthy instrumental parts and Niehaus' skilled-but-shrill guitar solos.
Thankfully, Burns' electrifying presence kept audience members interested, as he proved his showmanship with intricate strumming and improvisational lyrics about the frosty weather. He seemed to be in a good mood, like the kind of person who laughs off winter discomfort with an old joke and a shot of something strong.
Crowd favourites such as Alone Again Or and newer tunes such as Two Silver Trees brought the set to a close, with audience members finally able to unzip their jackets a little.
And even though patrons eventually had to leave the venue and revisit the cold air, the band was able to bring Torontonians a brief moment of warmth, a short, dusty glimpse of the Mexican sun.
Sun Rating: 4 out of 5
