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When I got sick I wasn't sure if it was the result of my throwing myself into this rock 'n' roll life that had made me sick. I kind of blamed it for a while. Later, I found that that wasn't the case, but, I think in the end it's just about the music now - for the first time really, other than when I was a kid listening to it. -Alejandro Escovedo |
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Always A Friend
 Alejandro Escovedo & Chuck Prophet |
With Real Animal, Escovedo, for the first time, created an album comprised entirely of collaborations. Old friend Chuck Prophet co-wrote the entire album, and plays guitar and sings on the record. The two have known each other since the mid-1980s when True Believers shared bills with Prophet's Green On Red.
"Initially, it was my idea to tell this story about my musical life, my musical journey. But a lot of that had to do with bands I was in such as the True Believers and Rank and File, and Chuck was always part of that scene in a way. So, not only do I consider him in the highest order in terms of a songwriter and a guitar player, but he's a great guy and a good friend of mine, so I thought it might be a good time to seek him out to collaborate," says Escovedo.
The two of them concocted a technique to craft the songs into a compelling storyline. They'd just hang out and roll tape as Escovedo recounted all the stories of his early bands. Then they'd go back and listen to the tapes and pull certain lines and ideas from them to craft the songs. The approach produced a powerful song cycle, with the final sound of the album heavily influenced by producer Tony Visconti, who produced legendary records by David Bowie and T. Rex that were essential listening for Escovedo. "All of those records that Tony produced [were] like a lifeline," says Escovedo. "I remember him asking me when we were going to mix the record, he said, 'Bring some of the records you like the sound of.' I said, 'I don't have to bring them. You are all the records that I love.'"
The album is bathed in the glam-punk ethos of those old albums. "Golden Bear" even contains an overt reference, in the form of a very recognizable keyboard effect, to Bowie's "Ashes To Ashes." "I wanted all of those things from the records he had made," says Escovedo, "the background vocals, the instrumentation and those weird little sounds. I definitely wanted that."
The album also carries Escovedo's traditional utilization of string sections. "[Tony] pays a lot of attention to arrangements and a lot of attention to the string section," says Escovedo. Throughout his solo career, Escovedo has employed the use of strings - violins and cellos in particular - in his music. On occasion, he's even doubled the instruments — two violins, two cellos — in his String Quintet. That group put out the self-released album Roomful of Songs in 2005.
 Alejandro Escovedo at Wakarusa 2008 by N. Rodriguez |
"In the beginning it was just that the strings really lent themselves to the words I was singing and the moods of the songs," he says. "We finally realized that that album Street Hustle by Lou Reed, that was the direction we wanted to go in with strings. At that point, it became more aggressive and more upfront with the electric guitars. I don't think it's been until this record that we've really nailed it. I give Tony a lot of credit for that."
That realization is no more apparent than on the more punk-edged selections like "Nun's Song," where the angular strings provide an aggressive push to the song's anthemic abandon, or when the strings decorate the chugging guitar grind of "Chelsea." Elsewhere, the string parts exhibit more traditional orchestral beauty on "Sensitive Boys" and "Swallows of San Juan," but they are always a part of the tapestry. "It's always been great to have strings. I just love 'em," says Escovedo. "The players - Susan Voelz on violin and Brian Standefer on cello - are the best as far as I'm concerned. So, I think there will never be a time when I don't have strings."
So Much To Live For, It's Not Too Late
 Alejandro Escovedo |
This summer will find Escovedo touring heavily, performing the new material before enormous crowds. He has already played the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Wakarusa and he did a number of monster shows supporting the Dave Matthews Band.
"I think it changes [your approach] because you amplify everything in a way," Escovedo says of playing to such large crowds. "It has to be broader, larger. You have to address more people. It's funny how it happens naturally in a way. Because we've been playing in clubs for so long, we're quite comfortable in a club, but given the opportunity, when we finally get a chance to reach out to a lot of people, it's a real kind of turn-on."
Escovedo recently sat in with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at a show in Houston, performing Real Animal's gleefully exuberant leadoff track, "Always A Friend." "I got a taste of that response from that many people," he says. "It was pretty amazing. I could see where someone could get addicted to it."
He'll bring the strings out on most of the big summer shows, and on television appearances including Late Night with Conan O'Brien on June 20 and The Late Show with David Letterman on August 7. However, the club shows will feature the stripped down band of Alejandro on guitar and vocals, Josh Gravelin on bass, Hector Munoz on drums and David Pulkingham on guitar - just the kind of "four piece band" he's always wanted.
Alejandro Escovedo tour dates available here.
Behind the scenes of Real Animal with Alejandro Escovedo:
Bruce Springsteen with Alejandro Escovedo - Houston 2008:
JamBase | Heartlands
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