2008’s ‘Real Animal, 2010’s ‘Street Songs of Love’ and on this tour 2012’s ‘Big Station’ all have a rock side to some hauntingly good lyrics served up by Mr.Escovedo. His monikor for this go ’round was Alejandro Escovedo & the Sensitive Boys and they brought home the bacon, especially lead guitarist Billy White.This outfit has been on the road since May and this was their next-to-the-last stop at the super cool and comfy confines of the Dosey Doe Music Cafe. AE said excuse them because they may be a bit ‘ragged’, but from what I saw they were selling themselves short big time.

Tearing into the sobering ‘Sally Was A Cop’ from the new one got your attention and then by the second tune Escovedo strapped on the electric and it was on. He gets a label, which I think he wears quite well, of being a garage rock icon. So be it. That conotation can be hailed by some of someone who can not really play, but turns it up and mashes. This outfit is far from that vein, folks. Escovedo seems to passionately embrace the very foundation of rock ‘n’ roll. How AE can mix in driving shrill guitar  with tantalizing stop and think about it lyrics is masterful.

Many highlights occurred this night and were all over the board. ‘Try Try Try’ tenderly dedicated to all the mothers out there, ‘Bottom of the World’ was a very potent song about Austin, Texas where he calls home now and ‘San Antonio Ring’ about his hometown San Antonio, Texas was touching about growing up in a family of twelve. I’ve had the pleasure of catching Escovedo many times and he seems better than ever right now at age 61. He demands a tight cohesion in his bandmates and White just smoked blazin’ hot throughout the night.

‘Swallows of San Juan’ showed AE’s tongue in cheek sense of humor as he described how he had to pose as Hawaiian while surfing in California so he wouldn’t get his ass kicked! Classic. I don’t know anybody in rock who uses the shout out of “Kemown” better than Alejandro does and it really amped up when they started a fire with ‘Chelsea Hotel ’78’ in an elongated version that included the whole house rockin’ and clappin’ along. ‘Castinets’ just poured gas on the flames followed by ‘Big Station’, ‘Man of the World’ and a scorching ‘Cant Make Me Run’.  Yikes.

Dude then comes back for a 3 song encore and tops it off asking for a request!  Barrels into a spot on Rolling Stones’ ‘Beast of Burden’ that sent the crowd home lovin’ it!  Alejandro Escovedo is not only a survivor, but a preserver of the very backbone of live rockin’ music.  The man said it best himself:  “What it means to me is that it takes you back to the source of the music that was so addictive to us, that we have grown to love and appreciate.”  The man is on a mission to bring garage rock to the masses and I’m following him for sure……

As far as our first visit to the Dosey Doe Music Cafe, Rose & I gave it a solid thumbs up!  Everybody from the lady taking tickets to the waitress at our table were beyond courteous and helpful.  Pinot Noir wine was very good and the grub there rocked.  The corn and crab soup was addicting and salmon with spinach was done just right.  Background music played at a rockin’ nice level that still allowed for conversation.  Definitely put this acoustically sound venue on your live music map boys & girls.   I know HMR has.

…Out until we cross paths out in music land!