Tonight I'm taking off for a short East Coast tour to play in the backing band for a musician who is new and now dear to me. Sixto Rodriguez is a Detroit psychedelic-folk artist whose second (and last) album was recorded in 1971; he's become something of a legend in recent years, thanks to some wily Australian DJs and the nation of South Africa, where both Cold Fact and Coming to Reality found an enthusiastic audience in the 1990s.
The good people of Harvest Records put together a short East Coast lineup for Rodriguez and formed a backing band to follow him. I'm playing tenor sax, and you might also recognize Jon and Bob of Gestures on brass detail.
Let me tell you, without question, the preferred way to be introduced to a musician's catalog is to learn it and tour it. I'm not a professional musician; this is not something I do. I don't expect this to happen ever again, so I am totally thrilled at the opportunity.
Tonight, D.C. folks can see Rodriguez at the Rock n' Roll Hotel. On Thursday, Rodriguez is playing Johnny Brenda's in Philly, and then on Friday we play the Bowery Ballroom in New York. (Sheepishly thrilled to admit that my first visit to the Bowery Ballroom will be to play onstage. That is just silly.) Tomorrow, Rodriguez is also recording some tunes at WXPN for World Cafe, which is not broadcast live (enshalla)—look for that piece to appear over the next three weeks or so.
Such are the wonders of San Francisco that Rodriguez's instore performance at Amoeba appears online in a great interview/video segment. Here are a couple of Rodriguez's recording that you might also want to know:
If you make it out to any of those shows this week, make sure to stop and say hi—I'll be the one shaking in my boots holding a saxophone.
UPDATE: The Going-Out Gurus mention the Rodriguez show opposite The Thermals tonight. Indeed, I had tickets to The Thermals myself! But priorities, people—those guys will probably play here three times this year.
MORE: Brightest Young Things and the City Paper pick up the show. I have some hope that Rodriguez will pick up some Thermals fans! Playing against the Caps game 7 is a little more daunting.
Posted by Kriston at May 13, 2009 10:02 AMLOVE Rodriguez - you have just gone up several notches in my estimation - out of town and sad to miss the DC show. have fun!
Posted by: susana at May 14, 2009 9:22 AMRodriguez is excellent. congratulations.
Oddly, I went to the in-store performance at Amoeba shown in the video.
Posted by: lemmy caution at May 14, 2009 5:56 PM