Borderline cases

>> Calexico catch their dry heat on digital video

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Calexico, California, is a dusty little town straddling the Mexican border where locals try to beat the heat, clutching ice-cold Coors, swatting flies on gas-station porches, whiling away afternoons spinning yarns. Like many border towns, the years of two distinct cultures clashing have finally given way to a culture all its own. So it would seem that Calexico, CA, is the obvious choice for this Tucson band's name, given their penchant for letting Tex-Mex, electronica, country, mariachi and spaghetti-western scores rub shoulders so comfortably with lyrics that seem plucked right off the pages of a cheap pulp novel.

"Actually, I've never even been to Calexico," admits multi-instrumentalist John Convertino. "Everybody thinks we came up with the name because the cross of cultures or whatever, but we were originally called Spoke. There was a metal band in Florida called that, so we had to change the name quick. We saw a turnoff sign that said Calexico on Interstate 8 near San Diego and just thought it was a good name. I guess I could make up a story about the time I went to Calexico and ran out of gas or something but we just thought it sounded good."

Director John Pirozzi has made three short films using Calexico's music, with The Black Light actually being filmed in the namesake town. Pirozzi's three films are included in the CD-ROM section of the band's new disc Even My Sure Things Fall Through. Also included are some remixes from their incredible Hot Rail record and some rare B-sides. This is no cheap gimmick or contractual-obligation record, as songs are taken in completely new and different directions, coming out sounding remarkably fresh.

"We thought it would be a good idea to release these songs that were only available in Europe, so people in North America could hear them. Also, Joey always wanted to remix 'Sonic Wind' as well as give people a chance to see these videos. It's almost worthless to do videos, because they aren't played anywhere, but we really liked them. So now, at least, some people will see them. For us it's just great to get this stuff out there so we can just move on."

At Cabaret on Tuesday, June 19, 9pm, $14.50