Alejandro Escovedo
Ballard Seafood Festival
July 26, 1998
photos & text by: Helen
Halloran
I could hardly believe that I was going to get the chance
to see Alejandro Escovedo play for free, in the great outdoors no less.
And at the Ballard Seafood Festival too! Who would've thought?
Alejandro brought his acoustic band in tow, the same members
that accompanied him to the Tractor Tavern in May.
You couldn't have asked for better weather, or entertainment. Seattleites
of all ages braved the hot sun in order to experience the musical genius
that is Alejandro Escovedo. It was well worth the sun exposure, let
me tell you!
Unfortunately, the pictures I took of this show didn't turn
out very well. The band was situated under a canopy which shielded
them from the sun. It also made for difficult photo taking as they
were in the shade and I wasn't. So bear with these too dark images.
Mr. Escovedo was in good spirits for a man who had just flown
in from Calgary early that morning after playing around three shows and/or
workshops (or so I heard) at the Calgary Folk Festival. He was funny
as all hell on this day too, joking in his self-depricating humor about
how many record labels he's been on, how few people in the audience seemed
to care about his long journey to Seattle that morning, and how he never
realized that there just might be an entire seafood festival circuit that
he could start playing. He did a similar mix of originals covers
as he did last time he was in Ballard. Michelle and I were overjoyed
that he did Mott the Hoople's "All The Young Dudes." Alejandro noticed
our enthusiastic response and referred to us as his "fan club, growing
in size every day." He is a damn hoot!
Alejandro played as long as he was allowed to, that is until
it was time for some festival organizers to administer the "Pledge of Allegiance
to Ballard." It was a very special day to be a citizen of Ballard
indeed! I spoke to Alejandro after the show, and he indicated that
he would be back in Seattle sometime in October! Let's hope so!
Next time the photos will turn out better, I promise!
To view some good photos of Mr. Escovedo, please see my
review of his show at the Tractor Tavern in May.
Please visit the Bloodshot
Records web site!
Please visit the No Depression
web site!
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