Austin City Limits/Sufjan Stevens/Calexico

Sufjan Stevens/Calexico
Season 32, Episode 5
Airdate	November 4, 2006
Written by
Directed by	Gary Menotti
← 32x04 Alejandro Escovedo	32x06 → Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Austin City Limits — Season Thirty-Two

Sufjan Stevens/Calexico is the sixteenth episode of the thirty-second season of Austin City Limits. It is the first appearance by both artists and features a special appearance by Iron & Wine.

Guest Stars: Sufjan Stevens (Himself), Calexico (Themselves)

Special Guests: Iron & Wine (Themselves), Salvador Duran (Himself)

Episode Breakdown

• Sufjan Stevens: Stevens was accompanied by strings and sections, as well as a bassist, rhythm guitarist, back-up singer and drummer. Everyone on stage wore a similar distinct costume which included giant ostentatious butterfly wings taped to their backs. Stevens' wings, however, were more expansive and looked more like bird wings. These uniforms are what are typically worn in an average Sufjan Stevens live show. His music has been described in several ways, including experimental folk, indie and baroque pop.
  • Jacksonville
  • Casimir Pulaski Day
  • The Dress Looks Nice on You
  • Oh Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head!
• Calexico: Following Sufjan Stevens were Calexico, an alternative country band named for a border town in California. The band, in a stark contrast to the group which preceded it, is far more minimalist and is tied directly to its country music roots. Also appearing during the set are Sam and Sarah Beam, most commonly known as the band Iron & Wine.
  • Across the Wire
  • Not Even Stevie Nicks
  • El Picador
  • Sunken Waltz
  • Letter to Bowie Knife
  • He Lays in the Reins
  • All Systems Red
• Interview: Joey Burns from Calexico talks about collecting instruments for use in their albums (examples given include accordion, mandolin, banjo, cello and pedal steel) and the necessity of asking musicians to join the band and play those instruments during their live shows. Despite the constant additions of temporary members, the core six members of the band have been the same since its creation. Burns also talks about how he was influenced by discovering lounge artists in used record bins after he moved to Arizona.

Trivia

The Show

• The Band: The accompanying orchestra of artists for Sufjan Stevens' performance were shown on screen as follows:

Shara Worden - guitar, celeste, piano, tambourine

Casey Foubert - guitar, bass, piano

James McAlister - drums, percussion, celeste, piano

Maria Jeffers - cello

Marla Hansen - viola

Olivier Manchon - violin

Rob Moose - violin, guitar

Leigh Mahoney - violin

Sara Nelson - cello

Ames Asbell - viola

Tracy Seeger - violin

CJ Camerieri - trumpet

Ben Lanz - trombone

Chris Moore - trumpet

• Cameo: During Calexico's set, they brought out several artists to accompany them on stage fpr "He Lays in the Reins." This notably included Sam and Sarah Beam from Iron & Wine and Salvador Duran. The groups collaborated on an EP released in 2005 entitled In the Reins.

Allusions and References

• Jack White: Sufjan Stevens dedicated his last song, "Oh Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head!" to Jack White, singer and guitarist for The White Stripes (and to himself). White, like Stevens, also hails from Detroit, Michigan.

Sufjan Stevens: This song is for Jack White.