Alejandro Escovedo & The Minus 5 – World Café Live – Philadelphia, PA – January 8, 2017 (A PopEn

Updated: Mar 20, 2020

Alejandro Escovedo featuring The Minus 5 – World Café Live – Philadelphia, PA – January 8, 2017 – Photo by Chris Sikich © 2017

Alejandro Escovedo & The Minus 5 – World Café Live – Philadelphia, PA – January 8, 2017

On Sunday, January 8, Philadelphia was treated to one of the finest rock shows to be witnessed during all of 2017. Alejandro Escovedo rode into town to celebrate his rocking 2016 record Burn Something Beautiful. He brought along a rich cast of rock characters to breathe electric fire into a cold night.

Joining Escovedo was Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows), Kurt Bloch (The Fastbacks) and Linda Pitmon (Zuzu’s Petals) (filling in for the record’s drummer John Moen). A true all-star rock slam commenced. Bloch zipped across stage while Buck joyously jammed with Escovedo. McCaughey and Pitmon brought fiery zest while Escovedo led the charge with his brilliant lyrics and guitar work. From the opening song in “Heartbeat Smile” to the encore closing necessity of “Always a Friend,” it was a dream come true.

The McCaughey-led The Minus 5 opened, which is all of the headlining band minus Escovedo. They brought the rock and special guests. Beginning with Wesley Stace on the rarely heard “Boeing Spacearium” and bringing out Philly drummer Patrick Berkery as well as Steve Wynn of The Dream Syndicate fame, it was wall-to-wall brilliance at World Café Live.

Chris Sikich