Calexico and Iron & Wine | still from video
Get ready for Calexico and Iron & Wine’s Union Transfer show by watching their Tiny Desk Concert
Everyone loves a good Tiny Desk Concert. Iron & Wine frontman, Sam Beam, seems to love performing behind the desk more than he loves watching the series. Beam has played the iconic venue (can a desk be a venue? We think so…) once as Iron & Wine and another alongside Jesca Hoop. For Beam’s third appearance, he is joined by Joey Burns and John Convertino, otherwise known as Calexico. Iron & Wine and Calexico just released their second collaborative album, Years to Burn, in June. The folk-rock supergroup’s Tiny Desk Concert offers fans a glimpse into what they can expect from their September 20th show at Union Transfer.
Despite this being Calexico’s first time behind the desk, they perform as comfortably and confidently as Beam. As they all work through “Father Mountain” and “Midnight Sun,” both off their latest record, they do so with a strong sense of patience and passion. Calexico and Iron & Wine wed their different approaches to music so effortlessly. It makes you wonder why they aren’t always a package deal.
In addition to two Years to Burn tracks and some mild teasing from Beam, the group also performs a track from their first collaborative album. “He Lays In the Reins,” the song that opens 2005’s In Reins, is a soothing, albeit heartbreaking end to the set. If this Tiny Desk Concert teaches you anything, it should be you should bring tissues to the group’s shows.
Watch Calexico and Iron & Wine’s Tiny Desk Concert below. Find tickets and more information for their Friday, September 20th show at Union Transfer on the XPN Concert Calendar.