Country-punk forefather Alejandro Escovedo returns to the Grey Eagle

Alejandro Escovedo might be on the edge of a comeback of sorts. Comeback assumes someone went away; Escovedo hasn’t. His career dates back to first-wave punk band The Nuns. That was in San Francisco, circa 1975 — the same year the Sex Pistols got their start in London. By the ‘80s, Escovedo had relocated to Austin, Tex. where he joined cow punk outfit Rank and File, a precursor to many of today’s roots-rock acts. Escovedo’s solo career launched in the early ‘90s — in ‘98 he was named artist of the decade by No Depression.

You can read more about Escovedo here.

The comeback part comes in with his string of SXSW appearance this spring — one of which included an opening slot for Springsteen (who found his first success with “Born to Run” around the same time Escovedo, his contemporary, was launching the Nuns). Like Springsteen, Escovedo has inspired a generation of musicians (e.g. Ryan Adams); his new album, Big Station, due out June 5, is already getting great reviews.

In advance of that release, Escovedo plays The Grey Eagle on Friday, June 1. 9 p.m., $15 in advance or $18 day of the show.

One more thing about that show: Jesse Malin (below) opens. I actually saw him perform in Austin, Tex. while I was waiting for Escovedo — he was excellent. He not only looks like a rocker, but rocks like one. He got his start in hardcore band Heart Attack and then sang lead for glam rock band D Generation during the ‘90s.

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About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

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