Califone at the Lexington

Califone are an experimental burst of talent from Chicago, determined to make their mark. The four-piece on stage are definitively elegant and austere, just like the beautiful city they hail from. Thanks to their attitude and great songs, this show at the Lexington in Angel was undoubtedly one of the best of this month.

Califone’s frontman Tim Rutili is unexpectedly friendly and funny on the stage, contrasting with his dark folk-rock with deep and sad lyrics – All my Friends are Funeral Singers is a striking example.  

Wisely doled out between old songs (The Orchids, Fisherman’s Wife, Sunday Noises) are tracks taken from their latest release Stitches (Moses, Movie Music Kills a Kiss, Frosted Tips). The concert is a perfect showcase of Califone’s compositional skills and stylistic choices: a folk-rock foundation with some post-rock elements. Particularly heard in the intro and outro of songs, a touch of psych and post-rock edge emerge thanks to pedals, loopers and effects.  

But the band is not limited to this – there’s a heavy pop component, which makes the music more friendly; and it’s Wilco-esque in few moments, aligning the band in the same set as Jim O’Rourke, Akron/Family, Deerhoof and Low. All the songs in the live dimension have a more complex and different arrangement, highly appreciated by the audience, involved and enthusiastic.

Califone are an experienced and educated band, who manage to mix pop and folk with an austere, deconstructive attitude. There is something magic about this band – everyone should follow their sound.

Lorenzo Cibrario
Photos: Erol Birsen 

For further information and future events visit Califone’s website here.

Watch the video for Frosted Tips here: