Bourbonitis Blues
Alejandro and his "classical glam" Orchestra at their finest: off the cuff, loose and tight.
Bourbonitis Blues was recorded straight up, no chaser, (in Chicago, Austin, and Chapel Hill) in down home style--this is Alejandro and his "classical glam" Orchestra at their finest: off the cuff, loose and tight, and a 9 song buffet showcasing the power of their incredible live shows.
Pulled together from three different sessions, it shows the breadth of Alejandro's skills. All very different, they are all thoroughly compelling representations of a man who would come to Chicago several times a year and destroy the room, quietly or loudly, every time.
Four songs were recorded live on the stage of a site of frequent Alejandro shows: Fitzgerald's in Berwyn IL. We brought in a remote studio, a bunch of friends and the band (with cello and violin) knocked these out in couple hours before the doors opened. "I Was Drunk" was a new song at the time and is now part of Alejandro's canon of classics and live staple. "Sacramento & Polk" is a full on raunchy rock assault about his days living in SF. "Pale Blue Eyes" is a Velvet Underground cover done sparsely and gorgeously with guest vocalist Kelly Hogan; it's the sound in-between heartbeats. "California Blues" is what happens when we let Jon Langford near a stage. He got up and stole the limelight on the Jimmie Rogers classic.
Three Songs were recorded by Chris Stamey (dB's) in Chapel Hill. It's a quieter line up. Haunting covers of Ian Hunter ("Irene Wild"), John Cale ("Amsterdam") and a deconstructed creepy version of the Gun Club's "Sex Beat" featuring Melissa Swingle from Trailer Bride.
The last song, the original "Guilty," was recorded in Austin with his TX boys and struts right out of prime-time Stones territory.
So, if you've ever had trouble picking WHICH Alejandro you like best, this is your album. It's a taste of it all.
