Shakey Graves at Terminal 5

After high school in his native Austin, Texas, Alejandro Rose-Garcia attempted a career in acting and relocated to Los Angeles, California. This proved more challenging than perhaps he anticipated; he eventually landed a recurring role in the television series Friday Night Lights and the Spy Kids franchise, but only after returning to Texas. He began busking as a one-man band, playing acoustic guitar and stepping on foot pedals  attached to a suitcase and a tambourine for percussion. This concept originated after he grew weary of borrowing kick drums and high hats for performances. Over a campfire at a music festival in 2007, he and some friends gave each other fictitious Native American-styled guide names over a campfire. He decided to keep his name, Shakey Graves. Graves won the Best Emerging Artist award at the 2015 Americana Music Awards. In 2018, Graves released his fifth and most recent album, Can't Wake Up, on May 4, and the Night Owl EP yesterday, September 21.

Shakey Graves started solo at Terminal 5 tonight, with his traditional one-man band set-up. The songs were rich with grit and soul, as Graves played twangy folk and blustery blues leads on his acoustic guitar and claimed his percussion via foot pedals on a suitcase and a tambourine. This performance was mesmerizing, as Graves filled the stage with intriguing sound. After three solo songs, he introduced his band, guitarist Patrick O’Connor, bass player Jonathan Shaw, and drummer Christopher Boosahda. The music turned to an entirely different direction. No longer even remotely Americana in flavor, the songs were imaginative and eclectic alternative-rock songs. Quite probably, many in the audience were not ready for this 180-degree switch, but he and his band competently performed these new songs that were charmed with intriguing vocals, grungy guitar work and complex arrangements. Graves returned to his better known boot-stomping solo performance for the last three songs before the encores. Graves may have ditched the cowboy hat and suspenders of his previous tours, but he has not totally abandoned his suitcase -- at least not yet.

Visit Shakey Graves at www.shakeygraves.com.

Setlist:

1. Nobody’s Fool (solo)
2. Roll the Bones (solo)
3. Word of Mouth (solo)
4. Pansy Waltz (Garth Nazarth Trilogy, Part 1)
5. Dining Alone (Garth Nazarth Trilogy, Part 2)
6. Excuses (Garth Nazarth Trilogy, Part 3)
7. The Perfect Parts (Desert jam intro)
8. Mansion Door
9. Big Bad Wolf
10. Counting Sheep
11. Family and Genus
12. Dearly Departed
13. Climb on the Cross (solo)
14. Tomorrow (solo)
15. Late July (solo)

Encore:

1. Foot of Your Bed
2. Cops and Robbers