On his scorching, cinematic new concept album ‘The Crossing’ (Sept 14 / Yep Roc), Alejandro Escovedo tells the story of two young immigrants – Salvo from Italy, and Diego from Mexico – working in a Texas restaurant in pursuit of the American dream. Mirroring Escovedo’s own experience as the child of Mexican immigrants, and drawing inspiration from his relationship with Italian co-writer Antonio Gramentieri, their journey navigates cultural identity, ancestral weight, minority rights and racism as they realize they have arrived in a different America – one that’s not as open and free as they believed it would be.

Listen to the first track “Sonica USA” HERE via NPR. Featuring Wayne Kramer of MC5 on guitar, the scorcher serves as an ode to the 70s punk scene where Escovedo found solace as a Mexican-American growing up in Austin, and the solidarity he found in his brother’s own pioneering punk band the Zeros.

Pre-Order the record HERE

Says Escovedo: “Early on I’d play in San Marcos, San Antonio and get all these Chicano kids in denim vests and Iron Maiden patches. I remember thinking they were into us, not necessarily for the music, but for the fact that we were on stage. They loved that we were doing what we were doing.”

Escovedo crossed borders of his own for ‘The Crossing’ sessions, recording outside the US for the first time ever at a farmhouse in Villafranca, Northern Italy with the help of co-producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Gomez, Iron & Wine). Italian all-instrumental group Don Antonio – helmed by co-writer Antonio Gramentiere – bring the record’s narrative to life with their sweeping arrangements, while cameos from Kramer and The Stooges’ James Williamson serve as reminders that Escovedo’s punk ethos burns bright (both bands name are checked in the lyrics as well). Elsewhere on the record, alt-country pioneer Joe Ely features on both the title track and his self-penned “Silver City”, while Peter Perrett and John Perry from UK legends The Only Ones reunite for their first recording in almost 40 years on “Waiting For Me.”

Alejandro Escovedo will kick off an international tour later this summer, with Don Antonio joining him on the road as backing band. See full routing below, more dates to be announced soon.

‘The Crossing’ is available for pre-order here: http://yeproc.11spot.com/alejandro-escovedo-the-crossing-bundle.html

‘The Crossing’ Track List:

Andare
Footsteps In The Shadows
Texas Is My Mother
Teenage Luggage
Something Blue
Outlaw For You
Amor Puro
Waiting For Me
How Many Times
Cherry Blossom Rain
Sonica USA
Rio Navidad
Silver City
Fury and Fire
Flying
MC Overload
The Crossing

ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO TOUR DATES:

July 22 – Interstella Rodeo Festival – Edmonton, Alberta (w/ US band)
Aug 8 – The Grove KGSR BBQ – Austin, TX (w/ US band)
Aug 19 – City Winery – Boston, MA*
Aug 20 – City Winery – New York, NY*
Aug 21 – City Winery – Washington, DC*
Aug 23 – The Ark – Ann Arbor, MI*
Aug 24 – Old Town School of Folk Music – Chicago, IL*
Aug 25 – Dakota Jazz Club – Minneapolis, MN*
Sept 8 – Mushroom Festival – Kennett Square, PA
Sept 12-13 – Americana Fest – Nashville, TN
Oct 13 – Kafe del Teatro – Lleida, Spain
Oct 14 – Loco – Valencia, Spain
Oct 16 – Tempo – Madrid, Spain
Oct 19 – De Posthoorn – Hamont-Achel, Belgium
Oct 20 – Ramblin Roots Festival – Utrecht, Holland
Oct 22 – Boule Noir – Paris, France
Oct 23 – De Zwerver – Leffinge, Belgium
Oct 25 – Gosforth Civic – Newcastle, UK
Oct 26 – Oran Mor – Glasgow, UK
Oct 27 – The Hubs – Sheffield, UK
Oct 28 – The Lending Room – Leeds, UK
Oct 30 – Bush Hall – London, UK
Oct 31 – Hen & Chicken – Bristols, UK
Nov 1 – Bullingdon – Oxford, UK

*solo dates with Joe Ely