Calexico unplugged: Power outage derails L.A. show

By Chris Barton

Oct. 25, 2012 12 AM PT

Fans of Tucson desert-noir band Calexico no doubt went home disappointed Wednesday night as an electrical outage apparently caused by a mischievous animal in a substation left the Henry Fonda Theater in the dark.

Still, you can’t accuse the band of not trying. Before the show was called off, bandleader Joey Burns took the stage with an indeterminate number of musicians (it was dark, after all) to lead the band through a very unplugged version of the live staple “Minas de Cobre” backed by accordion and mariachi horns.

The band has promised to return in early 2013, which Burns promised, under the harsh light of a cellphone, will be a party. Given the band’s commitment to leave their fans with something on an unforgiving night, there’s little reason to doubt his word.

Watch -- or at least listen -- to the video below for a reminder that even the shortest concerts are powered by something more than electricity.