There are important shows and there are Important Shows. The 2008 version of Go Vote, put on by Stateside Presents, would obviously fall in the latter, capitalized category.

In conjunction with congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Calexico, Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World and Mariachi Luz de Luna will perform Sept. 20 at Rialto Theatre in Tucson as a way to encourage young people to get out and vote.

You’ll recall a similar show a couple years ago in Tempe with Jimmy Eat World and the Format in support of congressman Harry Mitchell, who later won his election.

Tickets ($15-$35) are available at Giffords’ Web site. Ticket sales benefit Giffords for Congress.

From what I’m told, Giffords used to go see Calexico at Solar Culture Gallery back in the day. She’s the one also responsible for sending the Calexico tune Crystal Frontier into space.

More to come, as I’m working on a freelance story about this, but I do know Calexico will be backing up Adkins for some songs.

• Calexico | Two Silver Trees
• Jimmy Eat World | Electable (Give it Up)

Promotional video for the show:

This one is making its way quickly around the Internets, but with Calexico being from Arizona and all, it’s my duty to spread the wealth.

The band recently teased us with a video trailer for the new album, Carried to Dust (due out Sept. 9 … two days after my birthday … just sayin’.).

I’ve always loved Calexico for staying true to its Tucson/Arizona roots. I’ve said it before, but I think Calexico is the rare band that actually offers a sonic representation of its hometown. Calexico just sounds like the Southwest.

Here’s the tracklisting for Carried to Dust:

1. Victor Jara’s Hands
2. Two Silver Trees
3. The News About William
4. Sarabande In Pencil Form
5. Writer’s Minor Holiday
6. Man Made Lake
7. Inspiración
8. House of Valparaiso
9. Slowness
10. Bend To The Road
11. El Gatillo (Trigger Revisited)
12. Fractured Air (Tornado Watch)
13. Falling From Sleeves
14. Red Blooms
15. Contention City

• Calexico | Two Silver Trees

As always, for more on what’s happening in Tucson, visit the outstanding Catfish Vegas.

Like my friend Weiss, I’m going to use this space to promote my freelancing exploits, if only because I’d be writing about these artists on my blog anyway.

Zachary James Dodds is a guitarist in Phoenix folk band The Via Maris, and when I first saw him — in an opening slot for the Cave Singers — I greatly admired his ability to speak candidly in front of a rather large gathering, something I’ve always dreaded.

As I say in the review, it’s almost stunning that someone so young is sharing such vivid tales. It’s great to see such promising artists like this in town.

That said, you can download his five-song EP, One More Life, at his MySpace page for free.

Read the review in the Phoenix New Times.

• Zachary James Dodds | If I Leave

How can you not love Calexico and the Quarterstick/Touch & Go family? After news that the group’s song Crystal Frontier was being played on the Space Shuttle Discovery, the label has decided to make it available as a free download for Earthlings.

From a MySpace bulletin:

Maybe you remember our super awesome news last week about Calexico getting played IN SPACE.

Special Thanks to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a big Calexico fan, and her husband, Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly for making this happen.

• Calexico | Crystal Frontier

There’s also that news of a new Calexico full-length in the offing. Doesn’t look like Absent Afternoon made the final cut (unless the title changed).

Anyone who has read this blog knows that Source Victoria means more to me than the average band.

Now you have no reason to not listen to me: The band is offering its 2007 release, The Fast Escape, as a free download – with liner notes, album art and all (mp3s are 320 kbps, by the way) – until 11:59 p.m. May 2. The band plays Hollywood Alley on May 3.

Venture to sourcevictoria.net and click “take the fast escape” for a download of a zip file.

A little background on The Fast Escape: Chris Testa, who won three Grammys for his work on the Dixie Chicks’ The Long Way, mixed the record. (His other credits.)

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World praised the band, and The Arizona Republic ran a story about the free download.

Read more in a recent Phoenix New Times article.

• Source Victoria | A Punch to the Nose