Nakia Sings With Alejandro Escovedo & Buick MacKane

Hi folks! Nakia here.

About a week ago I saw Alejandro Escovedo in an amazing early morning performance at Whole Foods in support of HAAM Benefit Day. It was phenomenal for sure. Afterward, I said hello and out of the blue, Al says, “When you gonna come sing with us?” to which I quickly replied, “When & where?” – LOL! He mentioned they would be starting up a new residency at the Continental Club in November and December and to “brush up on my Stones.”

I went off to my workout over at Castle Hill and didn’t think much more of it.

Then Saturday after my show at Jovita’s, I rushed over to catch his band Buick MacKane’s much talked about reunion show at Hole In The Wall. Simply put it was the best rock show I have seen in years and certainly the best one in Austin since moving here in ’02. I can’t believe people used to get to see this all the time! I arrived toward the middle of the set and went straight up front to join my friends Nanette and Roggie. Everyone was there. It seemed like 500 people were packed in that room and the guitars were wailing so loud I had heard them as I approached the building a half a block away.

At the end of the set, Al cut into some real rock and the band started up “All The Young Dudes.” As I looked up, Al looked at me and then looked over at the mic as he looked back and nodded me up. I have to admit, at first I looked around to make sure he was talking to me. I kinda did the “Are you sure” look and he nodded again, so I hopped up. He pointed me to David Fairchild’s mic and the song kicked in. Almost immediately, Paul Minor was on stage behind me with that famous grin of his. We sang a chorus together and as I turned to look back at Joe Eddy Hines jangling a riff, I saw Matt Meshbane take the stage as well. After a quick hug, Matt moved over to the mic with Paul and I backed off and joined Alejandro on his mic for a chorus or two. At that point it was a blur.

As the song ended, I thanked Al and he told me “Stick around – we’re going to do Shine A Light.” I thanked him and took my place again up front. I think it was Raoul Hernandez from the Austin Chronicle who helped me down from the stage and I remember saying something stupid like, “Holy shit!” or “Oh my God!” Two more songs and Shine A Light came up and Al looked down at me as he said, “We’re gonna need some backup on this one,” and this time he pointed at me and waived me up. He told me to introduce myself and then he called for the crowd to give me a hand. It was sweet of him to say the least.

The song started, Al began to sing and my skin was covered in goosebumps. This was unlike any experience I had known yet on stage. I can’t explain it really, but it certainly is a credit to Alejandro’s level of talent and cool. As the chorus approached he looked over to me and I let out the best chorus I had in me and I was lost in the moment. Thank God that DaveTV.org was there to film it all and snap pics. I know some other folks did too, but as of yet these are all I have seen. If you have more or see them online, please contact me. It’s times like these that I never ever want to forget.