Music at Gabe's lifted my blues

Sometime in the in the 1990s, encouraged by a music review written by Jim Musser in the Press-Citizen, and in (the early form of) the Little Village written by Joe Derderian, I ventured to a show at Gabe’s Oasis — Iowa City’s version of New York City's historic CBGB or Café Au Go Go. I was feeling depressed. Two things that help me feel better: music and dancing. So, I pulled myself out of bed, called a friend, and we headed to Gabe’s.

Gabe’s is located on East Washington Street, next to where the old KC Hall (Knights of Columbus) stood, and where my grandparents celebrated 50 years of marriage in June 1973.

This night, musician Alejandro Escovedo was touring with his band, and promoting the album, "More Miles than Money." Doug Roberson, guitarist, co-founder and front man for the Diplomats of Solid Sound booked the bands at Gabe’s and tended bar there. Escovedo’ s van broke down. The band was late. Still, when I noticed a small group of Iowa City music connoisseurs staying — I sensed we might be in for something special.

At first, the road-fatigued band got on the stage and lulled us with "Five Hearts Breaking." There were strings — either fiddler Susan Voelz or cellist Brian Standefer, I can’t remember. Tears started to flow down my cheeks as I watched the siluetas of the band, backlit by … a Budweiser sign. “Take the fire in your hands and place it at her feet….” Then, Escovedo rocked the crowd with the Stooges’ "I Wanna Be Your Dog." Like fellow alt-country rocker Dave Alvin, Escovedo has a range of music from quiet, soft, and traditional — to loud, hard, and punk rock.

It was a memorable night, and it lifted my depression. Alejandro Escovedo is a contemporary musician who has toured with many bands, from Bruce Springsteen to Los Lonely Boys. He is often the headliner, and he invites an emerging musician from Austin, Texas, to open for him. Alejandro is the seventh son in a large family of musicians. He is half-brother to Latin Jazz musicians Pete and the late Coke Escovedo, and he is uncle to Sheila E. (Prince’s drummer).

Thanks to Escovedo's stories, I have become familiar with the music of Townes Van Zandt and Mott the Hoople. Escovedo's cover of "I Wish I Was Your Mother" is a favorite; some others include: "One More Time," "Two Angels," "Sensitive Boys" and "Slow Down."

When I saw "By the Hand of the Father" at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, I was reminded of my grandfather’s stories. He was part of the Border Patrol from 1916 to 1917 — on horseback — in Brownsville, Texas. This was near the time Escovedo's father crossed the border as a child. My grandfather told us that he did not like how the U.S. government treated the poor Mexican people along the border. He would tell us not to judge a person by the color of their skin but on the quality of their character.

Escovedo has toured extensively and his latest album, "The Crossing"/"La Cruzada," is a collaboration with Italian musician Don Antonio. Escovedo and Antonio composed songs describing the journey of two young men — one from Mexico, one from Italy — who come to America to pursue their dreams.

In the 1980s my cousins Mercy, Bret, Bart, and Laurie started La Casa based on the recipes Mercy learned as a child traveling the states with her family picking sugar beets, tomatoes, corn, cherries, and cotton from April to December. Iowa football coach Hayden Fry would go to La Casa for Mercy’s cooking. Brett played football for Coach Fry. On the wall of the restaurant, was a picture of Brett and the family, published in the Press-Citizen, with a band (Los Lobos?). They were happy to welcome and feed the road-fatigued musicians in Iowa City.

“Get rhythm when you get the blues” is a line Johnny Cash sings. Music and dancing have often lifted my blues. I would like to suggest you keep an open mind and not miss Iowa City’s Arts Festival, where the Diplomats of Solid Sound are scheduled to play on Friday, June 2, and Alejandro Escovedo on Saturday, June 3. With a good sound system, you might just be in for something extraordinary. And you will be a part of a long history of welcoming musicians to the Athens of the Midwest, now referred to as a UNESCO City of Literature.

Renee Sueppel is a fifth-generation Iowan, living on the family farm.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Music at Gabe's lifted my blues