Shakey Graves is Bringing Folk and Blues to the El Rey

Ani Mikaelian

The twenty-first century sees a new formula of folk music taken on by actor Alejandro Rose-Garcia, who performs solo under the guise of Shakey Graves. At the very beginning of his nationwide tour, Shakey Graves is slated to perform a two-nighter at the El Rey Theatre on Nov. 10 and 11 to promote recent album “And the War Came.”

The son of a theater manager and actress, Rose-Garcia grew up in an Austin, Texas household that encouraged all forms of art. He was raised surrounded by an exciting assortment of personalities that inspired him to pursue a future in theater.

He appeared in several productions of Austin High School’s theater group, most notably playing the title role in “Nicholas Nickleby” merely as a freshman. Once graduating, he earned himself a recurring role on “Friday Night Lights,” as well as roles in several Robert Rodriguez films.

Rose-Garcia may have initially had a bigger interest in acting, but when he stumbled on a one-man-band performance in 2009, he was instantly drawn to a similar career trajectory. For two years he worked on his craft while rounding up street cred in the underground scene.

In 2011 Rose-Garcia released his first full-length album titled “Roll the Bones,” which is exactly what earned him the opening slot for Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Mumford & Sons, and Old Crow Medicine Show on the “Railroad Revival Tour.” His one-man-band take on blues and folk effortlessly stood out during performances, which gained him praise from NPR Music as one of the “10 national artists music fans should have known in 2012.”

Rose-Garcia believes his time trekking the music scenes in Los Angeles and New York are what helped him grow into the musician he is today. He remembers, “At this first open mic night in New York, I was like the thirty-fifth guy and went up figuring I’d play one of my most complicated songs, and I just bombed. I’d never used a capo. I didn’t really even know how to tune my guitar; I’d just tuned it to itself over and over again. My voice was either yelling or too quiet. That was the first of many times I’ve been dramatically humbled in my life. After that I did this miracle thing called practicing and really working at it.”

Shakey Graves encompasses a new sound on all levels, not just instrumentally but also vocally. The majority of his singing is made up of grainy groans and striking moans, that convey a Western story that has been adeptly written, directed, and composed by Rose-Garcia himself.

Shakey Graves will be performing at the El Rey Theatre on Nov. 10 and 11. Tickets can be purchased here.