This week's music DVDs reveiwed

Live from Austin, Tx New West Records ***

Anyone who has seen Calexico in a live setting knows that they brew up a storm. While their lyrics evoke certain distinct Americana themes (The Black Light, their 1998 album, was inspired by the writings of Cormac McCarthy), it's the music – a broiling, sometimes askew stew of country, folk, Latino, Tex-Mex, jazz, gypsy, 1960s surf and rock – that makes their gigs such a wonderful experience. This 2006 concert, at which they plug their then latest release, Garden Ruin, is your typical Calexico offering, featuring the cross-cultural fertilisation of founding members John Convertino and Joey Burns. There are no extras as such, but the even pitch of the music and guest vocalists Sam Beam (from Iron Wine) and Salvador Duran make up for the lack of extra DVD goodies. www.casadecalexico.com TONY CLAYTON-LEA

A Positive Rage Rough Trade ****

There's a certain engaging and infectious euphoria that breaks out at a Hold Steady show. With the success of their third album, Boys Girls in America, everyone's favourite Minneapolis bar-band have been able to bring this thriller of a live show much further afield. While nothing obviously beats sweating along with the audience in the room on the night, this live album and DVD do a handy job of advertising The Hold Steady's wares. Featuring footage from several shows from around the time Boys Girls was taking them into the mainstream, A Positive Rage documents the excitement with which a bunch of thirtysomething dudes react to success. Aside from the live shows, the package also includes interview and backstage footage. www.theholdsteady.net JIM CARROLL