Alejandro Escovedo/Jesse Malin

Veteran Austin-based singer-guitarist Alejandro Escovedo has persevered through three decades of rough-and-tumble rock 'n' roll and lived to make an album about it. He's seen his ballyhooed punk/garage bands the Nuns, Rank and File, and the True Believers come and go. He's also eluded death after a really bad bout with hepatitis. All the while, he's delivered one stellar album after another but hasn't had anything resembling a hit. And yet, he's a phenomenal live performer. His last album, Burn Something Beautiful, taps into his garage and punk rock sensibilities. The music's invigorating and Escovedo always delivers in the live setting.