The Range got up to Phoenix this weekend for the launch of Calexico's Southwest mini-tour that will include a visit to the Coachella Festival in Indio, Calif., before wrapping up with a show at the Rialto here in downtown Tucson on Saturday, May 2.

The 1,200 or so fans that crowded into Heritage Square for the Calexico's first visit to our state capital in recent years got their money's worth during the nearly two-hour performance. The set featured a lot of material off the new album, Carried to Dust, with a smattering of classic Calexico numbers like "Across the Wire" and "Crystal Frontier," during which the band shifted into a few notes from the Clash's "Guns of Brixton."

As they typically do in the hometown shows, the band brought along many special guests. Salvador Duran played joined the band onstage to reprise his deep and rich vocals on "He Lays in the Reins," a tune from the collaboration between Calexico and Iron and Wine. Opening the show was Sergio Mendoza y La Orkestra, a large crew who clambered back onto a very crowded stage with Calexico for "Roka" and "Crumble." Through it all, John Convertino kept things steady on the drums while Joey Burns delighted in playing bandleader for his expansive crew. The only thing the Phoenix folks missed out on was a "Guero Canelo" jam at the end of the show.

Joey and John are taking the whole crew on the road again for a show a stop at the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff on Saturday, April 11. If you're in the neighborhood, there are worse ways to spend a Saturday night in Northern Arizona.

Want to check in on the 2006 Regional Transportation Authority ballot investigation count?

You can check in via the live streaming video feed from the Maricopa County Elections Department Web site. They take lunch breaks, people, so be warned that during certain hours, you may only see a couple of people standing around.

Our early review: Iit pretty much looks like an elections office during a hand-audit count.

Check in from time to time to watch the watchers and the non-recount counters. If we hear anything or have any other details to share, we'll post them right here on The Range.

Here's another colored pencil sketch of the Magic Carpet on Speedway. Thanks for the comments on the first one. "Nintz": Tell Charlie I'll give the headless rooster a good home. "Sal": I love those photos; Flickr also has photos of the Magic Carpet Golf in Reno, which looks to be in great shape! (Field trip, anyone?) "Aholub": Community art projects are great, except they're usually as effective as having 20 cooks in a shotgun kitchen. Cheers!

P.W. Singer gives a terrifying talk about the future of robotic warfare at TED. Here's a geeks-shall-inherit-the-earth quote:

The kinds of things that we used to only talk about at science-fiction conventions like Comic-Con have to be talked about in the halls of power and places like the Pentagon. The robot’s revolution is upon us.

If you don't feel like watching the whole thing, here's a Q&A with Singer that sums up the salient points.

Hey, kids, don't forget: It's First Friday Shorts at the Loft Cinema tonight, with host Max Cannon! Bring in your homemade movie or just see what your fellow Tucsonans are doing with the vidcams and laptops. Plus: Pizza and beer!

The Citizen reported earlier today that Mr. Guffman has not stopped by the offices to kick the tires.

Gannett Blog's take.

In an ominous sign for the Tucson Citizen, two investors Gannett identified as "interested parties" have failed to visit the paper, and Corporate has now pulled back two executives it sent to the paper amid signs of turmoil in the newsroom. What's more, the Citizen now says that spokeswoman Tara Connell refuses to reveal Corporate's next move.

Tom Zoellner, author of Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Shaped the World, will not be at Antigone Books (411 N. Fourth Ave.; 792-3715) tonight as originally planned, according to a press release.

The event has been rescheduled for 7 p.m., Friday, April 17. Refreshments will still be served!

Fromer legislative candidate Trent Humphries is one of several small government folk taking up the lead for the local Tax Day Tea Party charge. They even have their own blog, where you can get the latest on their tea party on April 15 at El Presidio Park in downtown Tucson.

I understand the movement is into sending tea bags to state and federal legislators to remind them that in this time when we are hurting most, we need to get rid of those pesky taxes that support things like education and infrastructure.

All these tea bags flying everywhere, with some probably going into that poor fountain at El Presidio Park, I wanted to offer up another symbol for this (false) revolution. They come in all sizes, as well as gold, silver and blue, and can hang nicely behind your pickup.

If you're not doing anything else tonight, why not go see Bruce Cockburn at downtown's Rialto Theatre? It's gonna be great.

Details on the show here.

And don't forget: The Rialto is also hosting Ryanhood's CD release tomorrow. Steve Seigel tells you all you need to know about it.