So, very few people knew who he was. That didn't stop Alejandro Escovedo from tearing up the

stage during the season-starting Thursday at the Square show.

If it was a strange show, it was so only because such an "underground" legend — a man

given massive props from his peers, some of whom have names like Bruce — is not usually

the choice for a Square opener. It worked, however; Thursday's show felt brave, as if it was

time for Buffalo to acknowledge some seriously under-rated singer/songwriters. The Square

opening seemed the perfect opportunity.

Gallery: First night of Thursday at the Square

Escovedo is an Austin-based talent with a seeming fascination for pure old-school rock "n'

roll, and a contact list that reads like a who's who of living legends. For his new album,

"Street Songs of Love," Escovedo enlisted Springsteen himself for a killer duet during his own

"Faith," and Thursday's show made it plain why Springsteen might have offered his time.

Escovedo is a dyed-in-the-wool rocker, a man who clearly holds Joe Strummer in the same high

esteem he holds Willie Nelson.

So Thursday's show felt like a club gig — Escovedo's fans huddled near the front of

the stage, and folks unfamiliar with his music basked in it from the surrounding environs. Few

should've left disappointed. Escovedo came on like Keith Richards' distant relative, and left

like a Matador. He'd earned the respect of the crowd, through the sheer tenacity of blood-and-

guts rock 'n' roll.

A more abundant selection of material from the new record — something beyond the

barrelhouse rocker "Down In the Bowery" and the album-opening "Anchor" — would've been

welcome.

That said, Escovedo met an indifferent crowd with a tour de force of incisive songs

delivered via a raw rock 'n' roll spirit. He is a significant dude, a man able to blend the

folk singer's acumen for personal reflection with the rocker's need to kick out the jams. It's

safe to bet many left the Square Thursday evening as fans.

Tift Merritt made things difficult for Escovedo, though surely she didn't intend to. Her

set, bolstered by a band that brought a serious improvisational edge to Merritt's songs, was a

soul-stirring affair.

Standing behind her electric piano, Merritt made like some cross between Emmylou Harris,

Edie Brickell and Lucinda Williams as she tore through songs from her new album, "See You On

The Moon."

Merritt is a stirring soul singer, and her band appeared intent on taking some Memphis Soul-

based songs to a new place. The bass player in particular was eager to apply incredibly Paul

McCartney-esque lines to Merritt's compositions.

All of this added up to an opening set that felt like a headliner. Merritt — most

obviously when she dug into "See You on the Moon" and "The Things That Everybody Does" —

is a strong songwriter and stunning performer.

Expect to be seeing more of her.