Dave Alvin

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Dave Alvin (born November 11, 1955, in Downey, California), is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He has been one of the leading proponents of ‘roots’ or ‘American’ music, bringing together elements of rock-and-roll, blues, rural and tejano music.

Alvin and his older brother Phil Alvin grew up loving Americana, country and blues. In 1979 they formed The Blasters with friends Bill Bateman and John Bazz.

Shortly after leaving the Blasters, Alvin joined X as lead guitarist after the departure of Billy Zoom. Alvin amicably left the group to work on a solo project shortly after the recording sessions for their album See How We Are. Alvin is also a member of country band The Knitters (composed mainly of members of X), appearing on 1987’s Poor Little Critter on the Road and the 2005 follow-up, The Modern Sounds of The Knitters.

In the early 1980s Alvin, along with fellow Blasters members Bill Bateman and Steve Berlin, performed on several albums with the Los Angeles punk band The Flesh Eaters. These albums are considered precursors to what is now called “deathrock”. Alvin also played with the band The Gun Club briefly, playing guitar on “Eternally Is Here” & “The Stranger in Our Town” from the 1984 album, The Las Vegas Story.

Alvin’s first solo album, entitled Romeo’s Escape (1987) in the United States and Every Night About This Time in England, added a purer country influence along with a larger side-portion of the blues; while the album was critically well received
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Popular tags: country, alt-country, americana, singer-songwriter, roots rock  See more

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  • NLLObStEr wrote:
    August 2011
    Indeed, new album is great!

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  • RandyB1961 wrote:
    July 2011
    ELEVEN ELEVEN is fantastic!

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  • mada11 wrote:
    July 2011
    yup...............

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  • strajnic wrote:
    June 2011
    run rabbit run!

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  • Aristotlekh wrote:
    October 2009
    RIP, Amy Farris. Beautiful talent, beautiful lady.

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  • lonndoggie wrote:
    December 2008
    Y'know, iamfreechuck, Dave's got some "chops" as well. No one's calling Phil up to produce or play guitar on their albums like they do with Dave, and Phil's songwriting credits are pretty slim. Phil can sing like no one else, so if you meant vocal chops, I'm with you (even though Dave's evolved into quite the evocative singer, if somewhat of an acquired taste). BTW, we probably bumped into each other at several dozen shows back in the day in LA, at, oh, Club 88, the Whisky, Al's Bar, Music Machine, Florentine Gardens, Hong Cong Cafe, Madame Wong's (both locations), On Club.

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  • asphaltcigar wrote:
    October 2008
    Listen to Ashgrove as bluesy as it gets.

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  • iamfreechuck wrote:
    August 2008
    ok, ok....I'm from L.A.....I laughed out loud when Dave Alvin left The Blasters to go solo.....shit, he couldn't sing but we knew he was a great songwriter. I guess that's when my taste started to mature a bit (heck I ws like 21). Dave is serious as it gets. The real deal who believes every word he says. His bro Phil Alvin has the chops in the family....he has an album on vinyl with the Sun Ra Orchestra that is real fun. Rock on Dave...with the Knitters and occasional Blasters Reunion.

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  • caedes wrote:
    August 2008
    What songs does he have that are as bluesy as "Mary Brown"?

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  • HuRriC4nE wrote:
    July 2008
    It seems not But here's one from Berlin Germany I got a very special comment: Dave is one of the best songwriters in whole wide world. His style is so real, profane, romantic, bitter. Today I finally got my Original Ashgrove copy - I don't know why it wook me so long - had it all on pc, walkman, but now i got it in real. Ashgrove really is the greatest Album i ever listened in my entire life. His groove in the voice is phenomenal (especially in the first song) Listen to that album!

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DAVE ALVIN FEATURED IN LOS ANGELES TIMES MAGAZINE JUNE "MUSIC ISSUE"

3 Jun 2011 | from blog.myspace.com/davealvin

"The King of California" Dave Alvin is featured in the June 2011 "Music Issue" of the Los Angeles Times Magazine. Penned by writer Mark Barabak aboard the Coast Starlight "Roots on the Rails" …

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