Dave Alvin @ The Tractor Tavern – 7/13/24

Review & Photos by Mike Mitchell

I was a little surprised and a lot delighted when blues rocker Dave Alvin teamed up with country folk icon Jimme Dale Gilmore for their combined 2018 release ‘Downey to Lubbock’. Although the two artists approach their craft from slightly different starting points (the blues for Alvin, C&W and folk for Gilmore), they have more in common than one might assume at first blush, and ‘Downey to Lubbock’ proved to be one of 2018’s highlights for this fan. Given that album’s success, it was much less of a surprise that they decided to go back to the well for another dip with this year’s ‘TexiCali’ release. The two albums sound very much like they could have been recorded during the same sessions, with similar low-key delights to be found in a handful of new compositions, some old favorites revisited and updated, and a number of lovingly arranged and recorded covers.

Alvin and Gilmore played a pair of shows at the Tractor Tavern in July backed by Dave’s band, The Guilty Ones, and supported by Seattle’s Christy Mc Wilson. We attended the packed Saturday show (7/13/24) and enjoyed every minute of the generous and well played set. The band played healthy portions of both ‘Downey to Lubbock’ and ‘TexiCali’, as well as a smattering of their solo work, a tune from Dave’s time with the Blasters, and a couple of well-chosen covers. Highlights included Alvin’s ‘Dry River’, Gilmore’s ‘Tonight I Think I’m Gonna Go Downtown’ and an encore cover of The Youngbloods’ ‘Get Together’. The musicianship was excellent all the way around with Alvin’s searing blues licks setting the tone and the Guilty Ones’ Lisa Pankratz impressing all evening on drums.