Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore (Photo by Tim Reese)
On June 1, Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore released Downey to Lubbock, a collaborative album that serves as a love letter to the American West, via Yep Roc Records. Dave and Jimmie have embarked on a tour together, and they perform locally at The Birchmere on Thursday, June 14.
Dave and Jimmie may have grown up on opposite ends of the American West, but they both truly live on the road. “Forty years on the highway living off dreams and gasoline. Somehow still surviving on Advil, Nyquil, and nicotine,” sings Dave Alvin on “Downey To Lubbock,” the title track to the duo’s joint album.
The 12-song album celebrates mutual heroes, friends gone too soon, and life on the highway. Dave reminisces about his “sunburnt California town” of Downey, and Jimmie reflects on Lubbock as “like wanderlust and wonder, West Texas wind blows through my veins.”
Watch the official music video for “Downey to Lubbock” by Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore on YouTube:
The guys came up with the collaborative album last year when they were on the road together for a spontaneous 12-city tour. The songs they wrote together connect Dave’s California and Jimmie’s Texas with a mix of influences including those from Texas — like Lightnin’ Hopkins, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, and Steve Young — and those from California — like Chet Powers, John Stewart, and Chris Gaffney. They also nod to shared heroes from all over the map, including Woody Guthrie, Will Shade, and Lloyd Price.
“An alternatively sweet, touching, rousing, and undeniably heartfelt set that plays to both artists’ strengths,” American Songwriter said of the album, while the Houston Press enthused, “Their pairing feels almost perfect… both men have such a rich history of music on their own, and a deep well of songs to pull from that it’s staggering.”
Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore
w/ Dead Rock West
The Birchmere
Thursday, June 14
Show @ 7:30pm
$35
All ages