Concerts #217, 363, 371, 424, 431, 458 - Dave Alvin at Various Venues (2000-2008)

In my book, Dave Alvin is one of the great ones, but my appreciation for his music can't be called love-at-first-sight. On the contrary.

I first saw Dave as John Wesley Harding's guest in 1990. Nothing special.

On January 15, 2000, accompanied by our friends Ron & Bobbie, my Better Half and I went to the Neighborhood Church in Pasadena to catch Tom Russell and Dave in a co-headlining event and it was Tom who impressed us the most. Dave played "King of California", "New Highway", "From A Kitchen Table" and "Blackjack David", among others. Maybe it was my unfamiliarity with his songs, but fact is that, on that occasion, Dave did not become an instant favorite of mine. That night was also my introduction to Greg Leisz, who played the dobro in Dave's backing band that also included Rick Shea on mandolin and electric guitar and Brantley Kearns on fiddle.

What followed was a series of unannounced appearances as the guest of other performers, a clear proof of Dave's popularity with his fellow musicians as well as his willingness to provide support, even though money was not involved. In 2002, Dave popped in for a song or two at Tom Russell's concert at McCabe's. A year later, he guested on Syd Straw's show also at McCabe's. Such appearances have kept Dave Alvin on my radar and validated his status as a musician worth keeping on eye on.

Dave's music hit me real hard for the first time on May 28, 2005, at McCabe's, where else? His then-current album, "Ashgrove", had just been released. With able support from Greg Leisz and the late Amy Farris, Dave delivered one superb song after another. Great vocals, great guitar playing, but what really knocked my socks off was the quality of his compositions. One doesn't often hear songs as good as "Ashgrove", "Rio Grande" and especially "Out Of Control", with its movie-like imagery and absorbing lyrics. To this day, this remains one of the most memorable concerts I have ever attended.

The Ditty Bops opened the show, and even though their retro-style light music had little in common with Dave's heavy-weight subjects, they were fun to watch.

The Ditty Bops

In August 2005, Dave played a benefit show in Claremont, at Ben Harper's Folk Music Center. Needless to say, my Better Half and I were there, together with our friends Bob and Lynne, soon to become Dave Alvin fans themselves. Seeing Dave perform at such an intimate venue was something special. Once again Dave received support from Chris Gaffney and Amy Farris and once again I had the pleasure of hearing my favorite gems from "Ashgrove", plus some of Dave's oldies.

The Folk Music Center in Claremont, California

On November 3, 2006, my Better Half and I went to catch Dave Alvin's free show at the Getty Center, part of the "Friday Nights at the Getty" concert series. Dave focused on his newly released album titled "West Of The West", his tribute to California songwriters, some well-known, others obscure. Accompanied by a band that included the ever-present Amy Farris on fiddle and Chris Miller on guitar, Dave sang Jackson Browne's "Redneck Friend" and his own "Ashgrove". One of the highlights was the appearance of the Calvanes, an old do-wop group that helped Dave deliver  Richard Berry's "I'm Bewildered" and Brian Wilson's "Surfer Girl". The audience responded with giggles when Dave launched into the latter.

I caught Dave a few more times as someone's guest. In 2006, he was one of Peter's "friends" at the "Peter Case & Friends" concert at McCabe's, then in 2007 he closed the Leonard Cohen tribute concert at UCLA with a rendition of "Democracy" that brought the house down.

Dave plays McCabe's about once a year, and typically I find it hard to stay away. On February 17, 2007, and then again on January 19, 2008, I attended his concerts there. Sadly, these shows turned out to be the last times I saw Amy Farris and Chris Gaffney alive. They are both gone now, but not forgotten, certainly not by Dave. Amy's memory has been immortalized in Dave's gorgeous "Black Rose Of Texas", while "Run Conejo Run" is dedicated to Chris. Both songs appear on "Eleven Eleven", an album released by Dave in 2011.

Amy Farris

Chris Gaffney

My interest in Dave's music remains intact. I will keep up with his new releases and live shows, especially those at McCabe's.

Concert #631 - Tom Russell, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Jon Langford at McCabe's Guitar Shop (April 14, 2012)

This concert was the first event of the "2012 Portland Rose" train trip from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon, and back. Such musical journeys are a bit too expensive for my taste, but I was more than happy to shell out $40 to catch the participating artists performing live at McCabe's last night, as part of the trip's kickoff show. It turned out it was money well spent.

The format of the concert was just as I predicted: Tom, Jimmie, Ramblin' Jack and Jon took turns to perform their own songs, with Thad Beckman (guitar) and Randy Franklin (mandolin) providing instrumental backup. Tom Russell took the stage first, then one by one, he introduced the other three. Then the music started. Here are  the songs of the first round:

• Tom Russell: "Nina Simone"
• Ramblin' Jack Elliott: "Riding In My Car (Car Song)"
• Jimmie Dale Gilmore: "Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown"
• Jon Langford: "Pill Sailor"

Of the four musicians who performed last night, Jimmie Dale Gilmore was the only one I had not seen before. He was great. He made me thoroughly regret the times when I stayed away from his earlier appearances in the Los Angeles area and there haven't been too many of those. His rendition of Butch Hancock's "Just A Wave, Not The Water", was the best song of the evening and I loved everything else he sang, including his gorgeous "The Banks Of The Colorado".

Yours Truly & Jimmie Dale Gilmore after the concert

There were four rounds of songs, with the musicians performing in the sequence of their seating order. There was a lot of interaction between the musicians and plenty of fun stories were told, without anyone going overboard. Not even Ramblin' Jack!

Tom Russell sang "Who's Gonna Build Your Wall", "Blue Wing" and "Road To Nowhere". Ramblin' Jack delivered a somewhat sloppy version of "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" that actually sounded great. I was dying to hear Jon Langford's fabulous "Nashville Radio", but no luck for me. Instead he played a newer song titled "1234 Ever" and one other number with a title I do not know. He sounded great, like he always does.

Woody Guthrie's "Hard Travelin'" was the one-song encore of the evening, with all on stage pitching in and I don't believe there was anyone in the room not to have loved every minute of the show. I know I did.

The stage ready for the show to begin

Tom, Jack, Jimmie and Jon finishing their last song

Jack, Jimmie and Jon thanking the audience

Tom Russell & Ramblin' Jack Elliott after the encore

Ramblin' Jack Elliott at the merch table

Tom Russell and Jimmie Dale Gilmore chatting with fans

Jon Langford chatting with a fan

Two legends: Albert Lee and Ramblin' Jack Elliott meeting after the show

My friend Paul buying a few more concert tickets

Concert #609 - Tom Russell at McCabe's Guitar Shop (October 22, 2011)

This was my sixth time to see Americana maestro Tom Russell in concert. Just like the last time, also at McCabe's, Tom came out with Thad Beckman, an outstanding guitarist who also sang backup vocals. The concert went on for well over two hours, something one would always welcome, but certainly not immediately after a long and physically exhausting trip - I had just returned from a six-day walking tour of Manhattan, and toward the end of the show I would have gladly exchanged my front row seat for a cot or even a pallet on McCabe's' floor.

Once again, Tom proved that he is a name-dropper's name dropper. I wish I'd thought of writing down all the names brought up by Tom - the list would have amazed you, both in length and breadth - he mentioned countless musicians, filmmakers, actors, boxers, some dead, others alive, but no one's name came up more often than Monte Hellman, whose "Road To Nowhere" movie's theme song was composed by Tom himself. By the way, Monte was present in the audience, but kept a low profile.

Tom sang many of the songs from "Mesabi", his latest release. I was unfamiliar with the new album, but I found his new material to be quite accessible, not unlike everything else Tom touches. He also sang a few "oldies", such as "Stealing Electricity", "The Pugilist At 59", "Blue Wing" and "East Of Woodstock, West Of Vietnam", but once again there was no "Gallo Del Ciello", nor "Navajo Rug".

All-in-all, the concert was good, but not great. Tom spoke maybe a little too much, but most everything he said was interesting and humorous. Still, after having seen him so many times in not too many years, I feel it's time for me to take a sabbatical from Tom for a few years. I'll be back, though. Guaranteed.

The set list

Tom Russell (right) & Thad Beckman at McCabe's (October 2011)

The final bow

Concert poster

Nadine Russell at the merch table

 

Concerts #214, 278, 487 - Tom Russell at the Neighborhood Church and McCabe's Guitar Shop (November 20, 1999 - November 29, 2008)

My love affair with Tom Russell's music started in 1995, when I bought from Rockaway Records in Los Angeles a compilation CD titled "Philo So Far - The 20th Anniversary Folk Sampler". After a few listens, I lost interest in this rather bland CD, but there was one song that really hit me hard - Tom Russell's "Box Of Visions". At that time, I had no clue who Tom Russell was, nor did I know any other song of his.

Fast forward four years to 1999 and "Box Of Visions" was still the only Tom Russell song I knew. But something made me grab my better half and drive 35 miles to see Tom at Pasadena's Neighborhood Church and I'm so glad I did. The concert was part of the appropriately named "Acoustic Music Series", produced by the late Ron Stockfleth, a folk music lover who single-handedly ran a successful series of concerts that sadly ended with Ron's untimely passing.


Tom took the stage accompanied by guitarist Andrew Hardin, who dazzled everyone with his fast, powerful and precise picking. But it was Tom's songs and delivery that took center stage. His songs were pure Americana, and although new to me, they were instantly accessible and likeable.

Andrew Hardin

Twelve years after the show, I can tell with certainty that Katy Moffat, a singer of some renown, made an appearance that night, but did she open the show with a set of her own or was she only Tom's guest for a song or two? That I can't tell. Nor do I remember much about her performance

Katy Moffatt

In September 2002, I caught Tom Russell again, this time at McCabe's in Santa Monica. Once again, Tom was backed up by Andrew Hardin, a stellar guitarist who added an element of virtuosity to Tom's exquisite songwriting and once again, Tom had a guest, who this time happened to be none other than Dave Alvin, his long-time collaborator and personal friend."California Snow" was the best song of the evening.

Dave Alvin

On November 29, 2008, I went to McCabe's for yet another Tom Russell concert. Andrew Hardin was no longer with Tom. Instead, I was introduced for the first time to guitarist Michael Martin, who just like Andrew, complemented Tom very well. Together, they played a perfect concert, complete with love making on Navajo rugs, cockfighting champions, memories of Dave Van Ronk and aging boxers.

Concert #533 - Tom Russell at McCabe's Guitar Shop (December 5, 2009)

This was my fifth Tom Russell concert in ten years. Showing no signs of slowing down, Tom put on an excellent show, full of great music and fun stories. Too many stories, some may opine, and they may be right. There was plenty of namedropping, too, but none of that took away from the quality of his show.

Accompanied by guitarist Thad Beckman, Tom played many songs from "Blood And Candle Smoke", his then-current album, as well as a few of his oldies, but believe it or not, "Gallo Del Cielo" was not among them.

 Here's a partial set list:

"East of Woodstock, West of VietNam"

"Nina Simone"

"Mississippi River Runnin' Backwards"

"The Most Dangerous Woman in America"

"Darkness Visible

"American Rivers"

"Finding You"

"Blue Wing"

"Stealing Electricity"

"Who's Gonna Build Your Wall" 

Thad Beckman was outstanding. Tom is a decent guitar player, but his shows benefit tremendously from the presence of true virtuosos such as Thad, who - by the way - can also sing.

Tom spoke about Nadine, his wife, a Swiss lady who typically travels with Tom from town to town, helping out with managerial tasks and selling merchandise. The crowd gasped when Tom mentioned the names of his best men at his 2007 wedding: Ian Tyson and Ramblin' Jack Elliott.

Nadine and Tom (center), with best man Ian Tyson (right)

Tom had a guest, singer-songwriter Steve Young, who sang his own "Seven Bridges Road", one of his early songs, later recorded by the Eagles.    
 
A minor complaint - Tom's repeated use of the word "Bastards!", delivered in a snarly manner in various contexts, was fun at first, but then it became tiresome, even irritating.

After the show, Tom and Nadine mingled with the crowd.

Nancy & Jim, our guests for the show, had their introduction to both McCabe's and Tom Russell. A very successful introduction, I might add.