Interview: Dave Alvin

Dave Alvin first received acclaim in L.A. roots rockers The Blasters, for which has was the primary songwriter, and whose revved up take on rhythm and blues won favor in the early-80′s punk rock scene and beyond. After a short stint with country-punkers The Knitters and punk-rockers X, Alvin launched his highly-regarded solo career which continues to this day. Alvin’s latest album, Eleven Eleven, came out in 2011.

This interview was for a preview article for the show by Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones on 9/19/12 at the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez, as part of the tenth anniversary celebration of the Tales from the Tavern series. The interview was done by phone on 8/30/12. (Brian Blouser photo)

Photos: X at Cinco de Mayo Festival

X at Cinco de Mayo Festival, Nipomo, California, 5/6/12 (L. Paul Mann photos, copyrighted and all rights reserved)

Photos: X

X at Coachella, 4/19/09. (L. Paul Mann photos, copyrighted and all rights reserved)

Concert Review: X

Review of X concert at Majestic Ventura Theater, 12/16/10.

Interview: John Doe

John Doe is one of the primary songwriters and singers for the band X, along with Exene Cervenka. X’s 1980 debut album Los Angeles, produced by Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, ranks as one of the best punk albums of all time. This was followed by other acclaimed X albums, and a solo career that explored more of a roots music direction. Doe is also an actor who has appeared in a variety of films and television shows.

This interview was conducted by telephone on 11/4/10, while Doe was driving to the airport for a trip to Las Vegas. It formed the basis of a preview article for X’s XMAS concert on 12/16/10 at the Majestic Ventura Theater.

Concert Review: John Doe

Review of John Doe at Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara 10/16/10.

Concert Review: Exene Cervenka from X

Review of Exene Cervenka’s concert at Velvet Jones, Santa Barbara on 11/15/09

Advice From Musicians

Songwriters and musicians answer the question: What advice would you give to an aspiring songwriter/musician? Responses from:

Pete Seeger
Sir George Martin
Steve Reich
Jeff Barry
David Crosby
Graham Nash
Fats Domino
Willie Nelson
George Clinton
Wanda Jackson
Ian Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jeff Mangum
Greg Lake
Geoff Emerick
Bonnie Bramlett
Chuck D
Eddie Izzard
Rickie Lee Jones
Todd Rundgren
Alan Parsons
Laurie Anderson
Glen Matlock
Danny Seraphine
Clem Burke
Stephen Perkins
Holly Near
Will Jennings
Kinky Friedman
Yanni
Mark Volman
Howard Kaylan
Richie Furay
Ted Nugent
Billy Corgan
Peter Buck
Bryan Adams
Maceo Parker
“Weird Al” Yankovic
Billy Duffy
Chris Shiflett
Kronos Quartet: David Harrington, John Sherba, Hank Dutt
Abdul “Duke” Fakir
Annie Haslam
David “Honeyboy” Edwards
Jimmy Carter
Ray Manzarek
John Densmore
Paul Kantner
Jorma Kaukonen
Jack Casady
Martin Gore
John McEuen
Fred Tackett
Steve Hillage
Robben Ford
Hale Milgrim
Bones Howe
Don Randi
Bob Cowsill
John Cowsill
David Pack
David Lindley
Rosemary Butler
Tata Vega
T-Bone Burnett
Johnny Rivers
Gary Brooker
Robin Trower
Garland Jeffreys
Airto Moreira
Seun Kuti
June Millington
Jean Millington
Jake Shimabukuro
Country Joe McDonald
Jonathan Richman
Van Dyke Parks
Steve Wynn
Steve Diggle
Pete Shelley
Andy Shernoff
James Stevenson
Gary Twinn
Tony Kaye
Glen Phillips
Larry Ramos
Jim Yester
Gary Lucas
Charlie Musselwhite
Carl Giammarese
Carl Graves
Martha High
Steve Vai
Thurston Moore
Bob Mould
Lou Barlow
Cris Kirkwood
Mike Watt
Will Oldham
Bill Callahan
Buzz Osborne
Dale Crover
Jim Heath
Neil Hagerty
Bob Bert
Don Fleming
Jason Lytle
Parry Gripp
Jonathan Wilson
Ritzy Bryan
Kim Manning
Linnea Vedder
James Jackson Toth
John Doe
Dave Alvin
Henry Rollins
Victor Krummenacher
David Lowery
Jonathan Segel
Greg Lisher
Jack Grisham
Ron Emory
Rick Wilder
Scott Franklin
Michael Livingston
Paul Mars
Michael Andrews
Joey Burns
Dallas Good
Michael Chapman
Russell Ferrante
Jimmy Haslip
Eddie Tuduri
Brute Force
Mark Tulin
Ian Underwood
Billy Cox
Jim Kweskin
Geoff Muldaur
Will Cullen Hart
Scott Spillane
Julian Koster
Bert Lams
Paul Richards
John Kadlecik
Seymour Duncan
Daniel Levitin
David Freiberg
Steve Young
Justin Roberts
Taylor Goldsmith
Nolan Wheeler
Charles Bradley
Thomas Brenneck
Mike Deller
Larkin Grimm
Jason Reeves
Buddy Miller
Black Francis
Alex Ebert
Al Kooper
Jeff Hanneman
Ira Kaplan