Dave Alvin…‘Music is the poor people’s therapy’ the Downey, California born and raised musician is as true an American roots act as there is walking the planet.

Formerly of the west coast hard-core rock band, The Blasters where Dave was the lead guitarist and songwriter while his elder brother, Phil fronted the band on lead vocals Alvin gives not an inch with his music. His new album, Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc) is his 11th solo album fusing blues - rock, folk country in 24 years.

After leaving the Blasters, Alvin played in the band X for a while before going solo in 1987, his debut release Romeo’s Escape was followed by a great succession of fine recordings. Ranging from Ashgrove to the album before Eleven Eleven, Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women that he made with Laurie Lewis, Nina Gerber, Christy McWilson, Cindy Cashdollar, Amy Ferris, Sarah Brown and Lisa Pankratz.

His albums Blackjack David, Ashgrove, Public Domain; Songs From The Wild Land and West Of The West have all made considerable impressions on the Americana scene. Plus, along with fellow singer-songwriter, Tom Russell he was instrumental in putting together the artists who appear on the 1995 acclaimed recording A Songwriter’s Tribute To Merle Haggard, Tulare Dust on Hightone. Splendid bandleader and all-round guitarist, singer-songwriter Alvin possesses a wonderful appetite for music and likes his music when occasion demands, loud.