Dave Alvin And Jimmie Dale Gilmore Let Loose A Fit Of Juke Joint Mayhem On "Downey To Lubbock"

Roots music legends Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore grew up on opposite ends of the American West, but for their entire adult lives the two have shared a primary residence: the road. “Forty years on the highway living off dreams and gasoline. Somehow still surviving on Advil, Nyquil and nicotine,” sings Alvin on “Downey To Lubbock,” the title track to the duo’s upcoming collaborative album out June 1 on Yep Roc Records. The brand-new original sees Alvin (“the wild blues Blaster”) and Gilmore (“the old Flatlander”) trade verses as they chronicle memories from a lifetime of near-constant touring. The track rips and roars with roadhouse flair as Alvin reminisces about his “sunburnt California town” of Downey, and Gilmore poetically proclaims, “like wanderlust and wonder, West Texas wind blows through my veins.”

Listen to “Downey To Lubbock” via Rolling Stone Country

Fittingly, the idea for a collaborative album was conceived by Alvin and Gilmore on the road last fall, as the two found an undeniable chemistry while playing together on a spontaneous twelve-city tour. The resulting tracks take on a diverse range of American music, forming a musical pipeline between not only generations but also their two home states – from Jimmie’s Texas (Lightnin’ Hopkins, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Steve Young), Dave’s California (Chet Powers, John Stewart, Chris Gaffney), and shared favorites from all corners of the map (Woody Guthrie, Will Shade, Lloyd Price).

Listen to the album’s other Alvin and Gilmore original, “Billy The Kid and Geronimo”.

Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore will tour together again this summer behind the new album, full routing below with more dates to be announced soon.

'Downey to Lubbock' is available for pre-order now.

May 23 - Morro Bay, CA - The Siren

May 24 - Fresno, CA - Fulton 55

May 25 - Grass Valley, CA - Strawberry Fest

June 1 - Houston, TX - Heights Theater

June 2 - Austin, TX - Antone's

June 3 - Dallas, TX - Kessler

June 7 - Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live

June 8 - New York, NY - City Winery

June 9 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts

June 13 - Annapolis, MD - Rams Head

June 14 - Alexandria, DC - Birchmere

June 16 - Turner Falls, MA - Shea Theater

June 17 - Croton on Hudson, NY - Clearwater Fest

June 20 - Buffalo, NY - Sportsmen's Tavern

June 22 - Columbus, OH - Valley Dale Ballroom

June 23 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Café

Jun 24 - Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage

July 21 - Telluride, CO - Americana Music Fest

July 25 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up

July 26 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

July 27 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall

July 28 - Santa Cruz, CA - Moe's Alley

July 29 - Chico, CA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co

Nov 16 - Baton Rouge, LA - The Manship Theater