Dave Alvin - King of California
On this week's episode we discuss Dave Alvin and his 1994 LP, King of California.
Dave Alvin started his storied career in Los Angeles with the Blasters, a band he founded with his brother Phil. Full of energy and attitude, the Blasters found themselves embraced by the LA punk scene. The band did find some commercial success, but they fought like cats and dogs, which while it added to their intensity, but not their long-term possibilities, leading Dave to strike out on his own.
Before his success as a solo artist, he briefly Joined X as a guitarist and took a stint as a song writer in Nashville. Alvin finally started recording his own compositions, as well re-recording songs from his band days. After a couple of attempts at solo recordings, he finally found his voice on King of California. Taking his tried and true approach of complimenting new songs with re-recording, and some outstanding covers, he stripped-down the arrangements on King of California and hit paydirt. Considered by many to be his best collections, King of California is the album where Alvin's abilities as a performer mesh with his talent as a song writer. It contains some of his best songs, including a superb version of "Fourth of July, and a stunning duet ever with Rosie Flores that in itself is worth a listen.
Recommendation for this episode: Bloomed by Richard Buckner.
The man himself.
The Blasters Live in London in 1981
Dick Clark Interviews The Blasters on American Bandstand in 1983.
Blasters perform at Farm Aid in 1985
Dave Alvin talks about The King of California and performs the title track on VH1.
Dave Alvin performs “Boarder Radio” on Austin City Limits January 1999.
Dave Alvin with special guests Greg Leisz and Christy McWilson celebrate the 25th Anniversary of King of California and perform “Fourth of July.”
