by Jon Daniel
Dave Alvin is grinning at his brother Phil like a kid who just flushed an M-80 down the toilet in the boy’s bathroom, and is waiting for the “boom” and gush of water. He’s a short stocky guy with a big toothy smile, and when he’s feeling particularly happy with his guitar playing he’ll spread his legs and cowboy boots out wider and wider until he looks like he might bust the seams on his jeans. Dave Alvin has written songs for The Blasters, his solo projects, two books of poetry, won a Grammy for a folk album, and had a stint in the punk band X. But tonight, playing with his big brother seems to have him in good spirits.
I’ve seen that smile on Dave Alvin face every time I’ve seen him play, both with his brother Phil and without. Friday night at the Kessler Theater, the brothers Alvin were reunited back in Dallas for the first time since the early 80’s when they played at a long forgotten club named Wild Turkey on Walnut Hill and Harry Hines with Johnny Reno. Continue reading
