New Jersey Stage Issue 53 | Page 119

Named for their hometowns in Southern California and West Texas respectively, the record’s song selections are part road map and part love letter: tributes to mutual heroes, friends gone too soon and lifetimes spent on the highway. Currently on tour, New Jersey Stage got the chance to speak with them before they performed at SOPAC in South Orange in early November. Dave Alvin is best known for his work with The Blasters (a band he co-founded with his brother) and numerous solo al- bums which were released to critical acclaim. In 2001, one called Public Domain, won the Grammy Award for Best Tradi- tional Folk Album.  Jimmie Dale Gilmore was a founding member of The Flat- landers along with Joe Ely and Butch Hancock, but found more success as a solo artist including Grammy nominations for three separate albums.  In addition to music, he’s also acted in several films including a memorable role in The Big Lebowski as Smokey, the pacifist bowler. Watch a video for “Downey to Lubbock” by Alvin & Gilmore NJ STAGE - ISSUE 53 INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 119