Dave Alvin

Dave Alvin has sung about all sorts of unseemly gals during the course of his three-decade career, but he might have to tread a bit lighter now that his band is composed of seven women. The veteran roots musician, whose past bands include the Blasters, X, and the Knitters, assembled his all-dame band on the heels of losing a friend: accordionist Chris Gaffney. Alvin spearheaded the release of the Gaffney tribute album that appeared in May, the same month that Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women unveiled their elegant debut. Purveying styles ranging from hard-edged roots rock to folk noir and zydeco, Alvin and his culpable ladies summon inspired and eclectic performances in the spirit of Ry Cooder and Los Lobos.