Chris Gaffney 1950 - 2008

My other big brother, Chris Gaffney passed away Thursday morning, April 17, 2008.

I really don't know what to say right now but I feel that I have to say something. First of all, I want to again thank everyone that sent messages to Chris and donated funds to his cause. It means more than you'll know to Chris, his family and me. We are still raising money at www.helpgaff.com to help with the existing medical bills and other various expenses including a forthcoming memorial service.

After twenty-some years I have thousands of memories of Chris. Through those years of songs, laughs, countless barrooms, eternal highways, broken hearts, screw-ups, bail outs, close calls, busted strings, elusive dreams, flat tires, stalled engines, hard hangovers, bad gigs, great gigs, in between gigs, tragedies, triumphs, secret jokes, bad TV, worse food and now, tears, Gaffney always had my back. I never had to worry about nothing or nobody if Gaffney was with me. I don't know what I ever did to deserve it but, God, I was blessed to have Chris Gaffney as my best friend.

Chris's and my friend, B.J. in Omaha, said it best for me in a email yesterday. She said that I now have a "wild angel looking out for me." Yeah, I do believe that's true.

I'll still see you in Cuervo, brother.
Dave

03/24/08 PLEASE HELP MY BEST FRIEND CHRIS GAFFNEY WHO IS FIGHTING LIVER CANCER. www.helpgaff.com

Chris Gaffney is not only one of the greatest singers in roots music, as well as a member of The Guilty Men and The Hacienda Brothers, he's also my best friend. Anyone who knows Chris well knows that he's an extremely generous man who would do anything to help a friend and even strangers. Well, now as he fights liver cancer, he needs our help. I know these are difficult financial times for most of us, but any contribution to the Gaffney cause would be much appreciated by Chris, his family and me.

Thank you for helping out my "other brother." Dave Alvin

Those Lonely, Lonely Nights available for download, proceeds to benefit the Chris Gaffney medical fund.

New Series of Exclusive Tracks

Dave Alvin & Yep Roc Records are pleased to announce the beginning of a new series of exclusive digital tracks.

Throughout his career, Dave Alvin has periodically paid tribute to songwriters/performers that have inspired him by recording his favorite songs by these artists. Dave has many of these and other self penned gems hidden away in his personal archives. He is happy to now have the opportunity to make some of these tracks available to you exclusively through yeproc.com and davealvin.net. To accompany each songs release, Dave will have a few words for us about why he felt compelled to record it.

Here is what you can look forward to:

"Two Lucky Bums (Memorial Edition)" AVAILABLE NOW on YepRoc.com and DaveAlvin.net. Click here for Dave's own words.

"Those Lonely, Lonely Nights" AVAILABLE NOW on YepRoc.com and DaveAlvin.net. Click here for Dave's own words.

"Drunk" AVAILABLE NOW on YepRoc.com and DaveAlvin.net. Click here for Dave's own words.

"Perdido Street Blues" AVAILABLE NOW on YepRoc.com and DaveAlvin.net. Click here for Dave's own words.

"Mobile Blue" AVAILABLE NOW on YepRoc.com and DaveAlvin.net. Click here for Dave's own words.

“Peace” AVAILABLE NOW on YepRoc.com and DaveAlvin.net. Click here for Dave's own words.

"Highway 61" AVAILABLE NOW only at YepRoc.com and DaveAlvin.net. Click here for Dave's own words.

”Variations on Earl's Rumba" (a tribute to Earl Hooker) AVAILABLE NOW only at YepRoc.com and DaveAlvin.net. Click here for Dave's own words.

Dave Alvin on X Country playing his favorite music!

Dave Alvin's 9 Volt radio show can be heard the third week of every month on X Country XM 12; Listen to Dave as he explores American roots music, paying homage to all styles, including Roots Rock, R&B, Folk, Singer Songwriter, Blues, Rockabilly and more; in essence, it’s the music that has informed him for over 26 years and 11 solo albums.

Monday at 11am EST, with replays on Thursday at 7pm EST and Saturday at 11am EST. All times are Eastern.

Click here for archives of the shows on this website.

02/04/08 DAVE ALVIN AND THE GUILTY MEN ON NEW AUSTIN CITY LIMITS!!! CHECK YOUR LOCAL PBS LISTINGS FOR SHOWTIME SCHEDULES!!!

We apologize for not getting the news out sooner but we were caught off guard and didn't know that Dave Alvin and The Guilty Men's performance of DRY RIVER, from last October's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, is part of the new Austin City Limit's show airing this February. The whole guilty bunch (Joe Terry, Gregory Boaz, Chris Miller, Steve Mugalian and Chris Gaffney) are featured in a clip on the show that also has performances by Emmy Lou Harris, Del McCoury, Chris Smither, Guy Clark, Robert Earl Keen, The Subdudes and many others. We didn't have a clue about this and it wasn't until Chris Miller called and told us that he saw it on TV in Austin, that we found out. I guess you can't know everything. Please check your local PBS schedule for info on when it might air in your area. Watch a video>>

12/2007 HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

For a few California shows this December, Dave will be joining his old Downey friends, John Bazz and Bill Bateman, as sidemen for another hometown pal, legendary blues and boogie woogie pianist Gene Taylor. Besides being a member of the original Blasters, Gene has toured and recorded with The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Doug Sahm, Canned Heat, Ronnie Hawkins and Ricky Nelson among many others. Dave says that he's "looking forward to just playing some old blues with some old friends for Christmas."

THE KNITTERS TOUR-The Knitters Return for Winter Hoedown

Dave Alvin - "Live From Austin TX"

Dave Alvin and New West Records have just released a brand new DVD and companion CD as part of Austin City Limit's "Live From Austin TX" series.

This exclusive set features his previously unreleased 1999 performance from the award winning Austin City Limits television show. Tracks include "King of California", "Border Radio", "4th of July", an insane medley of "Jubilee Train", "Do-Re-Me, and "Promised Land" and much, much more! It’s in stores NOW! Available as a set or individually. To get it online go here for the DVD and here for the CD

07/01/07 Contest Winners Revealed!

Guilty Man drummer, Bobby Lloyd Hicks has performed with all but one of the following musical groups. Which one has he NOT performed with:

Martha Reeves
Former Attorney General, John Ashcroft
Jonathan Richman
Jim Lauderdale
David Allen Coe

Seems we stumped a lot of people with our contest in that MANY of you thought there was no way Bobbie played with John Ashcroft!
Oh, but he did! We didn’t say it was his proudest moment, but when you want one of the best drummers, who would you call?

The answer actually is JIM LAUDERDALE!
And the WINNERS of our contest are:

Chris Sweeney
Marilyn Post
Marc Hanson

Bobby was in Martha Reeves touring band in the ‘70’s and performed at Madison Square Gardens twice!
Bobby and rest of The Skeletons toured with and recorded with Jonathan Richman on Jonathan Goes Country – Rounder Records – It’s a great album!
He was in David Allen Coe’s touring band in the ‘70’s for apprx 2 months, and he has recorded for these fine and talented people as well: Robbie Fulks, Sid Straw, Box Car Willie, Wayne Carson, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Steve Forbert, Katy Moffatt, The Skeletons, King Clarenz, Scott Kempner, Rudy Tutti Grazell, Ronnie Self and probably more we can’t think of right now. He’s also performed live with countless other people. Bobby is currently on tour with Steve Forbert and we wish him the best.

06/01/07 Joe Terry wins Mr. Central High School

Joe Terry, that's lil' Joe, the son of Joe Terry keyboardist for the Guilty Men, recently won the title of Mr. CHS in Springfield, Missouri. Click here to see him perform in the talent portion of the show! Joe also was crowned Prom King of the Class of 2007 and graduated last spring. He is currently attending Missouri State University.

05/16/07 The Tarahumara Train - Tucson to Mexico's Copper Canyon on board The Sierra Madre Express, Sept. 13-20, 2007

Dave Alvin, Tom Russell, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Butch Hancock, Terry Allen

This is the stuff of legend. Some of the rawest, roughest, toughest and most authentic voices in American music, together on a vintage streamline train, heading South across the border - to the heart of Mexico; through the Sonoran desert and into the storied Sierra Madre. By twisting rail, deep into the legendary Barrancas del Cobre - the Copper Canyon region - a land of enormous scope and vista with a network of canyons larger, deeper and far wilder than the Grand Canyon, a land so remote that few Americans have ever seen it.
The thread that ties the journey together is music. Tom Russell; rail adventurer, darker than leather troubadour and his spiritual partner in song, Grammy winning guitarist and songwriter nonpareil Dave Alvin, "The King of California." Butch Hancock, one-third of the Flatlanders (along with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Joe Ely), and fellow West Texan, the eccentric dry-as-dust songwriter and sculptor Terry Allen whose "Lubbock on Everything" is hailed as one of lost masterpieces of Americana music. Rounding out the bill is Bay-area bluegrass fiddle maven Laurie Lewis and her phenomenal sideman Tom Rozum.

It's the trip of a lifetime, and you're invited. Click here for more information>

04/24/07 New Releases

Dave joins Bill Morrissey, one of his favorite singer/songwriters, on Bill's new cd, COME RUNNING on Turn And Spin Media Records. The cd, released in early May, features Dave playing electric guitar on most of the tracks along with members of the legendary bands Morphine and The Twinemen. Dave says that Morrissey's songs make him "cry while smiling," and that he was very honored that Bill invited him to be part of the cd.

Dave was also honored to play guitar on 3 songs on the new John Doe cd, A YEAR IN THE WILDERNESS, which will be released in June on Yep Roc Records. Dave also played guitar on John's last Yep Roc cd, FOREVER HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

In July, Ranchero Records will release WE NEVER CLOSE, the third cd from San Francisco's pre-eminent honky tonk band, RED MEAT. The cd is produced by Dave Alvin (as were their other two releases) and features him on baritone guitar.

In September, Populuxe/Redeye Records will be releasing the newest cd from San Diego singer-songwriter Cindy Lee Berryhill. The cd is called BELOVED STRANGER and features Dave Alvin on guitar on two tracks.