Look Out (It Must Be Love)/Intro to Mister Lee - Dave Alvin,
Mister Lee
Thirty Dollar Room
Dry River
Museum of Heart
Waiting for the Hard Times to Go - Dave Alvin, Ringer, Jim
Jubilee Train/Do Re Mi/Promised Land
Long White Cadillac
The New Florence Avenue Lullaby
Romeo's Escape
Dave Alvin is one of the half-dozen best rock & roll songwriters of the past 15 years, but it wasn't until 1991 that he learned how to sing. Before that, he made one disappointing solo album and otherwise left the sing... more »ing chores to his big brother Phil in the Blasters or John Doe in X. Since he finally matured as a vocalist--learning to sing within his Dylanesque limitations rather than trying to sound like the Big Joe Turner he'll never be--Alvin has gone back to those earlier songs and redone them, as if to demonstrate how he heard them in his own head when he first wrote them. He redid seven songs on the 1994 studio, acoustic project "King of California," and he gives five more new life on "Interstate City," recorded live with a rocking band at Austin's Continental Club. The Blasters' "Look Out (It Must Be Love)" gets additional lyrics, a new swing arrangement and Katy Moffatt harmonies; the band's tribute to Franklin Roosevelt, "Jubilee Train," is jammed together with Woody Guthrie's "Do Re Mi" and Chuck Berry's "Promised Land" into a long, raucous medley. The new songs include "Out in California," a blues-shuffle cowritten with Tom Russell; the title track, a film noir recitation over moody, slow blues; and "Mister Lee," an exuberant New Orleans tribute to Alvin's mentor, Little Richard's saxophonist Lee Allen. This doesn't quite match Alvin's seismic, undocumented 1991-92 tour with the Skeletons, but it's the next best thing. --Geoffrey Himes« less
Dave Alvin is one of the half-dozen best rock & roll songwriters of the past 15 years, but it wasn't until 1991 that he learned how to sing. Before that, he made one disappointing solo album and otherwise left the singing chores to his big brother Phil in the Blasters or John Doe in X. Since he finally matured as a vocalist--learning to sing within his Dylanesque limitations rather than trying to sound like the Big Joe Turner he'll never be--Alvin has gone back to those earlier songs and redone them, as if to demonstrate how he heard them in his own head when he first wrote them. He redid seven songs on the 1994 studio, acoustic project "King of California," and he gives five more new life on "Interstate City," recorded live with a rocking band at Austin's Continental Club. The Blasters' "Look Out (It Must Be Love)" gets additional lyrics, a new swing arrangement and Katy Moffatt harmonies; the band's tribute to Franklin Roosevelt, "Jubilee Train," is jammed together with Woody Guthrie's "Do Re Mi" and Chuck Berry's "Promised Land" into a long, raucous medley. The new songs include "Out in California," a blues-shuffle cowritten with Tom Russell; the title track, a film noir recitation over moody, slow blues; and "Mister Lee," an exuberant New Orleans tribute to Alvin's mentor, Little Richard's saxophonist Lee Allen. This doesn't quite match Alvin's seismic, undocumented 1991-92 tour with the Skeletons, but it's the next best thing. --Geoffrey Himes
"I'm selling off my CD collection to pay bills, but this one I'm keeping. When I first heard this CD in a record store back in '96, I barely knew the name of Dave Alvin and had no clue of his background or even realized he had anything to do with the Blasters. All I heard in that record store was a great comfy intimate live set of Americana singer/songwriter "alt-country" rock and roll performed with intelligence by a mature voice and band. On Hightone records so you know its quality guitar rock. I could listen to "out in california" all day long. Go Dave!"
The ultimate road CD
moose_of_many_waters | Palo Alto, CA United States | 08/31/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dave's best album, and he's made some fine ones. If I had to choose only one CD to put in my car on a road trip, this would be it. The songs rock. The musicianship is superb. Dave sings with confidence. And sure I'm a boomer, but I played this CD in a van with a bunch of college students and they went nuts over it. "Who is this dude?" They asked. "Dave Alvin," I said. "What do you call this kind of music?" "It's honky tonk, and this is as good as you will ever hear."
My vote for the best honky tonk album in a long, long while."
This album is an stellar showcase of a Great Band
moose_of_many_waters | 01/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"So i finally got my hands on this album after searching too many local music stores. Well worth the wait. This live recording really showcases a phenomenal band. There is variety for all here with influences from blues, rock n roll, rockabilly and soul. The band is well versed in all and switch between styles amazingly well throughout the album. A must have for all. That's all."
GUILTY OF HAVIN' A GOOD TIME!
Patrick Earley | Edmond, Oklahoma USA | 03/05/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Interstate City is an excellent live album by ex blaster Dave Alvin. It was recorded in the legendary Continental Club in Austin. About a week after I bought this cd, I had the pleasure of catching the Guilty Men live at the cosy Blue Door Club in Oklahoma City. Me, and about 100 other lucky fans got to see one of the best roots rock shows that's passed through this city in ages. Alvin put together a fantastic group of musicians for this album. Especially Rick Solem on piano. He stole the show that night I saw him. And he sounds just as good on this cd. Alvin's choice of songs on here couldn't have been better. Divided between his solo career and the music he did with the Blasters, who were in my opinion, one of America's best roots rock bands. And he also does covers of Woody Guthrie's "Do Re Mi", and Chuck Berry's "Promised Land" as part of a medley to "Jubilee Train". This song alone is worth the price of admission to this great cd. A couple of the other highlights on here are "30 Dollar Room", which is my favorite song by Alvin as a solo artist. And "Long White Cadillac", a scorching version from his Blaster's days. The album ends with a rousing version of "Romeo's Escape", that not only shows off Alvin's guitar prowess, but has a Rick Solem piano solo that has to be heard to be believed. I swear it sounds like this cat plays with 3 hands. Incredible. Interstate City is a memorable cd from start to finish. Made even better because it's live, with a band of ace musicians that have that special chemistry playing together. Highly recommended."
Pure, Unadulterated Good Stuff!!!
Erik J. Fortmeyer | Brooklyn, NY USA | 06/20/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are only two ways you are looking up a review for a Dave Alvin album. Either you have been introduced to him and the Guilty Men by a ravenous fan or, you are a ravenous fan! Whichever you are, buy this album if you haven't already!!! Live albums tend to only be good if there is good chemistry in a band combined with a crowd that is into it. This disc has both in abundance! There is a mix of Blasters material and Dave Alvin solo stuff that shows what can be done when spit and polish is put onto great raw material. "So Long Baby Goodbye", "Look Out (It Must Be Love)", "Dry River", and "Museum of Heart" are some of the best songs I have ever heard making even the excellent studio originals almost look bad!The bottom line: Buy this album and prepare yourself for a stomping good time!!!"