Interstate City

Dave Alvin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 30, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shout Factory
• ASIN: B0000005RS
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,081 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #56 in Music > Rock > Roots Rock

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GUILTY OF HAVIN' A GOOD TIME!, March 4, 2001

By 

Patrick Earley (Edmond, Oklahoma USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Interstate City (Audio CD)

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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dave Alvin Style, June 21, 2001

By 

D. Highley "Don Highley" (San Dimas, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Interstate City (Audio CD)

Anyone who misses those Blasters' Shows from the 80's, (especially those opening with Los Lobos), needs this CD. While Alvin's vocals sometimes make me wish for brother Phil's voice, Dave is up to task on nearly every song. He manages to put enough feeling into his music, one almost feels the emotion he must have put into his words.

The Guilty Men play hard and tight on the Rockers and loosen up on the Folkers, (just made that up). Greg Boaz and Bobby Hicks invite favorable comparison to the Bateman/Bazz team of the early Blasters' days. Ted Roddy adds depth with his harmonica and Katy Moffatt's voice is almost too good for back-up duties, almost.

Listen to the meter, pitch, and rythmn changes in the Jubilee Train, Do Re Mi, Promised Land song arrangement and you begin to see how far Alvin's vocals have come. Mister Lee, a tribute to long time mentor Lee Allen is as moving as it is uplifting, remebering the Saxaphone great's spirit and love of life. Tracks move comfortably between Dave's new folk standards, Florence Avenue Lullaby and Out in California and Blasters' Rockers, Look Out (It Must Be Love). Long White Cadillac, and So Long, Baby, Goodbye. Spend the $15 bucks, you won't be sorry.

Lee Allen Lives!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate road CD, August 30, 2004

By 

moose_of_many_waters (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Interstate City (Audio CD)

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.