The Quiet Dave

Author

By Dennis Donley

Publish Date

May 12, 2010

"There are two types of folk music: quiet folk music and loud folk music. I play both." In his incarnation this past Saturday at AcousticMusicSanDiego in Normal Heights, Dave Alvin was the quiet Dave, backed by Rick Shea on guitars, mandolin, and vocals.

In two sets bracketed by "Border Radio" and "Marie, Marie," Alvin took the sold-out room through his Americana songbook, with several nods to departed friends. In a melancholy mood brought on by visiting San Diego, bringing forth memories of Buddy Blue and Country Dick Montana, Alvin dedicated "Out of Control" to both. After a hilarious Chris Gaffney/Uma Thurman story, he covered "The Man of Somebody's Dreams" from the Gaffney tribute album of the same title; he also did "Downey Girl" for the late Amy Farris, one of the "Guilty Women" on his latest release.

Although originally recognized as an electric guitarist in the rockabilly influenced Blasters, Dave is also an accomplished acoustic picker, evidenced especially in a jammed out "Abilene." Other highlights included "King of California," "Ashgrove," "Haley's Comet," and "4th of July."