Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women
Tuesday last a few of us PBN types got together and ventured forth to Chico to enjoy the sounds of Dave Alvin’s latest musical variation Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women. It was our first time in the Sierra Nevada Brewing’s The Big Room and it certain lived up to it’s name. Due to some clever maneuvering by one of our party we managed to come away with Dave’s personal show song list. (Shown below) We were even able to get it autographed after the show by nearly all the band members…including Dave himself.
Although every song in the show was stellar I especially enjoyed it when Dave finally picked up the Electric Guitar and launched into the classic Ashgrove. California’s Burning, Abilene and 4th of July really made impressions as well… almost as much as Dave’s humorous between-song ramblings and observations punctuated by quick sips on a strategically placed bottle of Sierra Nevada Summerfest.
I don’t ever remember seeing a band with two fiddle players let alone two women fiddle players (Amy Ferris and Laurie Lewis) that could rip it up like that. Lewis also played the Mandolin. Lap steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar left Dave grinning all night with her impressive virtuoso runs and counter punches to his spot on ringing rockabilly guitar style. This band was clearly having as much fun as we were. Bass player Sarah Brown and drummer Lisa Pankratz supplied the beat with ever present grins…as did electric guitarist Nina Gerber who told me after the show “This is such a fun tour…playing with Dave is like taking a guitar lesson every night”. Christy McWilson provided some classic country infused vocals on Weight of the world and Potters Field in particular.
Dave and these tremendously talented women will continue to be on tour all summer. If they come to your town… well… you know what to do. [They'll be playing at Michigan's The Livery July 5th! Another sudsy spot.]
I sure hope my future plans involve return trips to the Sierra Nevada Big Room for some more hoppy brews and tasty tunes. As I was sitting there watching the show with good friends and a fresh pitcher of Sierra Nevada Torpedo I realized, “man…where’d she get that red dress?”
Additional Info:
Sierra Nevada’s “Big Room” Calendar
Pictures of the Show
