Me encanta la música que hace Dave Alvin, me gusta mucho su voz grave y su forma de cantar, sin estridencias. Hace rock adulto (no sé por qué, pero esta es la descripción que me viene a la mente), de bar de carretera secundaria, de roadhouse.

Esta canción, "Harlan County Line", que abre su nuevo disco (Spotify), me recuerda bastante a mi favorita de entre las suyas, un auténtico temazo: "Ashgrove".

La música que me gusta

Ashgrove

Well when I was a young boy
I used to slip away
Down to the Ashgrove
To hear the old blues men play
There was Big Joe and Lightnin’
And Reverend Gary too
Well I’d sit and stare and dream
Of doin’ what they could do.

Well it’s been thirty years since the Ashgrove burned down
And I’m out on this highway travelin’ town to town
Tryin’ to make a livin’
Tryin’ to pay the rent
Tryin’ to figure out where my life went.

I wanna go back to the Ashgrove
That’s where I come from
I wanna go back to the Ashgrove
That’s where I belong.

Well you don’t have to go searchin’
Pretend to put on airs
‘Cause the blues are gonna find you someday, somewhere
Now my mother’s gone
Now my father’s gone
And all the old blues men have all passed on
And I’m out on this highway travelin’ town to town
Settin’ up my gear and then I’m tearin’ it down
Turnin’ up my guitar
Standin’ on the stage
I’m just tryin’ to raise the ghosts up out of their graves.

I wanna go back to the Ashgrove
That’s where I come from
Yeah I wanna go back to the Ashgrove
That’s where I belong.

Well I can’t say I been all sinner
Can’t say I been all saint
I’ve done some good deeds and I’ve made big mistakes
I been in and out of love
Said words I regret
I been drunk, been sober
Smoked too many cigarettes
And I’m out on this highway travelin’ town to town
And the news on the radio just brings me down
Intolerance and fear
Ignorance and lies
It’s the same old same old I heard a million times
And I’m thinkin’ of friends and lovers
And how they come and go
Like look-alike houses on the side of the road
Full of everyday people tryin’ to get ahead
Tryin’ to find a reason just to get out of bed
‘Cause we all need somethin’ just to get us through
Well I’m gonna play the blues tonight man
‘Cause that’s what I do.

I’m goin’ back to the Ashgrove
That’s where I come from
I’m goin’ back to the Ashgrove
That’s where I belong.

Dave Alvin

Fourth of July

(El vídeo es bastante malo, pero no encontré nada mejor en youtube)

She's waiting for me when I get home from work
But things just ain't the same
She turns out the light and cries in the dark
Won't answer when I call her name

Chorus

On the stairs I smoke a cigarette alone
The Mexican kids are shooting fireworks below
Hey, baby, it's the Fourth of July
Hey, baby, it's the Fourth of July

She gives me her cheek when I want her lips
And I don't have the strength to go
On the lost side of town in a dark apartment
We gave up trying so long ago

Repeat Chorus

Whatever happened, I apologize
So dry your tears and baby, walk outside
It's the Fourth of July

Dave Alvin