Dave Alvin, Pt. 1

Dave Alvin has had such an epic career that we’re going to need two episodes to fit it all in. Much of Part 1 spotlights Alvin’s values as a musician. As he tells it, the Blasters, the revved-up L.A. roots-rock band for which he was the main songwriter/guitarist, had lots of rules. The Third Mind, his current psychedelic improvisatory band, has few. Why does the latter appeal to him now? How did seeing Jimi Hendrix twice inspire him? What were his stints in the Knitters and X like? When Alvin emerged on the other side of cancer treatments, why was restarting the Third Mind his top priority? How is what they’re doing the opposite of “choreographed modern music”? At a time when, Alvin says, “most pop music is a Broadway show,” why is it important to be a little out of control? (Photo by Steven Dewall.)