Out in California
Though Dave Alvin's reputation rests with his songwriting, the dynamism  of this live recording puts the pedal to the metal and leaves the studio  versions of much of this material in the dust. Highlights range from a  nine-minute medley of Alvin's "Little Honey" andBo Diddley's "Who Do You  Love" to the honky-tonk country of "Highway 99" to the raucous celebration of  "American Music" that has been Alvin's anthem since his days with theBlasters. Not sinceCreedence'sJohn Fogertyhas a  roots rocker mined such a rich vein of Americana, though material such as  "Haley's Comet," "Blue Boulevard," and "Wanda and Duane" find Alvin's  hard-bitten lyricism growing increasingly dark as it matures. While his  half-spoken, half-sung vocals lack the nuance of the best of his songwriting, a  killer band featuring drummer Bobby Lloyd Hicks and keyboardist Joe Terry  provides propulsive support for his stinging guitar.--Don McLeese