Belatedly, The Knitters

It was on May 15, 2010 that I saw them, but I forgot to mention that I saw the legendary band The Knitters. They are comprised of all the personnel of the seminal L.A. punk band X except for Billy Zoom on guitars. They do country music. When The Knitters are together, their staff guitarist is none other than the legendary Dave Alvin on guitar. Too bad he didn't get to sing as he has a great baritone like John Doe.

But I digress. The concert was terrific. And I forget how excellent of a guitarist Dave Alvin is. The primarily did music from their 1986 project called Poor Little Critter on the Road and their other traditional country album Modern Sounds of The Knitters (probably a play on words for Ray Charles seminal country album of similar name Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music).

In any event, before Jason & The Scorchers, before Uncle Tupelo, there was The Knitters. They are and were a punk band doing more than competent Americana, bluegrass, and Country and Western. The concert was excellent. There was much inter-band banter especially by former married couple Exene Cervenka and John Doe. Except for Dave Alvin's great surfabilly playing, it was primarily a rollicking acoustic set. I was particularly fond of the their cover of Rank Strangers. All in all a great concert where the whiskey flowed and the fun was had.

We also got to spend a little time talking to the great John Doe who came out to greet people and autograph CDs on the way out of Columbia, MO Blue Note venue.