Over a thousand miles separate Downey, California from Lubbock, Texas, but on the album named after Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore’s hometowns they find a lot in common. Alvin, formerly of the Blasters and Gilmore formerly of the Flatlanders have crossed paths many times while touring and their first collaboration “Downey to Lubbock” sounds like two good friends trading songs and swapping stories.

Their voices are polar opposites so they trade off vocals with Alvin’s rich baritone making quite a counterpart to Gilmore’s high and lonesome sound. When they do harmonize on this set of mostly cover songs its unique.

Besides the title song that sets up their partnership the other original is an Alvin song that imagines a meeting of another unlikely duo, Billy the Kid and Geronimo with Gilmore and Alvin singing for each character.    

The two legendary Americana artists play off each other’s strengths and pay tribute to their mutual influences and "Downey to Lubbock" allows them to ride off into the sunset like two brothers from different mothers.

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