Dave Alvin’s new video “On The Way Downtown” is an ode to Gene Taylor, Chris Gaffney, and Amy Farris. Covering the classic Peter Case song, Alvin expresses his love for song and what the cover means to him:
“On The Way Downtown” is my favorite song written by one of my hero songwriters Peter Case. I remember Peter playing this bittersweet song years ago, and I fell in love with it immediately. I knew then and there that I would have to record it someday, and so I did, and my multi-talented pal, Victor Krummenacher, made a brilliant video collage of my version.
I always get a little choked up listening to this recording because two of my dear friends who passed away, Chris Gaffney and Amy Farris, are playing and singing on it, and this leads me to think of all of my other musicians and comrades who have gone on to the other side, most recently the beloved boogie woogie piano king Gene Taylor.
I really hope that Peter likes what I did to his song, and I sincerely hope that all of you enjoy it as well.”
— Dave Alvin