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Dave and Phil Alvin Announce New Blues-Infused Album Album

Dave and Phil Alvin will release their first new album in more than 30 years, a tribute to bluesman Big Bill Broonzy.
Dave and Phil Alvin will release their first new album in more than 30 years, a tribute to bluesman Big Bill Broonzy. Photo by Beth Herzhaft

Dave and Phil Alvin, founders of the ’70’s punk band the Blasters, are teaming up to record their first new album in more than 30 years. On top of that: it’s going to be the blues. The album, titled Common Ground: Dave + Phil Alvin Play and Sing the Songs of Big Bill Broonzy is a tribute to the iconic bluesman, who died in 1958. 

The brothers have been fascinated by Broonzy ever since their childhood, when Phil bought the record at age 12.

“I remember the day Phil brought that record home. It’s a strong childhood memory—like stealing a Playboy for the first time,” Dave said.

The album features 12 songs spanning Broonzy’s 30-year career, from the late ’20s to late ’50s.  

This isn’t the brothers’ first time working together in recent memory, though. They collaborated on Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, the musical cowritten by Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett, and on Dave’s last album Eleven/Eleven.

A four-song exclusive EP will be released for Record Store Day April 19. The full album will be released June 3. The Alvins plan on an extensive tour later this year; dates and venues will be announced soon.

Listen to a track and learn more about the album over at Billboard.

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