In 1979, Dave Alvin and his brother Phil formed the roots rock band The Blasters with fellow Downey residents Bill Bateman and John Bazz. Despite a growing fan base in the United States and Europe, Alvin left the band in 1986 and became the lead guitarist of the Los Angeles–based alternative rock band X.

He left X in 1987 to work on a solo project after the group recorded their album See How We Are. Alvin became a member of the country-folk band The Knitters and appeared on their 1985 album Poor Little Critter on the Road and their 2005 follow-up, The Modern Sounds of the Knitters.

In the early 1980s Alvin, along with fellow Blasters members Bill Bateman and Steve Berlin, performed on several albums by the Los Angeles punk band the Flesh Eaters. Alvin also played with the Gun Club and appeared on two songs from their 1984 album, The Las Vegas Story.

Jimmie Dale Gilmore has been writing and playing songs for more than 50 years. His music eludes categorization, blending elements of folk, rock, country, blues and bluegrass. His recordings have earned three Grammy nominations in both Contemporary Folk and Traditional Folk categories and he was named Country Artist of the Year three years running by Rolling Stone Magazine.

His high and lonesome vocal style, coupled with sometimes mystical and poetic lyrics, has led to musical brandings such as Sagebrush Soul, Zen Country and Western Beat. Along with Joe Ely and Butch Hancock, Gilmore’s legendary band The Flatlanders has been credited as fathers of the Alt-country movement.

"The Guilty Ones are as solid a backing group as you could want: Chris Miller with his waist-length pigtails often turned to slide guitar, Brad Fordham on bass and backing vocals and an unstoppable Lisa Pankratz on drums." - Roger Caitlin

BBQs on the lawn FAQs