If you believe the tales told about Johnny Dowd, he's more of a legendary, even mythical, figure from a cinematic America than anything else. Here's how one Chicago newspaper promotes him: 'If you like songs about murder, blood-covered walls, whisky, paranoia and mechanical women, then Dowd's music is for you.' Imagine a prototype of a character for a David Lynch movie, add a bit of Nick Cave's seriousness, mix in the avant-blues of Tom Waits, and that's Dowd for you.

Dowd grew up in Texas and until recently was running a trucking business. So, in a way, the difference in Dowd is that he's much closer to the urban creepiness he sings about than Cave or Waits. He left home at 17, went through the army and got married and then divorced two weeks later. For the past 20 years, he's been driving a car, listening to the radio, occasionally falling in love and writing songs.

When he was almost 50, Dowd decided that it was about time to relay his art to others and, in 1996, released his debut album 'Wrong Side of Memphis'. His crackly, deep voice singing about murder, doomed sinners, outlaws and paranoia layered over a blues guitar with atonal sounds was enough for him to gain a cult status. A few more albums, including his most recent 2002 CD "Pawnbroker's Wife," were done in the same style and are concerned with the same problems you can hear at his concert in B2 on June 7.