The Knitters, a Los Angeles-based band, formed in 1982 as a side project for its members. The group consisted of Exene Cervenka, John Doe, and DJ Bonebrake from the punk band X; Dave Alvin from The Blasters and The Flesh Eaters; and Jonny Ray Bartel from The Red Devils. Their debut album, Poor Little Critter on the Road, was released in 1985 and featured a mix of traditional and cover songs performed in an acoustic style, drawing influences from blues, folk, country, and rockabilly. After the album's release, the members went back to their primary bands while Alvin pursued a solo career, before releasing their second album, The Modern Sounds of the Knitters, in 2005, to a positive reception. In March 2024, during the South by Southwest festival, The Knitters reunited for a performance in Austin, Texas, as part of a concert honoring Mojo Nixon.
