Review Summary: 50,000 watts out of Mexico.....this is the border radio.
The
original Blasters don't get together very often. A band of two brothers and a few guys who like playing old style rock n roll, The Blasters came roaring out of the South Cali city of Downey in the late '70's and immediately joined in on the fun and wide open musical adventure the Los Angeles punk scene offered at the time. Playing gigs in Hollywood along side bands like X, FEAR, and Social Distortion, some might say The Blasters were the odd band out. But as it turns out they fit right in, as the L.A. punk scene was always as much about creative musical diversity as it was about hardcore rants and anarchy.
Brothers Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin were raised in Downey, C.A. Which was among a number of Southern California cities with a population strong with roots from the midwest. They grew up going to the local blues bars in South Central Los Angeles, where as young teens they would sneak into clubs to watch and play gigs with some of the lesser known blues cats that would blow into town for a night or two, under the radar of most. It was in these bars and local vintage record shops where they would come to learn to play and honor rockabilly music and make it the work of their young lives. Well a lot of years have passed, and The
original Blasters have long busted up. But brother Phil has kept them going in one way or another. And once in awhile brother Dave Alvin will agree to play a gig or two with the original group. Brother Dave is a guitar player of some repute, and also the principle songwriter in the band. Having long become bored with The Blasters (he left over 20 years ago) Dave makes his own music these days. But sometimes he comes around for old times sake.
Going Home: The Blasters Live captures one such rare occasion on record. And its about as great as you might imagine a Blasters record to be.
Long considered one of the most
authentic rockabilly bands around while still being fresh and exciting, Going Home kicks off with the Blasters original
Marie, Marie. And it's easy to hear why this band was so acclaimed back in their heyday, as Marie, Marie is as bold and rockin' as it was on their very first album. A song which is nearly thirty years old and sounds like it might be nearly 50 years old which sounds like it could have been written yesterday. No small feat, but with Dave's guitar blazing trails on this hot rockabilly number, brother Phil in fine voice, and the rest of the band in it like only The Blasters can be...it just steamrolls over everything in front of it. Yup, it's gonna be a good night for great rock n roll.
From here on out it's just a matter of sitting back and enjoying the sounds. Not a night for a career retrospective or doing every single fan favorite imaginable, instead The Blasters load up with several great numbers from their humble beginnings and a host of old covers complete with guest appearances by the
old men who originally recorded them. On the Blaster side of things we get the frenetic jump and jive of
Crazy Baby with its lean guitar swagger and the excellent and timeless southwestern smoker
Border Radio, which features some of Dave Alvin's best songwriting work of the period. Also thrown in are the well worn classics
American Music and the always welcome, joyously heart broken
So Long Baby Goodbye. Well I tell you what, you've got your money's worth right there.
But wait, there is more. The real reason Dave Alvin came back for this one off show are the guests of the night. The Blasters always showed a great regard and respect for those who came before them and to those who inspired and encouraged them when they were just young eager kids playing the clubs of Los Angeles. You see, as much as The Blasters loved old style rock n roll, those who actually made that kind of music also loved The Blasters for being so true to it. And good at it. And ultimately this show is a tribute and celebration in honor of those old timers. We're treated to the the R&B stylings of The Calvanes and The Medallions on the soulful covers
Help You Dream and
Have Mercy Baby, which find these vocal groups in fine form. Heck if New Kids On The Block could get it half this right they'd be something more then the punks they are. We also get the great Sun Records artist Sunny Burgess for a wild take on his own
Red Headed Woman, and the amazing Billy Boy Arnold for a soulful and sexy
Wandering Eye. These artists and others like them never quite made "rock star" status, and like many artists who have come and gone over the years the cream doesn't always rise to the top. But if you stir it around nice and good you get a perfect blend nonetheless.
American Music. That's what The Blasters call it. I like to think of it as the same. "A howl from the desert, a scream from the slums." That about sums it up. This album drips with heat like two young lovers in a backseat on a hot summer night. And listening to it
Going Home: The Blasters Live conjures up images of fun at the drive-in, a long cruise in an old open air Caddy, and a joint jumping so wildly you could pass out from the heat but for the music, women, and alcohol keeping you jiving 'til sun up. You can call it Blaster music, American Music, or just good time rock n roll. But whatever you call it just don't call it old. This music is timeless, heartfelt, and as amazing now as it was thirty years ago for the original Blasters or fifty years ago for those who came before them. For one night it all came together not at different times, but at the same time. And you can hear the history of a music and its people ringing out strong throughout.
