The Blasters
Over There: Live at the Venue, London – The Complete Concert
Liberation Hall
The Blasters were odd ducks coming out of the L.A. punk scene. They played stripped down roots rock more indebted to 1950s rock and R&B than anything going on in London in the late ’70s. What they played was unapologetically “American Music.” The rockabilly twang and barroom energy found a home with the punks in Los Angeles, and they played often with bands like X.
Over There was originally issued by Slash Records as a six-song EP. It comprised the Dave Alvin original “I Don’t Want To” and covers of Jerry Lee Lewis’s “High School Confidential,” Edwin Bruce’s “Rock Boppin’ Baby,” Little Richard’s “Keep A Knockin’,” Roy Orbison’s “Go, Go, Go,” and Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson’s “Roll ‘Em Pete.” The complete recording includes all 23 tunes played in the 1982 concert.
This is a great sounding specimen of prime, live Blasters. Phil Alvin is in good voice, Dave Alvin is playing his hot licks, and Gene Taylor’s piano is room shaking. The set really includes three versions of The Blasters, each with their own flavor. There is the four-piece version of the band that originally wowed the punks at Hong Kong Gardens in L.A., the five-piece version that incorporated Gene Taylor (formerly of Canned Heat) on piano, and the seven-piece unit that included Lee Allen (Fats Domino) on tenor sax and Steve Berlin on Baritone sax. They turn over the stage at one point for Allen to play his hit instrumental, “Walkin’ With Mr. Lee.” Gene Taylor gets a showcase moment on “Tag Along.” The set is a good mix of classic rock and roll songs and Blasters originals. Blasters originals highlighted in the show include the New Orleans flavored “Hollywood Bed,” “Marie, Marie,” and “American Music.”
This disc captures the energy of The Blasters’ live set. It shows how a bunch of retro rockers could win over a room full of punk rockers by sheer exuberance. Long live rock and roll.
