DSP is proud to welcome The Blasters to Castaways in Ithaca on Thursday, March 11 for a rocking night of original roots rock and roll.  Tickets are on sale now and cost $15 in advance.  Don’t miss this chance to see American music legends up close and personal.



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The all-American roots music band, the Blasters were principally brothers Dave and Phil Alvin whose first-hand experience with blues masters shaped their sound and turned them both into contemporary singer/songwriters whose interest in roots rock has never waned.

The brothers, along with Bill Bateman on drums and John Bazz on bass, grew up in Downey California, in the shadow of Disneyland. Their musical education involved hanging out with musicians like Lee Allen, Marcus Johnson, and T-Bone Walker, all of whom tipped the band to the ways of blues and R&B. Ironically, by the time they were ready to work in Los Angeles clubs, the punk rock explosion was in full swing, and they found an audience for their rough-and-ready sound among the punks, particularly fans of X with whom they frequently shared the bill. American Music (1980) was a collection of roots covers and like-minded originals. Followed by The Blasters (1981, Slash), the band had added veteran pianist Gene Taylor, baritone saxophonist Steve Berlin and mentor Allen on tenor sax. Amazingly, the album reached number 36 on the charts. In 1982, they recorded the live EP, Over There for Slash, followed by 1983’s Non-Fiction. Less focused on rockabilly revivalism, Dave Alvin had become the band’s chief cook and songwriter. Berlin had since left the fold to join Los Lobos. Hard Line in 1985 was even more polished and featured the work of Ry Cooder and John Mellencamp; the latter’s song “Colored Lights” was written and produced by him especially with the band in mind. The band called it a day after that, though several years later Phil Alvin reformed the group as a live act without Dave.

After joining X for a brief spell, Dave launched a career as a prolific solo recording artist; Phil released one solo album before heading back to school to pursue post-graduate work in mathematics. Taylor is also a solo recording artist. In spring 2002 the original Blasters lineup — the Dave and Phil Alvin, Bazz, Bateman, and Taylor — reunited for a series of six reunions shows in California. A live album resulted, Trouble Bound, which featured recordings from the group’s two performances at House of Blues in Hollywood. Another round of reunion shows produced a second live set, The Blasters Live: Going Home, and a home video of the same show was released concurrently. With the group back in the public eye, in 2005 Phil Alvin’s edition of the Blasters – featuring Phil, John Bazz on bass, Keith Wyatt on guitar and Jerry Angel on drums – finally released a long-promised studio album, 4-11-44

OFFICIAL BIO

The Blasters

Phil Alvin – Vocals and guitar

Bill Bateman – Drums

John Bazz – Bass

Keith Wyatt – Lead guitar

The Blasters exemplify the best traditions of American Music, performing with passion and honesty that for over three decades has won the hearts and souls of fans worldwide. Composed of founding members vocalist-guitarist Phil Alvin, drummer Bill Bateman and bassist John Bazz with Keith Wyatt on guitar, they carry on a hard-won legacy as one of the most recognizable and credible bands in American Music. Their influences range from the likes of George Jones and Carl Perkins to Ike Turner, Howlin’ Wolf, James Brown and Big Joe Turner, all blending into a sound that ignores the lines between Rock & Roll, Country, Blues and Rockabilly. “4-11-44″ (Rainman Records) is the Blasters’ fifth and latest studio album, featuring fourteen tracks that extend the band’s legacy of classic recordings. Fronted by Phil Alvin’s powerful vocals, the band follows through with spontaneity, power and grit that make their live performances into experiences not to be missed.

Discography

American Music                  Rollin Rock

The Blasters                           Slash / Warner Bros. Records

Live At The Venue (EP)         Slash / Warner Bros. Records

Non-Fiction                           Slash / Warner Bros. Records

Hard Line                           Slash / Warner Bros. Records

Collection                           Slash / Warner Bros. Records

“Unsung Stories”                  Slash / Warner Bros. Records

(Phil Alvin solo LP)

“County Fair 2000”                  Hightone Records

(Phil Alvin solo LP)

American Music                  Hightone Records (Rollin Rock Reissue)

Testament                          Rhino/Warner Bros. Records

Going Home Live                 Shout! Factory

(CD and DVD)

4–11-44                             Rainman Records