The Blasters

The Blasters
The pelvic epicenter of the Blasters’ rockabilly has always been Phil Alvin’s voice, a fluid, gulping yowl (that, and his big ol’ smart, sweaty forehead). In the early days, Phil’s brother, guitarist Dave Alvin, slammed the band through other American genres, and during one of its hardest-swinging incarnations, the band even featured horns and piano genius Gene Taylor. But that was decades ago. After a triumphant reunion tour a couple of years back, the Blasters are back down to a foursome. With Phil and bassist Gene Bazz, the band explodes through songs like “High School Confidential,” “Rock Boppin’ Baby,” and “Marie Marie.” Admittedly, they don’t do it like it’s still 1982, the Blaster zenith, but rather like it’s 1956 and they’re the most talented batch of California teenagers who ever got pissed off about Eisenhower.