Customer Reviews

The Blasters Live - Going Home

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having seen the original Blasters in the 1980s and on their reunion tour in 2003, I am a witness to the greatness of this band. The intensity of their performances, the nervous anticipation felt by their fans whenever The Blasters took the stage and the sheer joy of watching five extraordinary players give life to the true spirit and abandon of rock-n-roll was back with a fury in 2003. If you love real music made with passion, not the kind that corporate Svengalis market to the soul-less, clueless and tasteless masses, then my friend: go home with The Blasters.

I'll be honest right from the beginning, that I've been a Blasters fan for years. I was in high school when the Los Angeles punk movement was at its zenith. Seeing a band like X, Black Flag or the Minutemen was easy to do because shows were happening all the time.

The Blasters were a little different and proved why the punk movement at that time was so special. There truly was musical innovation going on at that time so that a blues/rockabilly/folk/country band could be on the same bill with a thrashing punk band.

The other difference with the Blasters is that they featured one of the great American songwriters in Dave Alvin. Dave has since left the Blasters and his brother Phil and earned a Grammy a few years ago for his folk CD In The Public Domain. Recently, as a bid to firmly establish and memorialize the Blasters' unique role in rock history, Dave rejoined the band for a limited tour and for the release of their compilation CD.

This DVD contains the band's most recent final show at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana. In short, a great show with special guests and a great example of why the Blasters were a great band that performed a number of incredible songs.

As a longtime fan of the band, I can't give this DVD five stars because of a couple of quibbles that shouldn't be a problem for casual fans. My first problem is that this live DVD and companion CD does not live up musically to the Trouble Bound CD that was recorded about a year earlier during another part of their touring. Trouble Bound was recorded at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip and is one of the best live CDs of any band. Going Home is great too, but I only wish they would have filmed the show where Trouble Bound was recorded.

What is really great about this DVD is the other stuff that is thrown in with the performance. The interview with Dave rambles a bit but I enjoyed hearing from him. The video of the band in the 80's also provides the historical perspective that demonstrates why this was such a great band.

Up until a few years ago, I'd resigned myself to endlessly spinning my old vinyl Blasters albums until they were worn down to nothing more than one long runout groove since the only thing available digitally was "The Blasters Collection," an admittedly admirable, workmanlike compilation but lacking so many great songs desired by completists like yours truly. Fortunately all of that's changed with what seems like a plethora of Blasters compilations, live albums, and this wholly worthwhile DVD. Let's face it - the camera work and editing are far from perfect - but if you're old enough, think back to a time before MTV killed rock and roll and all that it stood for or for that matter, to a time when the release of a DVD like this seemed about as likely as Joe Strummer checking into the wooden Waldorf at the tender age of 50. Jaded, us? Although the years are beginning to show on Phil Alvin, Dave Alvin, and Gene Taylor (those b*st*rds John Bazz and Bill Bateman haven't aged a day!), these guys are still able to summon the muse at will, still fully capable of knocking most any band on the planet into a cocked hat, Dave Alvin's songs bursting from the speakers like a spray of sweat. Bonus features include the rarely-seen video of "Red Rose," two early 80's performances in California nearly ruined by dimwit surfer boys, interviews, and live footage of two songs by the Phil and Bazz-led "current Blasters line-up" (read "imposters"). If you're looking for the bottom line, here it is: If you're a Blasters fan, this one's a no-brainer. If you're not, I hear Janet Jackson's new one ain't half bad.

A few weeks before the Blasters played outside of Downey, I was lucky to have met Dave Alvin & Bill Bateman. A good friend of mine, Anna Statman called me, together we went to their first gig.

From the time of hearing the first drum beat, the first guitar chords, the first vocal from Phil Alvin, this great band has moved my soul. After leaving the first show, I was hooked, and knew this band was going to be special. I had to see them over and over again.

Fast foward 20+ years, the Blasters have given the world a true gift. The years apart cant be told here. The band plays better than ever. It would be harder to find a better rhythm section than Bill Bateman & John Bazz. Gene Taylor is a monster piano player. No one should be able to rock the 88's that good.

Brothers Dave & Phil Alvin bring a true love of the legends of American Music to the band's sound. Dave is the author of many songs performed on this DVD. He also distinguishes himself like few others on guitar. Brother Phil, is the the voice of the Blasters, and my what a soulful voice.

Do yourself a favor, give yourself a well deserved gift. Buy this DVD, you will play it over and over. On the 20th play, you will be glad of the purchase, the music will have grown on you. Your soul will be moved.

Long live the soul of the Blasters.

The Blasters absorbed the roots of American rock, blues, gospel, country, and many other influences better than almost any other band. Creedence Clearwater Revival may have been more brilliant in their heyday, but they didn't have the longevity that the Alvins and friends have demonstrated.

The secret to the Blasters' extended career is the profound feeling they have for the music and one another, and both are on excellent display at this intimate club date and during the many brief interviews interspersed among the wonderfully varied set. These don't slow down the proceedings at all; rather, they amplify and deepen our appreciation and enjoyment. Drummer Bill Bateman, for instance, explains how he can read Phil Alvin from his body language alone, and bassist John Bazz comments on Phil's unique grimace just before a killer version of "I'm Shakin'" that gives the iconic face a complete workout. Dave Alvin's guitar work is nothing short of passionate throughout, and guests like Sonny Burgess and Billy Boy Arnold join the band to represent some of the boys' heroes.

Having seen the Blasters a number of times in L.A. and Seattle, I can assure you that this is the closest you'll ever get to the perfect Blasters show on DVD. It's an unremittingly rockin', jumpin', wailin', stompin' night of fun, a must-see and a must-hear for anyone and everyone who loves American Music!

Just had to post a few comments about this. When i heard that the Blaster's first and only concert video would be released on DVD i just had to go out and get it.. all you blasters fans out there will know that these guys are all about playing live! - well, this DVD totally captures the energy and atmosphere... and if you never got to see them play... u just have to get this!! - The companion CD that comes with the DVD is just as awesome in it own capacity.. it features 16 tracks from the live concert co-produced by The Blasters themselves. The CD and DVD features performances of "Blasters" classics such as "American Music", "Marie, Marie" and "Border Radio". They are also joined on stage by rockabilly guitarist Sonny Burgess, Chicago blues great Billy Boy Arnold and the surviving members of the California doo wop legends The Calvanes and The Medallions.

go buy this now!!

adios

I am a huge Blasters fan (seen them in the early 80s as well as the reunion tour) and was excited by the concept of this DVD. While the band is in great form (5+ stars), the filming and editing are amateurish (1 star) and really impacted the communication of onstage energy. For example, Dave would be soloing while slithering/shuffling/jumping across the stage and we'd instead see a tight shot on Gene (or just piano keys), Bill, or (ugh) the audience. Very, very disappointing! When we did get a shot of Dave soloing, it was often framed so tight on the guitar that you still missed a lot of his `energy'. While the close-ups on Dave's guitar are definitely of interest, the filming crew overall missed the point of the DVD project and really missed the larger moment at hand. As such, so do we. In addition, intersecting interviews within the concert, which is liberally done here, is something that should *never* happen. It only breaks-up the flow and energy and there are interviews already in the "Special Feature" section of this DVD. The old clips range from what looks to me as nothing more than a lip-syncing rendition of Red Rose to two truly great clips (one w/ Lee Allen) from '82. Stage diving in 1982? Yes, and years before Nirvana and Peal Jam. Would I buy the DVD again? Yes, but it is so disappointing to know what this package could have been and what is actually delivered. This was a one shot chance at capturing the Blasters live and deliver the experience to us and I'd say the filmmakers blew it.

If you like the Blasters music, this is a nice show of mostly their old songs, in a 2003 concert that was filmed with the lights on (made the Phil Alvin sweat even more, I'm sure). The "Special Features" has some great live concert clips - two from the early 80's when they were hot during the Rockabilly wave (see the band play right through people dancing on stage, with bouncers struggling to push them off, and Phil even gets a quick kiss from a pretty girl). Dave Alvin has some very cool moves with his classic legs-spread stance and hairdoo - Phil has his classic smile (John Bazz explains what that is all about in one of the interview clips). John Bazz - the original Bass player is in all of the songs (as is Phil Alvin). The new format has a cool live version of a song from their new album (that is not out yet, but is on their website). The song is called "Daddy Rolling Stone" - great song, but slightly different sound that the original band. I liked the original drummer - John Bateman - better than the new guy, he plays fast and cool. Both Johns look great. The Alvin brothers are a little worse for wear, compared to the early clips. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Rockabilly, Rocking Blues, and/or solid bands that play "american music" - probably their most recognizable (some would say their best) song.
I like Red Rose and I'M Shakin from the classics.

A welcome CD for Blaster fans.....The reunion sound is great to hear live....Sound quality is a B-.... but overall I am most pleased with the purchase....I like their new 4-11-44 even better........I hope they return to Denver soon.

Phil Alvin is in this reunion concert. I actually enjoy both Dave and Phil as solo artists but this is great old Blasters stuff