Starting in the late 70s, brothers Phil Alvin and Dave Alvin started an adventure in American roots music called The Blasters. The band kicked off lifelong adventures for both brothers, combining rockabilly, blues, country and all those heritage forms to bring the guys worldwide acclaim through original music and classic songs from the American songbook. By 1985 the brothers went their separate ways, forging notable careers outside The Blasters. Fast forward to 2012, when Dave got the phone call that Phil had just died. 45 minutes later, a second call said he had been revived. That led to the recording and performance reunion of the brothers, after a nearly 30-year drought. The first album was released in 2014, with Alvin’s interpretations of the blues master Big Bill Broonzy receiving a Grammy nomination. 2015’s Lost Time covers early mentors and heroes of the Alvins, especially Big Joe Turner, a personal friend and teacher to the young brothers in their formative years of making American music. Dead Rock West opens the show.
Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin & The Guilty Ones
Sunday, Oct. 11, 7:30pm
Casey’s Pub
K of C Hall
Meadowbrook Road
Bedrock 66 Live!
music series
This article appears in Oct 8-14, 2015.
