Fool's Paradise: The Blasters' Non-Fiction and Rockabilly Revival

The Blasters are probably not the best known or the first of the Rockabilly Revivalists, but they are probably the best of all of them. When you listen to their earlier recordings, there is a great sense of authenticity and energy. They are clearly great at what they do. But I think they really hit their stride on their second album on Slash, Non-Fiction. Not to cast aspersions on some of their earlier numbers like Marie Marie, So Long Baby Goodbye, and Border Radio.

But I believe that on Non-Fiction, they went from being impressionists, revivalists, to being artists that contributed and expanded on this genre. No small feat, given Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly, etc.

And it boils down to superior songwriting and a confidence to bring one's own life experiences and sensibilities into the equation. A quantum leap was made here, though I would be in disagreement with the popular narrative. I could not help but make a comparison when I first got Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings, a superb anthology of their output on said label, three albums and a live Ep. I think critics noticed that the band was diverging from the traditional formula a bit and didn't like it so much. I think that they were finding their voice and a new found comfort level in their abilities. There is a richness and depth to Dave Alvin's songwriting here that was just a portent of things to come. And they continue to rock out with gusto, with the addition of the expanded horn section of New Orleans session legend Lee Allen and Steve Berlin. In the words of the great American Philosopher/Lifestyle Consultant Louis Jordan, if you aren't digging this, "Jack, you dead."

The album begins with the rockin' rockin' glory of  Red Rose. Anybody can get a rush from the fantastic stinging Chuck Berry guitar, but listen carefully and you realise the song is like a short story. They are still dishing the same great music they did on their other albums, rooted in rock tradition, but moving in a forward direction and coming from the heart.

Your father sat with the night's first drink
Your mother washed the dishes in the sink
You stood on the steps, wearing your best
One red rose on a new black dress

Of course at this juncture the band was composed of the Alvins, Phil and Dave, on vocals and lead guitar respectively, John Bazz on bass, Bill Bateman on drums, and the mighty Gene Taylor on keyboards. The aforementioned Lee Allen and Steve Berlin rounded out this incarnation of the group. People unfamiliar with the band might recognize them as the house band in the silly new wave adventure Streets of Fire, which included Rick Moranis, Diane Lane, Willem DaFoe, Michael Pare, and the furious frontman of Fear, Lee Ving. The band's performance is one of the best parts of the movie, memorably ripping out One Bad Stud, and Blue Shadows, which are included in this anthology. Another winner is Justine, where Phil and X's John Doe team up on vocals. It was a white-hot inexplicable outtake from Non Fiction. With so many great songs, maybe they just ran out of vinyl room!

Bus Station is another Blasters classic, a candid detailing of the back and forth downward entropy of a degenerating relationship. He lies to her, she lies to him, they lie to themselves--though they are sick of everything, here they are together. On the flipside, you have the simple joys of the moment, like the happy one two punch of perfection of One More Dance and It Must Be Love. Maybe the joy won't last forever but it is a feeling that we can all identify with. And another great tune is the poignant ballad Leaving, probably one of my favorite Dave Alvin compositions, up there with 4th of July.



And there is a historical context to this music--it's American music, as they call it, and as an American these themes resonate deeply with me. Songs like Boomtown, about high times come and gone, times that might never return, at least not for the average person. One of my favorites is the high octane Long White Cadillac,
which is about American as they come.

Headlights shine
The Highway fades to Black
It's my last ride
I'm never coming back
In a Long White Cadillac...

The Blasters still play around and tour with Phil Alvin. Of course the original Blasters are not together anymore (though Dave reunites with the band occasionally. But if you enjoy this music you will want to hear Dave Alvin's solo records. One of my favorites is the stripped down greatest hits album King of California, where the unadorned versions of his songs really emphasize how great they are. And he is a real gamer live, believe me. I've seen him twice, once with a full band and again with just him and an astounding Texas guitarist with a pompadour hairdo. He's a hard working full time musician. If he comes to your town, I suggest you buy some tickets.