In 1982, Downey, California’s roots-rockers The Blasters had a full head of steam after releasing their self-titled sophomore album for Slash Records, which subsequently received manufacturing and distribution assistance from Warner Bros. The band’s profile had been considerably raised by increased label backing, an expanded line-up, and some scorching original tunes penned by guitarist Dave Alvin that showed an American roots music band having more in common with the spirit of London Calling than “Stray Cat Strut.” In fact, the record hit #36 on the U.S. LP charts, and the band appeared on American Bandstand.

However, it was now time to start work on what would become 1983’s Non Fiction, a process which might put The Blasters out of the public eye for a bit. So a stop-gap six-song EP, Over There (Live At The Venue, London), was issued, featuring early rock and roll covers like “Rock Boppin’ Baby” and “High School Confidential,” as well as an older Alvin original, “I Don’t Want To.” The band is clearly on fire, but the reliance on covers made the EP more a novelty than a mandatory release. Fast forward over 40 years later and the complete 23-song concert is now absolutely mandatory, capturing The Blasters at the peak of their powers, still hungry, still getting along (more or less), and playing like their lives depended on it.

 

Featuring the booming and crooning Phil Alvin on vocals, brother Dave lighting up the guitar, John Bazz and Bill Bateman locking in hard on the bass and drums, respectively, the band by this point had also added the great Lee Allen (Fats Domino and his Sextet, as well as Little Richard, among many others) on tenor sax, Steve Berlin (also of Los Lobos) on baritone sax, and Gene Taylor (Canned Heat) pounding the piano. Now that’s one talented ensemble.

 

Ten of the 12 songs from the self-titled album were played that night in London in May 1982, covering all the original compositions. These include a ferociously swinging “Border Radio,” the no regrets send-off “So Long Baby Goodbye,” the regretfully poetic “No Other Girl” (a personal favorite), and, of course, a completely storming “Marie Marie.”

 

Aside from the two Alvin originals that were re-recorded from the more obscure debut album (“Marie Marie,” and “American Music”), only “I Don’t Want To” and “Barn Burning,” another Alvin original off the first LP, pre-date the Slash/Warner Bros. album, the sign of a band moving fast. That also means that, in addition to the five covers on the 1982 EP, a selection of other r & b, blues, rockabilly, and soul (e.g., a stunning “These Arms Of Mine”) standards and obscurities round out the set, each sounding as if they belong to The Blasters, Phil Alvin apparently only able to sing with utter and total conviction. Lee Allen even gets showcased on an instrumental he wrote in 1958, the strutting “Walkin’ With Mr. Lee,” while Gene Taylor takes a vocal on “Tag Along” and his brilliant playing comes to the fore on Big Joe Turner’s “Roll ’Em Pete.”

 

And what else is there to say, really? You just have to listen to this music, a task that’s thankfully been made much easier by Liberation Hall, which is doing a wonderful job of restoring The Blasters catalog and legacy with care, depth, and copious liner notes. Their reissue campaign includes a five album box set of all the band’s studio recordings for Record Store Day 2025, but if you want to dip that first toe into The Blasters, this hour-plus live document isn’t a bad place to start at all.

Rating: A-

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