Kim Lenz

"I'm gonna Rock'n'Roll 'til I break my neck!" is the exultant declaration of a substantially ginchy hepjill who just shoved the work-week into the rearview. For moments like hers, fireball juke fervor is the finest game afoot.

Video: "Saturday Jump"

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The Blasters

American Music

(Liberation Hall)

Among qualities shared between California's Blasters and inspirations like Rudy Toombs, Big Joe Turner, and Sonny Burgess is timelessness; matters so enriching never really fade. So widely and profusely ladled has been praise for the roots-rocking machine instigated by Alvin brothers Phil and Dave, that no laudatory adjectives have been neglected.

American Music was first marketed in 1980 by Rollin' Rock's shrewd impressario Ronny Weiser. (Hightone and Floating World reissues ensued.) The Alvins were joined by a rugged bass/drums unit membered by John Bazz and Bill Bateman. (Later personnel were piano man Gene Taylor, and saxophonists Lee Allen and Steve Berlin.) 

The four wrought some of the New Wave moment's most true-blooded roots exertions. Within the richness of American Music howled common-folk declarations birthed in jukes, honky tonks, mountain regions, neon-lighted cities, and pastoral climes whose residents' hardscrabble realities were disclosed by the callouses on their hands.

Song crafter Dave Alvin once observed that, "paradoxically," the more personal a narrative be, the more universal its resonance. His five-star architectures rose upon territories where regular folks' musicalizing and perspectives lamented travails and made merry in ways peculiar to them.

The yet-thriving Blasters iteration boasts originals Phil, John, and Bill. Now lending six-string masteries is Keith Wyatt, whose deft demolitions have over years graced stagefronts, studios, and even esteemed instructional environs.

Recommended: "American Music," "Real Rock Drive," "I Don't Want To," "Marie Marie," "Flat Top Joint," "Never No More Blues," "Buzz Buzz Buzz"

Videos: "Real Rock Drive"   "Flat Top Joint"   "Buzz Buzz Buzz"

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Facebook (Current band)

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Liberation Hall

bandcamp

Hamilton Book

Juno Music

Discogs

Amazon

Then

Now

Back in the Day, 1982

Sonny Burgess and Dave Alvin

Tennessee Border

(Hightone)

Storied Sun wild man Sonny came roaring back in this 1982 project, showing young pups exactly how ripsnorting Rockabilly should be done. And it wasn't nothing but right that Blaster Dave brought him back; Sonny had helped raise up the Rebel Sound Dave and revivalist peers had grown up on. Sonny's prowess is so known to vintage wax afficianados that no need for articulation exists. Suffice to write that his way with joint tunery and tears-in-suds laments is as much instructional for would-bes, as fiery good in its own damn right.

Other labels have since reissued Tennessee Border.

Recommended: "Tennessee Border," "Flattop Joint," "Enough of You," "Old Old Man," "Automatic Woman," "I Don't Dig It"

Videos: "Tennessee Border"   "My Heart is Achin' For You"   "Flattop Joint"   "Old Old Man"   "There's Talk in Your Sleep"   "I Don't Dig It"

Goofin' Records

Discogs

Apple

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