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The Blasters
Fun On A Saturday Night
Rip Cat Records
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It’s been eight years since The Blasters’ last album
release, but that’s okay because there was a nearly
20-year gap between the previous two. Fun On A
Saturday Night (Rip Cat Records) leans more toward
the blues than their previous efforts. The band has
always mixed the blues into their brand of “American
Music,” although the mix usually included New
Orleans R&B, Memphis soul, country and swing, and
even Tex-Mex from time to time.
Though primary songwriter Dave Alvin left the group
years ago, the rest of the group remains intact,
including Dave’s brother, Phil, who sings, plays
piano, guitar, and harmonica) and remaining original
members Bill Bateman (drums) and John Bazz (bass).
Guitarist Keith Wyatt completes the group, but they
also get help on this new release from Kid Ramos,
Exene Cervenka, and backup singers Jeff Neal and
Eddie Nichols.
The Blasters have always managed to breathe new life
into old classic tunes, and they still have the
Midas touch, whether on tracks like the old Johnny
Cash/June Carter tune, “Jackson” (a Phil Alvin/Exene
Cervenka duet), a blistering version of Tiny
Bradshaw’s “Well, Oh Well,” a manic take on Magic
Sam’s “Love Me With A Feeling,” and even a bold
cover of James Brown’s “Please Please Please.” The
title cut rocks hard and Sonny Boy Williamson’s “No
Nights By Myself” is pure, unadulterated blues at
its finest.
The three most unusual cuts would have to be the
reworking of the Blasters’ hit from the ’80s (“Marie
Marie”) into a Mexican folk number (“Maria Maria”),
Alvin’s fun interpretation of “The Yodeling
Mountaineer,” and the slighty twisted original
“Breath of My Love,” a doo wop tune like you’ve
never heard before.
Phil Alvin sounds great on vocals and his harmonica
work is marvelous. The lead guitar work from Wyatt
is understated, but impressive and fits the material
like a glove. The rhythm section is as great as they
ever were. The only issue I have with this album is
that its not long enough.
Fun On A Saturday Night is an appropriate title. The
disc sounds like the band came together to have a
blast and play some of their favorite tunes. Here’s
hoping that The Blasters close the gap between new
releases even more next time around.
--- Graham Clarke
