The Original Blasters Reuniting for Phil Alvin Benefit (A Top Story)

MSO sent over these details: The line-up features a virtual who's-who of the Los Angeles music community including a reunion of The Original Blasters: Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, John Bazz and Bill Bateman; X; The Knitters; James Harman; Frank Fairfield; and the Mike Ellred Trio. Overseeing the evening's festivities is M.C. Big Sandy. Other special guest performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the benefit are $30 and all proceeds will be used to cover Phil Alvin's medical bills from a recent illness. In addition, a reproduction of the Fender Mustang guitar Dave Alvin played when he was in Blasters will be signed by performers and auctioned the evening of the benefit and a special poster created by acclaimed Portland graphic artist Gary Houston with these monies also allocated towards Phil's medical expenses.

About The Blasters: All American roots band The Blasters were formed in 1979 in Downey, California, by brothers Phil Alvin (vocals and guitar) and Dave Alvin (guitar) with bass guitarist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman. Their self-described "American Music" was a blend of blues, rockabilly, early rock and their energetic live performances gained a loyal, local following. They became fixtures of the early '80s Los Angeles punk scene, performing alongside X, Black Flag, The Gun Club, The Screamers and many others. Former Black Flag singer and current Rollins Band leader Henry Rollins wrote of the Blasters, "In my mind, they were a great band that not enough people found out about. Bill Bateman is one of the best drummers there is, and then of course, there are the Alvin brothers. A lot of talent for one band," notes for the album The Blasters Collection report that in one particular month, they toured with psychobilly pioneers The Cramps, with western swing revivalists Asleep at the Wheel and on a leg of Queen's west coast tour. The Blasters gave boosts to both Los Lobos and Dwight Yoakam by inviting them on tour; Yoakam would later score hit with his version of Dave Alvin's "Long White Cadillac." The Blasters continue to release music (their latest CD Fun On Saturday Night was released earlier this year) and tour the world. Founding member Dave Alvin left the band in 1986 to launch a successful and critically acclaimed solo career. - more on this story

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