Bman's Blues Report

Grammy award winning singer/songwriter/bar-room guitar player Dave Alvin has been a constant force in traditional American roots music, both electric and acoustic, for over 25 years. From his earliest days with roots pioneers The Blasters through his stinits with punk rock/folkies X and The Knitters through his various solo releases, Dave has mixed blues, folk, rockabilly, rhythm and blues, country, surf, cajun and even doo wop into his own unique brand of American Music. His songs have been recorded by Los Lobos, Buckwheat Zydeco, Robert Earl Kean, Dwight Yoakam, Kelly Willis, James McMurtry, Joe Ely and Little Milton to name a few, and have been heard in tv shows like THE SOPRANOS and movies like CRYBABY and THELMA AND LOUISE. .. .. .. CHECK OUT DAVE ALVIN NOW TOURING AS DAVE ALVIN AND THE GUILTY WOMEN, AND CHECK OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING!!! .. .. "GREAT show last night. Besides the stellar musicianship (Amy Farris - hokey smokes!) of the band, and the wonderful songs, Dave...

On July 3rd (2012) Rip Cat Records will be releasing the much anticipated new release from The Blasters , Fun On Saturday Night . Phil Alvin on Vocals, Harmonica and Guitar is joined by Keith Wyatt on Guitar; John Bazz on Bass and Bill Bateman on Drums. The recording opens with a hot rendition of Tiny Bradshaw's Well Oh Wel l, a fast paced jump style blues track. Alvin's vocals are strong, Wyatts guitar playing is clean and articulate and the rhythm section is tight. This place is hoppin! Next up is a duet with Excene (Cervenka) on Jackson . Keeping an exciting pace but breaking away from a traditional arrangement, The Blasters do this with classic style. Fun On Saturday Night is a a slick uptempo blues track keeping in the early rock feel and develops a real nice groove. Next up is No Nights By Myself which gets stylistic makeover. Alvin's vocals are supplemented with some sweet harp playing and the band maintains a really vintage sound on this track which is particularl...

Los Angeles, Calif.--The Rip Cat Records slogan “ Our Cats Rip! ” is spot-on, especially now that the world-class roots-rock band The Blasters has joined the label. At a time when the rosters of most blues labels are filled with well-meaning but jaded, uninspired musicians, Scott Abeyta’s young label thrives with artists that explode with creative energy. Showcasing many of the best musicians in Southern California, Rip Cat had a fine 2011--superlative releases, extensive radio play and print/cyberspace media coverage, great public response-- and the momentum has carried over into 2012. The Blasters— singer-guitarist Phil Alvin, guitarist Keith Wyatt, bassist John Bazz, drummer Bill Bateman--have recorded their first album since 2005 and it will be released May 17th. The Mighty Mojo Prophets , leading advocates of West Coast jump-blues, have been nominated for a prestigious Blues Music Award in the “Best New Artist” category. The 44s have their second album “American...

         Rip Cat Records Announces Signing Of Seminal SoCal Acts The Blasters , K.K.Martin      Rip Cat Records announces the signing of two iconic Southern California-based music artists, The Blasters and K.K. Martin.              The Blasters formed in Downey, California back in 1979 and, along with X, Black Flag, Red Hot Chili Peppers and others, have been an integral part of the SoCal underground/indie-rock scene since their formation. Led by brothers Phil and Dave Alvin, the group  originally signed to much-loved indie label Slash Records in 1981 and were known as much for their grueling touring schedule as their unique country-punk sound. Among the noted musicians that have performed as members of the Blasters through the years: the dynamic saxophone duo of Steve Berlin and Lee Allen; bassist John Bazz; the late Hollywood Fats (a/k/a Michael Mann) and X's Bi...