Music / american rock n roll
Review: Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin, Tunnels
It’s been said that Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers are the best American Rock n Roll band, but there’s a plausible argument that with a more stable career The Blasters would have given them a run for their money. Lynchpin members Phil and Dave Alvin have had successful careers since Dave left the band and reunited for their first collaboration in 30 years – an album celebrating Big Bill Broonzy “…the one thing we never argue about”.
Thanks to the always reliable bookers at the Tunnels, Bristol was privileged to see the brothers in action on a mild Sunday night – ably supported by Dave’s Band the Guilty Ones – and we were treated to an immaculate set mixing their own material with choice cuts from the new record. Dave has to be one of the most under rated guitar players currently hitting those six strings – capable of stinging rockabilly licks, country pickin’ and some of the best blues since Stevie Ray Vaughan. He’s no slouch as a song writer either: What’s up with Your Brother is a peach with a sly touch of humour and One Bad Stud struts its way through a potted history of the blues. Phil, armed only with an acoustic, demonstrated that his uniquely powerful voice is still at full strength – despite an emergency tracheotomy in Spain a few years back. To prove the point the band pulled off an astonishing country / blues cover of James Brown’s Please Please Please that lifted the roof – contender for song of the night in a ridiculously quality packed set.
There’s no doubt that the brothers are the missing link in an illustrious line of American brothers, connecting the Louvins & the Everlys to the Robinsons, and the variety of material in the set illustrated that point with tunes that amply demonstrates how country & the blues begat rockabilly and rock n roll and then developed in to all the great stuff conveniently lumped in as Americana. If you didn’t make it last night then make damn sure you get to a show soon – this band is on fire.
is needed now More than ever
Oh, and bonus house points for the first person to correctly link the brothers to Shakin’ Stevens – double points if you can do it without going online.
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