Phenomenal as always! Grew up seeing these guys many times live, Reseda Country Club, Palladium, many more. Fantastic talent and very cool dudes in person. This was a great scene in the 1980's. Who ever gave this thumbs down, it truly sucks to be you.
Great high-energy performance! The Blasters have yet to disappoint!! Discovered them recently and have been obsessed with their music ever since. My favorite jam for the office!
Walkin' with Mr. Lee!! Just love this! "they called it rockabilly, long before they called it rock and roll"! Saw Carl in DC maybe 1977 with Robert Gordon and Link Wray. This will NEVER die! Thanks so much!
Awesomeness, all the original Blasters. This is just how they were my first time I saw them in Holkywood, mid 80s. I will always remain a fan..a I love this band!
Love them for ever, from i'm 18!!!! 38 years of love and real good rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the best rock for ever is the Blasters, the song and interpretation are crazy!!! KIss you and love from Paris France!!!!
Shot at Stages (now The Metro.) , Chicago. I saw The Blasters and Phil , solo, there , a few years later. A few people I know are in the crowd shots , but , it's hard to tell. I've only seen this once on PBS , and I did'nt have a VCR , then , so thank you for putting this up !
AS a roadie and working in the booking end of music out of my hometown of Nashville for over 35 years i can honestly say until you come to lower Broadway in Nashville to the 'joints' as we call them you never have heard music until you visit here.Here on broad as we call it you can here the soul of country,rock and rockabilly as it was meant to be played by up and coming bands and sometimes the original artist.Since Nashville sold out to the sex industry and went POP lower broad is one of the best places to here music as it was meant to be played.Yea the fights come with it and the and all the other stuff but its country at its best.So bring about a 100.00 an empty stomach and someone to get you home safe and you will have the best time of your life if you like this type of music.
In truth,I only watched this because of Carl,but i was very pleased with the Blasters. In 1959,I bought a 45 called The Beat. The Bside was Crazy Baby and I sang it with my band for a while,so it was great to see this Rockin' R's,one hit wonder,open the show!
I first saw the Blasters middle 80's at an appropriately "retro" place, the Rainbo Roller Rink in Chicago (which had also been the Electric Theater/Kinetic Playground rock concert venue in the 70's). I was in the first row standing against the stage, and I was infused with the raw energy and soul of the Blasters. Saw them later at Metro, and the experience was again transforming.
I saw the last 20 minutes of this back in the fall of 1982. Hurried home from my night class but missed most of the show. I thought this was the Soundstage broadcast but wasn't sure. The voice-over at the end confirmed it. Glad to finally see the whole thing, better late than never. Still have to see The Blasters live!
Saw their first SF appearance at the Old Waldorf. Steve Berlins bari did not make it to town and he found me and borrowed my Conn. They were great guys and the show was amazing. Lee Allen was on tenor!!!!
Setlist: 1. Crazy Baby (The Blasters); 2. This Is It (The Blasters); 3. Border Radio (The Blasters); 4. I'm Shakin' (The Blasters); 5. Tag Along (The Blasters); 6. Stop the Clock (The Blasters); 7. Down the Line (The Blasters); 8. Blue Suede Shoes (Carl Perkins); 9. Honey Don't (Carl Perkins); 10. Rockabilly Fever (Carl Perkins); 11. American Music (The Blasters); 12. Hollywood Bed (The Blasters); 13. Built for Comfort (The Blasters featuring Willie Dixon); 14. I'm Ready (The Blasters featuring Willie Dixon); 15. Marie, Marie (The Blasters); 16. So Long Baby Goodbye (The Blasters); 17. Boppin' the Blues (Carl Perkins and The Blasters together).
Just saw the Blasters a couple months ago at First Ave in Minneapolis with the reverend horton heat and Jr. Brown. The Blasters sound better now than ever.
I saw the Blasters in Los Angeles @ '80 with X, Suburban Lawns and several other bands,this was during the spitting generation, and I will never forget how covered The Blasters got in spit! Of the whole bunch I really felt sorry for Sue Tissue of Suburban Lawns, she could barely stand after the drenching.
Just OUTSTANDING...thanks so much for this...Never knew I was a rockabillyite, but guess I am. Really though, Blasters music is its very own unique genre> So when so asked maybe I should just answer, that music is Blasters-ish...
Dave and Phil Alvin are still at it.......Phil is playing with Dave and touring with the Guilty Men...just saw them in SoCal..still tearing it up all these years later...Dave Alvin is one of America;s greatest songwriters,,,infusing their tunes with the classic blues and rockabilly they love and respect...
Btw...the guy farther down talking about Carl's sons is The Blasters piano player, Gene Taylor. The Blasters were and are a great band (although sometimes they play under other names, like the Gene Taylor Blues Band). Catch a show if you can. -------a fan
Darlene, Willie J. and Marina at the Magic Stick in Detroit last night... Blast Off! The Blasters rocked! We met Bill Bateman after the show. Downey/Detroit forever!
I saw these guys in New Orleans and blew me away! but Perkins wasn't there! but I didget to see him with my Pops in 80's! and i was blown away! if you like this check out my tribute song to Perkins called NO BABY DON'T! let me know what you think! rock!
What a find! I am looking forward to seeing Phil Alvin with brother Dave Alvin and The Guilty Ones at this year's Live Oak Music Festival in June... Santa Barbara, CA
@Dave Rome, my friends and I also saw the Blasters at the late great Astor Park at that same concert! We drove over from the Tri-Cities and stayed at the motel kiddy corner across the street... having seen George Thorogood out at what later became Parkers a few years earlier, we were smart enough this time to get tickets to both shows and were among the first in line; subsequently we had perhaps the best table in the house... Dave Alvin was no more than six feet in front of me! We were fortunate enough to keep the same table for the second performance that night which allowed us to individually meet some other friends in front of the stage who were feeding Gene Taylor beers... he must have had a case of empties on his piano by the end of the night. While the first performance was fantastic, the second was even better since we walked across the street between shows and got in the "proper perspective" if you get my drift... ;-)> I have very fond memories of that concert and this video definitely takes me back in time. It's been really hard to make up our collective minds about which was the better concert, this or the Thorogood one I referred to above which was after he released "Move It On Over" but before "Bad to the Bone" and was still three piece... I think it's a tie but at least now we have video proof of just how awesome the Blasters were. Thanks for posting Steve M, much appreciated!
Great Find!! I saw the Blasters with this same personel in Seattle at Aster Park probably the same year this was filmed. One of the best shows I have ever seen, EVER!
Its' sooo great to see this! The Blasters could back Carl Perkins way better than any of the Beatles ever could. I got to see the original band 6 times back in the 80s,this great vid brings it all back in all it's glory.
Saw them in Ithaca ny Thursday night. Phil looks rough no Dave but as soon as Phil opened his mouth it was amazing. He sounded great. Loved them. It was my first time live. GREAT
Wow! I saw them in the Netherlands with the late great Lee Allen, but never with mr. Berlin.. Thanks for posting this great special! The true r&r-spirit of the 5t's 'time-machine'd' to the early 8t's.. :-)
Todd Mar IT'S NOT DIFFERENT AT ALL....EXCEPT THAT IT'S NOT AS GOOD. The BLASTERS WERE/ARE INTO BLUES , COUNTRY , R'N'B , ETC.,AS WELL AS ROCKABILLY , AND GAVE IT A PUNK EDGE THE LATTER DAY 'BILLIES LACK.
Todd Mar I think you will find most "rockabillys" are aware of its history and the Blasters' place in it. You are just assuming and projecting because YOU were unaware of them.
gotta be one of the best things ever on US broadcast TV. The Blasters rocked like a mofo, but things REALLY picked up a notch when mr. Perkins came out and did "blue suede shoes". unfortunately, however, his tune about the return of rockabilly was a bit premature.
I introduced The Blasters to everybody in Hollywood then it only took them one month to be one of the top bands I met them through Kathy a little red-haired Shy girl at the Hong Kong Cafe she said nobody would talk to her so I told her just hang out with me for tonight and everybody will know you by the end of the night next thing you know she's bringing Dave and Phil to meet me and they told me they had the East Texas Music like asleep at the wheel cuz I told him that's who I liked so I invited them up they played the rest is history Captain Al's signing off. They called me uncle Al
Phenomenal as always! Grew up seeing these guys many times live, Reseda Country Club, Palladium, many more. Fantastic talent and very cool dudes in person. This was a great scene in the 1980's. Who ever gave this thumbs down, it truly sucks to be you.
...im from long beach / downey...phil would sneak me into gigs ..i was 15 ( 21clubs )
Great high-energy performance! The Blasters have yet to disappoint!! Discovered them recently and have been obsessed with their music ever since. My favorite jam for the office!
Walkin' with Mr. Lee!! Just love this! "they called it rockabilly, long before they called it rock and roll"! Saw Carl in DC maybe 1977 with Robert Gordon and Link Wray. This will NEVER die! Thanks so much!
Awesomeness, all the original Blasters. This is just how they were my first time I saw them in Holkywood, mid 80s. I will always remain a fan..a I love this band!
Love them for ever, from i'm 18!!!! 38 years of love and real good rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the best rock for ever is the Blasters, the song and interpretation are crazy!!! KIss you and love from Paris France!!!!
Who are the 12 people who gave this a thumb's down? Losers.
For those who didn’t like this show I can only say one thing : You got a hole in your soul!
Something tells me that they like today’s music better....
The hear The Blasters blasting, they be hatin'
They are dumber than dirt...
The real music from ,my time, the rockin' 50's! 81 years young and still love it!
It’s been a long time since I was able to see The Blasters live. This brings me right back. Thanks for posting it!
Probably about 1980 for me. Norfolk VA. The only live performance I ever paid for, and worth it.
Ladies & Gentlemen: From Downey, CA.....The Blasters!
and so am i.
Shot at Stages (now The Metro.) , Chicago. I saw The Blasters and Phil , solo, there , a few years later. A few people I know are in the crowd shots , but , it's hard to tell.
I've only seen this once on PBS , and I did'nt have a VCR , then , so thank you for putting this up !
AS a roadie and working in the booking end of music out of my hometown of Nashville for over 35 years i can honestly say until you come to lower Broadway in Nashville to the 'joints' as we call them you never have heard music until you visit here.Here on broad as we call it you can here the soul of country,rock and rockabilly as it was meant to be played by up and coming bands and sometimes the original artist.Since Nashville sold out to the sex industry and went POP lower broad is one of the best places to here music as it was meant to be played.Yea the fights come with it and the and all the other stuff but its country at its best.So bring about a 100.00 an empty stomach and someone to get you home safe and you will have the best time of your life if you like this type of music.
sonny freeI was there 2 yrs. ago. My wife and I loved every minute of it! Too bad the Nashville "suits" took over and sucked the soul out of the music
In truth,I only watched this because of Carl,but i was very pleased with the Blasters. In 1959,I bought a 45 called The Beat. The Bside was Crazy Baby and I sang it with my band for a while,so it was great to see this Rockin' R's,one hit wonder,open the show!
I first saw the Blasters middle 80's at an appropriately "retro" place, the Rainbo Roller Rink in Chicago (which had also been the Electric Theater/Kinetic Playground rock concert venue in the 70's). I was in the first row standing against the stage, and I was infused with the raw energy and soul of the Blasters. Saw them later at Metro, and the experience was again transforming.
Life is better having seen this. Thanks!
I saw the last 20 minutes of this back in the fall of 1982. Hurried home from my night class but missed most of the show. I thought this was the Soundstage broadcast but wasn't sure. The voice-over at the end confirmed it. Glad to finally see the whole thing, better late than never. Still have to see The Blasters live!
Saw their first SF appearance at the Old Waldorf. Steve Berlins bari did not make it to town and he found me and borrowed my Conn. They were great guys and the show was amazing. Lee Allen was on tenor!!!!
ebaylistentomusic Now THAT is cool.
Btw...Carl's bass player and drummer on this show are his sons.
-----gene taylor
Used to dance so hard to these cats. Austin, Texas, Steamboat Willie's, tiny stage, still feel in in my bones.
Setlist: 1. Crazy Baby (The Blasters); 2. This Is It (The Blasters); 3. Border Radio (The Blasters); 4. I'm Shakin' (The Blasters); 5. Tag Along (The Blasters); 6. Stop the Clock (The Blasters); 7. Down the Line (The Blasters); 8. Blue Suede Shoes (Carl Perkins); 9. Honey Don't (Carl Perkins); 10. Rockabilly Fever (Carl Perkins); 11. American Music (The Blasters); 12. Hollywood Bed (The Blasters); 13. Built for Comfort (The Blasters featuring Willie Dixon); 14. I'm Ready (The Blasters featuring Willie Dixon); 15. Marie, Marie (The Blasters); 16. So Long Baby Goodbye (The Blasters); 17. Boppin' the Blues (Carl Perkins and The Blasters together).
Just saw the Blasters a couple months ago at First Ave in Minneapolis with the reverend horton heat and Jr. Brown. The Blasters sound better now than ever.
Thanks for sharing!! A GREAT bunch of talent!!
I saw the Blasters in Los Angeles @ '80 with X, Suburban Lawns and several other bands,this was during the spitting generation, and I will never forget how covered The Blasters got in spit!
Of the whole bunch I really felt sorry for Sue Tissue of Suburban Lawns, she could barely stand after the drenching.
Just OUTSTANDING...thanks so much for this...Never knew I was a rockabillyite, but guess I am. Really though, Blasters music is its very own unique genre> So when so asked maybe I should just answer, that music is Blasters-ish...
“Dedicated to the man who is gone.” Wolfman Jack on XERB!
1956,my introduction to Lee Allen solos....Long Tall Sally,I'm Walkin' and Slippin' and Slidin'.....never heard better!
this is a dynamite performance and we love this in rocking little Norway !!!😁😁😁
Dave and Phil Alvin are still at it.......Phil is playing with Dave and touring with the Guilty Men...just saw them in SoCal..still tearing it up all these years later...Dave Alvin is one of America;s greatest songwriters,,,infusing their tunes with the classic blues and rockabilly they love and respect...
I'm listening on headphones, and only the right channel is working. Please realist this classic performance with BOTH channels working…thanks!
Oh my goodness! This is why I'm on you tube all the time.
Btw...the guy farther down talking about Carl's sons is The Blasters piano player, Gene Taylor. The Blasters were and are a great band (although sometimes they play under other names, like the Gene Taylor Blues Band). Catch a show if you can. -------a fan
RIP, Gene Taylor.
Darlene, Willie J. and Marina at the Magic Stick in Detroit last night... Blast Off! The Blasters rocked! We met Bill Bateman after the show. Downey/Detroit forever!
Really glad that I had a chance to watch this
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brings back great memories of seeing them live
I saw these guys in New Orleans and blew me away! but Perkins wasn't there! but I didget to see him with my Pops in 80's! and i was blown away! if you like this check out my tribute song to Perkins called NO BABY DON'T! let me know what you think! rock!
Phil & Dave rocked Vancouver recently. What a show! If they play within 100 miles of you, go see them!
What a find! I am looking forward to seeing Phil Alvin with brother Dave Alvin and The Guilty Ones at this year's Live Oak Music Festival in June... Santa Barbara, CA
The boys from Downey, CA in their PRIME!! Go cats! Go!! Thanks so much for the post!
Thank you so much for preserving - and sharing - this treasure!
Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men opened for a show I saw in Nov. 1996 in Univ of Maryland featurnig Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. What a show!!!
Wow ! I bet !!
im going to shake the walls of heaven, every nite with this music..lets rock again...
@Dave Rome, my friends and I also saw the Blasters at the late great Astor Park at that same concert! We drove over from the Tri-Cities and stayed at the motel kiddy corner across the street... having seen George Thorogood out at what later became Parkers a few years earlier, we were smart enough this time to get tickets to both shows and were among the first in line; subsequently we had perhaps the best table in the house... Dave Alvin was no more than six feet in front of me! We were fortunate enough to keep the same table for the second performance that night which allowed us to individually meet some other friends in front of the stage who were feeding Gene Taylor beers... he must have had a case of empties on his piano by the end of the night.
While the first performance was fantastic, the second was even better since we walked across the street between shows and got in the "proper perspective" if you get my drift... ;-)>
I have very fond memories of that concert and this video definitely takes me back in time. It's been really hard to make up our collective minds about which was the better concert, this or the Thorogood one I referred to above which was after he released "Move It On Over" but before "Bad to the Bone" and was still three piece... I think it's a tie but at least now we have video proof of just how awesome the Blasters were. Thanks for posting Steve M, much appreciated!
wow! I have never seen this. fantastic. i'm a huge Blasters fan. great post.
Great Find!! I saw the Blasters with this same personel in Seattle at Aster Park probably the same year this was filmed. One of the best shows I have ever seen, EVER!
Thanks man I needed this show this evening
God bless Phil and Dave still going.....
Excellent ttttttt!!!!!!
Best thing on RUclips hands down!
Hey , Long live the Blasters. Better than anything else I can think of from that era.
Great talent! I did not know much about Carl. Thanks!
As a Rockabilly since 1982, I can honestly say that the blonde on the front row is definitely my type!
Its' sooo great to see this! The Blasters could back Carl Perkins way better than any of the Beatles ever could. I got to see the original band 6 times back in the 80s,this great vid brings it all back in all it's glory.
Gracias!!!!!
THIS IS GREAT...BEST MUSIC EVER
What a great moment in time.
great rockabilly stuff -thanks for posting
Saw them in Ithaca ny Thursday night. Phil looks rough no Dave but as soon as Phil opened his mouth it was amazing. He sounded great. Loved them. It was my first time live. GREAT
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I saw them live in 1986 with Little Richard's and Fats Domino's tenor-sax-man LEE ALLEN.
I remember watching this, this was a real blast!!!
Thank you so very much for this fantastic Upload! EPIC!!
i had something to do but came across this and had to watch the whole thing
Awesome concert ---- ROCK n ROLL 4 ever....😍
Great! Thanks for posting.
Quintessential American Band - doesn't get any better than the Blasters.
Wow! I saw them in the Netherlands with the late great Lee Allen, but never with mr. Berlin.. Thanks for posting this great special! The true r&r-spirit of the 5t's 'time-machine'd' to the early 8t's.. :-)
I hope they are all still enjoying life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So great to hear "This Is It" at 3:22. One of my favorites, but for some reason they rarely performed it after 1982.
Still love The Blasters after all these years.
love this band and rockabilly music ever since going to the movie to see street of fire
FANTASTIC!!!!! THANKS JABFELA!!!! Awsome
Wow 1982! they were doing this way before anybody else. Trendy rockabillies of today think they're so different and cool.
Todd Mar IT'S NOT DIFFERENT AT ALL....EXCEPT THAT IT'S NOT AS GOOD. The BLASTERS WERE/ARE INTO BLUES , COUNTRY , R'N'B , ETC.,AS WELL AS ROCKABILLY , AND GAVE IT A PUNK EDGE THE LATTER DAY 'BILLIES LACK.
+Todd Mar agree! i think it's too much punk and not rockabilly at all!
Agreed!
Todd Mar I think you will find most "rockabillys" are aware of its history and the Blasters' place in it. You are just assuming and projecting because YOU were unaware of them.
A nice alternative to William F. Buckley
Carl Perkins never sounded better, really.
Blasters forever♥
Keep Phil in your prayers!!
gotta be one of the best things ever on US broadcast TV.
The Blasters rocked like a mofo, but things REALLY picked up a notch when mr. Perkins came out and did "blue suede shoes". unfortunately, however, his tune about the return of rockabilly was a bit premature.
"Soundstage", which was on PBS, Channel 11 in Chicago, back in the day.
Damn, this is cool! Great post thank you!
awesome! thnks !
One of the best live bands to see back in the '80's.
WOAH!!! Thanks for this.
Brings tears to my eyes!
Thanks Crack~a~tola, just found this. Be well, man.
Hi there. French guy lovin' the Blasters looking for all the songs lyrics. Thanks
Blasters are part of the greatest.
Great American Music!
Fantastique Carl Perkins !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PERFECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great band :)
I introduced The Blasters to everybody in Hollywood then it only took them one month to be one of the top bands I met them through Kathy a little red-haired Shy girl at the Hong Kong Cafe she said nobody would talk to her so I told her just hang out with me for tonight and everybody will know you by the end of the night next thing you know she's bringing Dave and Phil to meet me and they told me they had the East Texas Music like asleep at the wheel cuz I told him that's who I liked so I invited them up they played the rest is history Captain Al's signing off. They called me uncle Al
Steve Berlin on baritone sax. Los Lobos.
I got the blasters on 45rpm, blue shadow
Was there big thanks to WXRT for free tickets to the last Soundstage concert.
Totally awesome!
TIMELESS STUFF, LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Poor Phil is sweating bullets up there. Chill bro, you're just playing the blues. Enjoy yourself.
...allways good for the soul....nice gig!
I agree with Dave Alvin. American Music is the greatest music in the world, which not America is.
It's a big difference.
Amazing performances. Just wish I could get rid of that very annoying staticky buzz that persists throughout.
Love it!
A Rockin' Show !
Great stuff. My man sweats a lot!