| OCR Text |
Show WM mi 6E The Salt Lake Tribune The Blasters shoot for big time without forgetting their roots Sunday, April 28, 1985 By Tom McCarthey Tribune Staff Writer I just always considered myself a musician," stated Phil Alvin. It wasn't something I was going to be. It was something I was. Alvin, singer and guitarist for the Blasters, was feeling a "little road dingy during a recent telephone interview. After nearly two months of touring, first as a soloist and later as the Blasters frontman, Alvin was attempting to catch his breath while at the same time talk about the band. The Blasters, a hard-roc.ntet out of Los Angeles, have been cranking out searu,6 American rock 'n' roll for several years now. They have remained true to their roots, at times forsaking universal popularity for truth, justice and the Blasters way. But now the Blasters are on the verge of hitting the big record and time, thanks to a new, contemporary-soundina tour of the States. And the best thing about all of this is the fact that the boys havent sacrificed any integrity. The reason its called 'Hard Line is because I said: 'its going to be a hard line to tow to try to do 'Samson And Delilah and 'Colored Lights on the same record. We did it and thats hard, he explained. Samson And Delilah, written by Blind Willie Johnson, is one of those blasts from the past that Alvin makes his own, while Colored Lights, written by John Cougar Mellencamp, is a rocker for the '80s. With a more eclectic body of work the Blasters should expand their list of admirers. But Alvin is quick to point out that everything on Hard Line is in line with the Blasters philosophy. I feel very free musically now. I think that whatever the public, whether through a big smash hit or an increase in the cult that follows the Blasters, I think that with this record we didn't shock anybody," Alvin said. k g : From left, Blasters are John Bazz, Gene I Taylor, Phil Alvin, Bill Bateman and Dave V roll band will play at State Fairgrounds Horticulture Building. Alvin. The rock i I jA week of spring concerts idany groups have chosen this week to present their imhual spring concerts. Offerings include: ft Ensemble Bartok, a vocal and instrumental cham-be- f music group, will appear in concert at the Art Barn. 6$Finch Lane at Reservoir Park, Sunday at 5 p.m. The performance forms part of the Salt Lake City Arts Council's spring program series and will include music of Schumann, Bartok, Debussy, Rifo, Piazzela, and Alemann. chamber group was formed in 'iPhe as a trio and has expanded to a quintet with contralto Violin, clarinet, cello, and piano. The group's intention is Jo perform unusual repertoire using combinations of these instruments. ?he public is invited to a reception for the rpisicians. Admission to both concert and reception is al post-conce- rt frfe. ft Stephen organist, will perform thepixth recital of his survey of the complete organ works oCJS. Bach at St. Marks Cathedral, 231 E. 100 South, Sunday, 7 p.m. I ft The Ricks College A Cappella Choir, under Sander Larson, will perform Tuesday in the Assembly Hall, Tempi! Square at 7:30 p.m. The choir of 42 singers will offer a Variety of sacred songs and hymns and one piece for barbershop quartet. ft The Salt Lake Symphony, under David Dalton, will perform Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Assembly Ball at Temple Square. The program will include the pftmiere orHoming, a song cycle Pr soprano and orchestra coiqposed by Newell Kay Brown. Donna Dalton will be the soloist. The symphony will also play the overture to the Merry Wives of Windsor and four dance Episodes from Rodeo by Copland. Weber State Colleges "Spring Music Festival, sponsored by the music department, will begin with the band Tangent Factor Wednesday in the Austad Auditorium, Browning Center for the Performing Arts, at 8 p.m. Eight Ridgley-Whitehous- e, concerts throughout May will feature classical, swing, show tunes and pop music. The next concert will be presented May 13. y The classical guitar duo will perform Friday in the Utah Museum of Fine Arts Auditorium, University of Utah, at 8 p.m. The program will include the Sors Fantasia op. 54; Tedescos Prelude and Fugue in F Major; and Stanley Funicellis "Suite for Two Guitars, composed for the duo last year. The concert will be repeated May 18 at Utah State University. The University of Utah Chamber Choir, under Ber-ne- ll Hales, will hold its spring concert Friday and Saturday in the Zion Lutheran Church, 1070 Foothill Dr., at 8 p.m. The major work of the concert will be Haydns Mis-s- a Brevis St. Joannis de Deo featuring Karen Brookens as soloist. Selections will include classical and popular works by Butler, Rossini, Lvovsky, Bonfa. choral group of The Schubert Singers, a valley-wid- e 45 singers, will feature What the World Needs Now, an evening of music devoted to love, at East High School. 840 S. 1300 East, Saturday, at 8 p.m. The program will include favorites by Gershwin and Cole Porter, songs by John Williams and Marvin Hamlisch. Perhaps the onlv shocking thing about Hard Line" i the fact that the Blasters (Phil Alvin, brother Dave, Bill Bateman, John Bazz and Gene Taylor) employed an outside producer, Jeff Heyrick. Alvin said there was a great deal of pressure from the record company (Slash Warner) to have an outside man at the controls. Whatever the reason, "Hard Line" is radio worthy." Adding Nashville's legendary Jordanaires to provide backup vocals on four cuts was Phil's idea however. "It was a great pleasure working with them, Alvin noted of the group that first sang with Elvis Presley. Though the Blasters sound has been defined as "roots rockabilly" there is more to the music than a simple rockers. Alvin is careful, however, to rehash of of roots. out the worth point "If you dont know where youve been, then you certainly dont know where you are and unlikely know where you'll be. So roots are very important in that sense. You must build on the shoulders of others. But paradoxically Alvin also insists that the most important thing a roots band can do is deny its roots. Alvin said there are no new names for new sounds in the world of pop music today. It is homogenous music at best, he explained. You look forward with eyes from the past. You're not looking backward, he said of the Blasters' approach. And just who are Alvins musical idols? Big Joe Turner is one and St. Louis country bluesman Henry Townsend is another, he said, then added: "Ill tell you, Los Lobos is the best band on the planet. I cant say enough about them The Blasters will get at the roots of the matter Monday night when they perform at the State Fairgrounds Horticulture Building. The Disgusting Brothers, long a local favorite, will open for the Blasters. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available at Smokeys, Cosmic Aeroplane, JRM Stores and all Datatix outlets for $10. 50s-sty- Jensen-Woodbur- Carol Sue Maxwell, soprano, will perform works of J.S. Bach on May 5 in the Olpin Union Building, University of Utah, at 7 p.m. The Utah Opera Company announced that the May performance of "The Merry Widow with Roberta Peters has sold out. Tickets remain for May 9, 13, and 15. 11 The annual membership meeting of the Chamber Music Society of Salt Lake City will be held May 5 in the Utah Museum of Fine Arts Auditorium. University of Utah, at 7 p.m. After the meeting, soprano Patricia O'Neil and mezzo soprano Ann Hart will perform songs by Faure, Schubert, Hugo Wolf, and Shostakovich, accompanied by pianist Jeffrey Price. Eclectic lineup of pop concerts Obo Addy, African drummer exe traordinaire, brings his band Kukrudu to the Zephyr, 301 S. West Temple, Sunday for a 9 p.m. concert. Addy, who presently lives in fusion muPortland, plays Afro-Jaz- z six-piec- sic. band Grammy award-winninwill perform at the Special Events Center May 16 as part of its "Isolation tour. The sextet has recorded such hits as "Rosanna. Africa, "Hold The Line and Make Beg Toto lieve. Toto features a new lead singer, Fcrgie Frederiksen, and a much harder rock sound. Others members of Toto include David Paich, Steve Lukather and brothers Jeff, Steve and Mike Porcaro. Pianist George Winston will perform at Symphony Hall May 25 at 8 p.m. The popular Windham Hill artist plays hypnotic, melodic, meditative music with a message. His AuWinter Into Spring and tumn, December albums have all been included in jazz Top 10 lists. Andreas Vollenweider, an oustic harpist from Switzerland, will perform at the Capitol Theatre on May 16 at 8 p.m. His albums electro-ac- a include White Winds, "Caverna and Behind The Gardens-Be-hinThe The Tree. Country music acts Louise Man-dreand Atlanta will appear in concert May 13 at the Special Events Center at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Datatix locations, KSOP Radio and Country Joes. Alabama, honored as the 1983 Vocal Group of the Year by the Country Music Association, will perform at the Dee Events Center at Weber State College in Ogden May 17. Tickets are on sale at Datatix locations and at Hill Air Force Base. Ma-gic- d Wall-Und- ll Chicago Symphony names new director Chicago Tribune Service Henry Fogel, executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, has been officially named the new executive director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and executive vice president of the Orchestral Association. CHICAGO The appointment of Fogel, 42, was announced by association president L. Norman Staub after unanimous approval by the orchestra board of trustees at its monthly meeting Wednesday. Fogel will assume his duties Aug. 1 at a salary of $140,000. Paul Chum- - mers will continue serving as acting general manager. Fogel becomes the orchestras 10th chief executive, succeeding John S Edwards, who held the position from 1967 until his death last August. He will oversee an organization with an operating budget of $18.5 million. Once you place an ad in our Classified columns, we can assure you that results ARE just around the corner! Its surprising how ijiirtjuur I h nil n iiiK'i iiutili. niorr than tin' turn It tails about liar, a ho sin is It also h Its a lot about ifut. A RkI niui iinrn ihal with Roman li hi it i(im il h II. s nu na nil htzrl. tlM B. St i rrnii iiah'li with Roma it n a man Is SI1!.') C. Illllik lllill With (jnlil ihllttl hiltnl sl'ii) 1). iobl lhliiil With him h ami i hamHiiin hal slur. Warranty Plus. Our i.ilnuh ! Inuth il uar in nhl i ou rs I'm ri( with h a v II lor tno i( i nis In tutnl tin tuauiif'it turn's own nurrunli anil on Iwh s hit Imth n ii'liluii nn nl lor us hunt us t(iu own if ill i' n ah h bohmallen Mali 801 272 941 Soli Plua 521 0541 Volley fair Moll Alvo Ogden Ciy Moll vonwood Pi A,., I C 1y Utah advertisers outside the local Dial TOU FREE 9(8 9278 A ajareads 8 Ftnft Jewelers Sincft 1879 C quickly our customers are getting responses to their ads. Thats why they are using our columns to sell unneeded items again and again. Classified ads bring FAST results! V area o 0 0 |
