Check this picture out.

Dave Alvin, formerly of the Blasters posted this on his facebook page. It just kills me. Here you have one of the great American roots bands, The Blasters, as young men, running in to one of the great eccentric legends of modern music on the streets of Southern California. I love that Zappa is carrying some high-end shopping bags and looks every bit the sophisticated Cary Grant to The Blasters dead-end kids. I love both these artists, but with completely different sides of my brain. The Blasters represent the last gasp of American Rock and Roll that had some genuine connection to the grimy black and white streets of the mid-20th century. They were kids out of Downey, California who idolized the past generations of blues, country and r&b singers and forged their own version of real Americana. The band’s authentic arrangements were bookended by brothers Phil and Dave Alvin, who like all great brother acts could barely stand the sight of each other. Older brother Phil was a charismatic frontman gifted with one of the great rock voices. Dave is a lightning guitar ace who is capable of writing the great American short-story in 2 minutes 30. His songs like “American Music,” “One Red Rose,” “Fools Paradise” or “Just Another Sunday” are just perfect little rock gems - as good as anything that came out in the 70’s or 80’s. 
Zappa on the other hand, is a figure of such towering achievement, and so unlike any other popular artist that it is hard to talk about him in the context of rock and roll. He is an artist completely of his time, but detached from the constraints of popular fashion to such a degree that he was always leading his own parade. He was fearless in the face of style, political correctness and his fans expectations. This would lead one to believe that he was a real condescending jerk. Interestingly, almost every musician who dealt with him, on album or socially, has said quite the opposite. He had the reputation of being a generous and friendly person who did not feel he was above his peers in any way. He was friendly with many bands, and showed a keen understanding of all types of music. Dave Alvin remembers him as being friendly, and the picture shows him as a sweet, middle-aged eccentric - just the way you’d hope to remember him. I have nothing remarkable to say about this picture - just that it is two of my favorite musicians that have nothing to do with each other, together and looking, well - like humans.

Wanna check em out? Unfortunately some of the Blasters best stuff is out of print - but their first, primal recordings (American Music) are still available and very worth getting. Zappa is like exploring the universe. Where to start? How about a very obvious and a very un-obvious place? His early album Hot Rats remains one of the most musically satisfying rock albums ever. The fact that it was made in 1969 and still sounds futuristic still speaks volumes. Speaking of volumes of futuristic music, give Boulez Conducts Zappa a try if you want to hear Zappa’s music in a completely different context (classical), but still hear all the trademark wit and compositional abilities. No matter what he tackled, Frank Zappa accomplished it with a completely original, musical take that was uniquely his own.
Paul Epstein

Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women

Dave Alvin continues his search for real American music. He doesn’t have to look further than the mirror, because very few musicians are as adept at encompassing all the varied elements that make music that is distinctly American as he is. He has done it the right way he takes the stuff he loves - Blues like Lightnin’ Hopkins, Country like George Jones, R 'n' B like Joe Turner and Rock like Bill Haley - and puts it into a cocktail shaker and makes his own signature drink out of it. It is clearly derivative of his influences, but there is never any doubt that this is indeed Dave Alvin. On his new album he teams up with an all-star, all-girl band that kicks the boys’ asses all over the block. Names like Cindy Cashdollar, Laurie Lewis and Marcia Ball help make up the Guilty Women. It is safe to say if you like Alvin’s post-Blasters work in general then this will not be a stretch for you. The main difference is that there are essentially no electric instruments on the album. Alvin plays acoustic guitars throughout and shares vocal duties with Christy McWilson. The results are a gas. The album swings in a totally authentic way, but is absent some of the show-offiness that is always present on male-centric albums. Maybe I’m imagining that last part, but it sure felt just a little kinder and gentler.

As always the real star of the show is Alvin’s world-class songwriting abilities. Also as usual, my favorites are the ones where he sings about his own musical history. In particular is his memory of driving around with his brother and their hero Big Joe Turner in “Boss Of the Blues,” and his priceless memories of being taken to see Jimi Hendrix in “Nana and Jimi.” What could be cooler than having one of your favorite rock stars tell the story of his Grandma (I assume) taking him to a life-changing Jimi Hendrix concert. They begin the album with a bright rearrangement of the classic “Marie Marie” and ends with a heartfelt version of “Que Sera Sera.” As usual, the listener never feels that Alvin is anything less than completely authentic and one of the true keepers of the flame.