Dave and Phil Alvin became as well known for their tempestuous relationship as for their music. In 1979 they founded the classic Los Angeles band the Blasters, mixing punk energy with blues and rockabilly, but Dave quit in 1986, and the brothers didn’t record an album together until last year, when their tribute to Big Bill Broonzy won a Grammy nomination. This rousing and well-chosen set revives songs from other artists they admired as teenagers, and begins with Oscar Brown Jr’s Mister Kicks, with its memorable opening line, sung by the devil’s envoy – “Permit me to introduce myself” – which clearly impressed Mick Jagger. Elsewhere there’s rolling, upbeat blues by Big Joe Turner, along with songs from Lead Belly, James Brown and gospel star Thomas Dorsey. Dave and Phil both play guitar and sing, and are on driving, cheerfully gutsy form.
