SoCal might have been homebase for The Red Devils, but the band traveled up the Coast several times in the early ’90s for gigs in the San Francisco area.
Several ads and clips from the San Francisco Examiner tell the tale.
First up, the evolving band (here called the “Lester Butler Band,” and with Dave Alvin) played a Saturday, Feb. 16, 1991, show at DNA in San Francisco (above left). They shared the bill with Def American compatriots The Four Horsemen, a band whose own career story of white-hot popularity followed by tragedy mirrors that of the Devils.
The Red Devils, as they were now officially known, returned to DNA a few months later for a Saturday, May 11, 1991, show, again billed as “Def American Night” (above right).
Fresh off of their tour opening for Los Lobos, the Devils were back in San Francisco on Saturday, Nov. 28, 1992 (above). This time, they were the opener at Slim’s for the incredible all-star Texas Tornados, featuring Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez, Augie Meyers and “Sir” Doug Sahm.
The Red Devils would spend Valentine’s weekend in San Francisco with a Saturday, Feb. 13, 1993, show at Bottom Of The Hill (above). Also on the bill were Hightone artists The Loved Ones.
F’ around and find out, starring The Red Devils
But maybe more interesting is the Feb. 4 show with Johnny Legend and His Rock-A-Billy Bastards. Musician and filmmaker Legend (Martin Margulies to the government) is remembered for several pursuits: He appeared as “skinny corpse” in “Bride of Re-Animator,” manifested the cult tape “My Breakfast With Blassie” (Andy Kaufman and wrestler “Classy” Freddie Blassie causing chaos and conversation at a diner), and co-directed the rock-and-roll porno “Teen-Age Cruisers,” today more widely remembered for its hardcore rockabilly soundtrack featuring Legend, The Blasters, Billy Zoom, Ray Campi, Charlie Feathers and others.
Legend died earlier this year at age 77.
Two years after their first Def American showcase together, The Red Devils and The Four Horsemen were on the bill Friday, March 13, 1993, at One Step Beyond in Santa Clara, along with “Noizy Boyz” and “Jungle Hula” (above). Only $4!
Finally, check this out: Charlie Musselwhite, Junior Kimbrough and The Red Devils on a can’t-miss lineup on Saturday, July 24, 1993, at the Sonoma County Blues Festival (above). The Red Devils crossing paths (at least backstage) with Kimbrough, perhaps the most important blues figure in of the late 20th Century, is wild to think about. Both artists played dangerous blues outside of the mainstream, offering a different path forward for the music.
And the unbeatable Charlie Musselwhite, at age 82, is still out playing and stretching boundaries, more than 60 years into his career. He has a new album due out soon with GA-20, a band that owes a spiritual debt to The Red Devils.
No Fightin' 