Alvin Brothers show brotherly love at World Café Live

Phil Alvin's heart flatlined during a 2012 tour. That near-death experience resurrected his artistic partnership with his younger brother, Dave.

Once noted for their disagreements and infighting, the Alvins demonstrated sibling revelry and respect on stage at World Café Live on Thursday night. The nearly two-hour set, performed with their backing band the Guilty Ones, played to the brothers' strengths.

The co-founders of the roots-rock band the Blasters reunited last year for the Grammy-nominated album Common Ground: Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin Play and Sing the Songs of Big Bill Broonzy. Their follow-up album, Lost Time, delves deeper into the American music that is part of their artistic DNA.

At 62, Phil remains a powerful and versatile singer, sounding like an Old Testament prophet on "World's in a Bad Condition," a revved-up recasting of the Golden Gate Quartet's gospel standard. He switched gears for a free-spirited version of Big Joe Turner's "Hide and Seek" and a rollicking rendition of Dave's "Border Radio" from the Blasters' 1981 self-titled album.

While Phil barely moved from the mic, as if to conserve his energy for singing and expressive harmonica work, Dave freely roamed the stage. He acknowledging his brother's influence in song introductions and stories. He exchanged jazzy guitar licks with Chris Miller on Oscar Brown Jr.'s "Mister Kicks" and injected rockabilly flavor to Broonzy's "Truckin' Little Woman."

Vocally, Dave shone on "Johnny Ace is Dead," his tale of the ill-fated rhythm-and-blues star of the 1950s, and "Dry River," a bluesy workout on unrequited love that allowed Lisa Pankratz to generate indoor fireworks on drums.

"What's Up With Your Brother," a playful commentary on their relationship, featured Dave and Phil each playing an instrumental excerpt of "Fly Me to the Moon" on electric and acoustic guitars, respectively. It was a sign of brotherly love.

The two also reminisced on Philadelphia clubs of yore, the Chestnut Cabaret, the Ripley Music Hall, and Grendel's Lair, the South Street Club, as Dave noted, where the Blasters first played in Philly in 1980 with 27 people in attendance.

Opening act Webb Wilder performed a satisfying solo set on acoustic guitar, featuring selections from Mississippi Moderne, his latest album. He ranged from animated on "Rough and Tumble Guy" to reflective on "Only a Fool," co-written with songwriting legend Dan Penn.