Alex Chilton

kosmo wrote:

bearman wrote:
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) gave a really worthy recognition today on the House Floor honoring Alex. He went so far as to even mention the Replacements' song, and he described Alex's contribution to the Memphis music scene. His adjectives included "hard" and "independent". By far the most rock'n'roll thing I've ever seen in the House of Reps. So cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9LGwzGnx5w

More info on tribute
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/18/AR2010031805095.html

Anyone know of lesser known covers of Alex Chilton/Big Star?  The ones tucked away on b-sides, etc?

Bangles, Cheap Trick, Elliot Smith are a given.  I've heard the recently released tribute album with Matthew Sweet, Teenage Fanclub is just ok.  Anyone else heard it?

A friend of my directed me Jenny Wolfe's version of Thirteen

http://www.myspace.com/jennywolfeandthepack

Nice cover of "Ballad of El Goodo by Jeffrey Dean Foster backed by Mitch Easter handling the drums and bass

http://www.blurt-online.com/video/view/244/

Saw him at the 930 club, 85 or 86 (not sure), opened for the Go Betweens.  I was a youngin' then, wanted to see the headliner, and he kept playing.  I admit I had no appreciation for music that I didn't come to see, so my friend and I went to the basement and watched on the TV.  He played a *long* time, but I can't say what as I was irked it went on so long.

I would say at least 1/2 the people left before the Go Betweens came on and did a killer set.

I was just to young to know who the opener was and appreciate it.  Oh well.

kosmo wrote:
Anyone know of lesser known covers of Alex Chilton/Big Star?  The ones tucked away on b-sides, etc?

Pianosaurus did a fun cover of The Box Tops' "The Letter" on Groovy Neighborhood.

There's a live cover of Nighttime as a hidden track on the end of one of Epic Soundtracks' albums…

kosmo wrote:
Anyone know of lesser known covers of Alex Chilton/Big Star?  The ones tucked away on b-sides, etc?

Bangles, Cheap Trick, Elliot Smith are a given.  I've heard the recently released tribute album with Matthew Sweet, Teenage Fanclub is just ok.  Anyone else heard it?

A friend of my directed me Jenny Wolfe's version of Thirteen

http://www.myspace.com/jennywolfeandthepack

Kristin Hersh did "Jesus Christ" on a Christmas themed ep as I recall…

Found this listing of artists of doing Big Star covers and songs Big Star covered…

http://www.coversproject.com/artist/big%20star/

Garbage's cover of "Thirteen" is quite nice.

http://www.myspace.com/garbage

There was a great issue of Mojo in February 2000 with a cover story on Cult Heroes which included Big Star (their story got really sad/weird . . .and I remember it involved Dilaudid, the drug of choice in Drugstore Cowboy), The La's and the Velvet Underground.  A few days ago I was listening to There She Goes and I thought that that song in a way proves the Big Bang theory, since I think all the matter that comprises Brit Pop burst forth from that song.  Its so simple, but the underlying vibe is this feeling that resonates and resonates.  The impact of Big Star is obviously well documented, but I just think its interesting how Big Star's Thirteen and In The Streets and September Gurls et al are so simple, and may sound a lot like others (Gram Parsons/Byrds mixed with . . .) but they contain such a strong underlying vibe (heart) that resonates and resonates.  When I hear those songs it evokes, for example, nights out at the 9:30 Club in high school . . .having a drink in the basement (not sure how I got it) with a girl I liked. . . I didn't know those songs, but Its related.  That vibe permeated what was 'college music' and at the time 9:30 represented a temple to that music.  Alex Chilton, Lee Mavers, VU Lou Reed . . .Syd Barrett . . .even Johnny Thunders . . . they all seem to come from a similar place - too weak/strong romanticism which imploded/exploded? - and all had a similar impact. 

You can also add Nick Drake to that list… Another artist whose influence on musicians and fans is still being made, despite the fact that few heard his records when they were first released.  It would appear that lots of Musician's Musicians fall in that Cult Hero category and they are often to first to embrace them.  In addition to those mentioned one can add Arthur Lee/Love and Roky Erickson.

For me and probably others Drake, Love and Big Star are classic examples of artists that come to us later in life, even though they impacted artists we listened and enjoyed all along.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/obituaries/alex-chilton-an-appreciation-1.1014708

Francis Macdonald Teenage Fanclub drummers shares his thoughts.

from beck's website:

http://www.beck.com/news/

little tribute to alex.

Entire show of Teenage Fanclub backing Chilton:
http://popdose.com/bootleg-city-alex-chilton-1950-2010/

thanks for the heads up, i need to move these up to the front of the mp3 listening queue

I was in Austin for SXSW when Chilton died.  I sensed the shock and sadness throughout that day, especially since Big Star was set to play on Saturday night.  At first, we weren't sure if the band would still play, would want to play, how they could play, etc.  Then we got word that a bunch of other musicians would step in to help the remaining members of the band.  I was lucky enough to be there, and it was a brilliant way to end SXSW and pay tribute to Chilton.  It was special. The band and audience members were teary-eyed at times.  I am so glad I could be there.

There's some coverage of it here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/03/21/big-stars-sxsw-show-turns-into-powerful-tribute-to-alex-chilton/
http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/03/21/alex-chilton-sxsw-big-star-tribute/
http://pitchfork.com/news/38232-sxsw-sat-alex-chiltonbig-star-tribute/
http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2010/03/sxsw-2010-alex-chilton-big-star-tribute-concert.html

Superdrag - September Gurls

http://hypem.com/track/897099/Superdrag+-+September+Gurls+Big+Star+cover+