Big Star Live

[Keith Whitener]

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=63017225&blogId=510586624

LOS ANGELES - Big Star inspired a fevered allegiance among fans of power pop, giving rise to a cult of believers who spent decades spreading the gospel. Their enthusiasm turned this obscure Memphis pop band–one that got little airplay, sold few records, and only played live a handful of times– into a remarkable rock ‘n’ roll resurrection story. This November, Big Star will bring their heavily influential sound to Brooklyn, New York, for a rare performance. Big Star - now featuring Alex Chilton, Jody Stephens, Ken Stringfellow and John Auer, will perform on Wednesday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m. at The Brooklyn Masonic Temple. To purchase tickets, please go to: http://www.ticketweb.com.

With Kurt Vile.

How are they live at this point?

[Joe Rogaine]

The other night i was looking around on Youtube trying to find some live footage of back in the day and came up empty, so who knows how they are compared to back in the day. Im sure theyre were better back in the day but there are some songs on that last album from a couple of years ago that could have fooled me.

[Jake from Memphis]

There is no footage of Big star playing live in the 70s, only silent 16mm footage of them rehearsing in Alex Chilton's house.  Seeing Alex Chilton perform in the flesh is definitely an experience and Jody Stephens still sits in studio B at ardent several nights a week practicing so the two of them are still really great.  The guys from the posies hold it down pretty faithfully as well. 

The best document of Big Star as a live act in their prime is the 4th disc on the new box set which captures them opening up for Archie Bell and the Drells right before they went in to cut Radio City. 

[buffcoat]

My mom used to shop at Big Star!  Who knew they'd be famous?

[fonpr]

  Seeing Alex Chilton perform in the flesh is definitely an experience

I caught him opening for the Replacements back around '87.  He joined the Mats for the last 1/3 of their set. 

Sloppy, crazy fun.

Best: Alex singing I Wanna Be Your Dog after mock declining to do so.

Worst: Paul's inability to play and sing Answering Machine simultaneously. 
          The rest of the band just stared at him until he quit trying.

[Wes]

Seeing Alex Chilton perform in the flesh

What made him so angry?

[fonpr]

Seeing Alex Chilton perform in the flesh

What made him so angry?

Lack of commercial success.