Lost my Job - Alex Chilton
The Replacements turned countless people on to Alex Chilton a couple decades back by naming one of their career-best songs after him, and that track's appearance in Rock Band 2 will surely move new pilgrims to worship at the House of Chilton. But I'm sure he could've mustered a cult even without Paul Westerberg's blessing.
Over the past four decades he's made himself at home in several corners of bluesy rock 'n' roll, both with the soul-heavy Box Tops and the sugary-sad Big Star, and as a solo artist he's made fascinating detours into trippy psych-pop. He's lapped all his imitators, not only continuing to play the kind of music that inspired them but doing it better than they ever could--in short, he's more than earned his place in the pantheon of indie rock, as well as the right to mellow out. Given his history, I wouldn't be surprised if he came up with a new and exciting way to grow old but stay a rocker. Kelly Hogan opens.
Alex Chilton, Kelly Hogan @ Old Town School of Folk Music
Sat., Dec. 6, 7 p.m.
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