VA - Songs of Big Star Live Nov. 2021

Various Artists

The Songs of Big Star 

St. Ann & the Church 

     of the Holy Trinity

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Nov. 7, 2021

audience recording (sound quality: VG++)

ROB SEZ: This was billed as "Songs of Big Star"— a one-of-a-kind acoustic, orchestrated performance featuring Chris Stamey (The dB's), Jody Stephens (Big Star), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo), Brett Harris, Charles Cleaver, and Skylar Gudasz (Big Star's Third Live), Crispin Cioe (Uptown Horns) & the Occasional String Quartet. And it all happened in the stunning setting of St. Ann's Church in Brooklyn. When Chris declared a couple of years ago that "Big Star's Third Live" was over, I never thought I'd see something like this again. The performance starts off a little slow, as if the musicians are taking a while to get back in the groove. Stay with it, though, because they definitely find it several songs into the concert. The taper was Lucca. BIG THANKS to him! FYI: the NZ music series continues next week...

01 music intro

02 spoken intro

03 I'm In Love with a Girl 

04 The India Song

05 Kanga Roo

06 Watch the Sunrise

07 Dream Lover 

08 O My Soul

09 Daisy Glaze

10 Night Time

11 Take Care

12 For You 

13 You and Your Sister

14 intermission

15 September Gurls

16 Back of a Car

17 In the Street

18 Jesus Christ

19 February's Quiet 

20 Thirteen

21 Way Out West

22 Holocaust

Songs of Big Star in Brooklyn, earlier this month.
That's Chris on the right.

23 Thank You Friends

24 There Was a Light

25 You Get What You Deserve

26 Give Me Another Chance

27 The Ballad of El Goodo

28 O Dana

29 Femme Fetale [Velvet Underground]

30 I Am the Cosmos [Chris Bell]

31 Don't Go Back to Rockville [R.E.M.]

FLAC

MP3@320

Big Star Third - Live in London 2012 with Ray Davies

LOSSLESS REPOST

  
Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre

London, UK

May 28, 2012

    
audience recording (VG++; very clear house sound, transferred from master tape)

  

Ray Davies takes the mic while Chris plays & directs, London, May 2012
photo by nick hider via Flickr

REPERCUSSION: Chris Stamey played bass and collaborated in other ways with Alex Chilton in the late 1970s. From 2010 to 2018, Chris organized and led live performances of Big Star’s Third. Mitch Easter was one of the players in the core ensemble. [Go to the page at this blog to discover the many connections between Alex, Chris and The dB's].
  
MASSIVE THANKS to Pike1957 for recording, mastering and sharing this historic show. Pike1957 says, "This recording captures a fully-orchestrated performance of Big Star's legendary third album (aka Sister Lovers) and other gems from the band’s timeless catalogue, featuring Charles Cleaver, Mitch Easter (Let’s Active), Jody Stephens (Big Star), Chris Stamey (The dB’s), and Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star). Special guests: Jon Auer (The Posies, Big Star), Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), John Bramwell (I Am Kloot), Sharon Van Etten, Skylar Gudasz, Brett Harris, Django Haskins (The Old Ceremony), Robyn Hitchcock, Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo), Sondre Lerche, Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), and others."

  
SETLIST (lead vocalists for each song noted in parens): 
  
Part I

01 - intro

02 - Nature Boy (John Bramwell)

03 - announcement

04 - Kizza Me (Mitch Easter)

05 - O Dana (Ira Kaplan)

06 - For You (Jody Stephens)

07 - Nightime (Alexis Taylor)

08 - Jesus Christ (Mike Mills)

09 - Big Black Car (Jon Auer)

10 - Take Care (Ira Kaplan)

11 - Stroke It Noel (Norman Blake)

12 - Femme Fatale (Sondre Lerche)

13 - Downs (Robyn Hitchcock) [Mike Mills on basketball!]

14 - Dream Lover (Sharon Van Etten)

15 - announcement

16 - Blue Moon (Jody Stephens)

17 - Holocaust (Django Haskins)

18 - You Can't Have Me (Sharon Van Etten)

19 - Kanga Roo (Brett Harris)

21 - Thank You Friends (Jody, Jon, Ken Stringfellow & others)

Part II

22 - intro

23 - I'm In Love With a Girl (Sondre Lerche)

24 - Thirteen (Skylar Gudasz, Brett Harris & more)

25 - Give Me Another Chance (Norman Blake)

26 - I Am the Cosmos [Chris Bell cover] (Jon Auer)

27 - There Was a Light (Ken Stringfellow)

28 - You And Your Sister (Brett Harris)

29 - Daisy Glaze (Ken Stringfellow)

30 - The EMI Song (Smile With Me) (Ira Kaplan)

31 - The Ballad of El Goodo (Sondre Lerche)

32 - September Gurls (Mike Mills)

33 - Ray Davies intro

34 - Til the End of the Day [Kinks cover] (Ray Davies)

35 - Ray Davies chat

36 - The Letter (Ray Davies)

37 - audience

encore:

38 - Back of a Car (Jon Auer)

  
FLAC  
  
MP3@320
Part I

Part 2

That's Mitch Easter, second from left
photo by The Guardian

The Guardian published an excellent, in-depth preview of the show, quoting Chris, Mitch and many others involved in the project. Recommended, and it's HERE. Also a great Q&A with Chris about Alex Chilton from Uncut is HERE at the Big Star Third site.    

Enjoy 3 pro-shot videos by Creato Destructo from a  Big Star Third Live performance in 2010

 

 Kanga Roo

Holocaust

Big Black Car (link to Vimeo)

    

Big Star's Third Live - Repercussion coverage

The recent release of 
Thank You, Friends - Big Star's Third Live 

on CD / DVD / Bluray is a very big deal.
Here's our coverage in photos & videos.
(see also our earlier BS3rd live posts)

If you don't already have it, GO GET IT: Amazon U.S. Amazon UK

Chris Stamey - musical director, guiding light

If it weren't for Chris Stamey's steadfast dedication to the project, there likely would be no Big Star's Third Live. A Big Star fan who became a musical colleague of Alex Chilton's, Chris has a Big Star lineage up there with drummer Jody Stephens — sole survivor of the original Big Star lineup. Chris has been musical director of the project for all seven years of its existence. He also did a stunning job mixing the finished product, creating a sonic landscape worthy of the songs.  

Mitch Easter - guitar-chitect

Chris' long-time friend & collaborator, Mitch Easter managed to figure out the key guitar parts & effects that made Big Star sound the way it did. Guests came and went, but Mitch was  nearly always there for BS3rd live shows.

'The Fellow Travellers'

The ad hoc group Chris Stamey dubbed "The Fellow Travellers" are, vocally speaking, the heart of the Big Star's Third Live experience. Hailing from North Carolina's Triangle area, (l-r) Brett Harris, Skylar Gudasz and Django Haskins provide stunning vocalizations throughout the evening.

Jody Stephens - the drummer & soul of BS3rd live

When fellow musicians talk about Jody Stephens for long, there's usually an aside along the lines of "what a beautiful man" he is. The genuine graciousness of Big Star's drummer struck me as the necessary counterpoint to Alex Chilton's willful obstinacy. In the Thank You, Friends release, Stephens tells the audience what joy he feels when playing Big Star's music with musical friends such as Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Robyn Hitchcock, Pat Sansone (Wilco), Dan Wilson (Semisonic) and many others.

Many Collaborators

Mike Mills (R.E.M.)

Pat Sansone (Wilco, Autumn Defense)

Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star)

Robyn Hitchcock (The Soft Boys)

Dan Wilson (Semisonic)

Jeff Tweedy (Wilco)

Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo)

Kronos Quartet leader David Harrington (right) confers with Stamey

Read an excellent review of Thank you, Friends
from our pals at Blurt online 

VIDEO GALLERY - trailer + full songs

Trailer for BS3rd Live

"When My Baby's Beside Me"

"Kizza Me"

"Thirteen", feat. Skylar Gudasz

"In the Street"

See what we mean?
Absolutely worth owning...

Big Star (Alex Chilton) - Live Across 30 Years

Big Star (Sister Lovers)
WLYX-FM radio
Memphis, TN
January 1975

FM recording (sound quality VG-)

01 Femme Fatale
02 Oh Dana
03 Take Me Home & Make Me Like It
      (fades out) 
04 Jesus Christ
05 Death Cab for Cutie
06 Kizza Me
07 I Will Always Love You
08 The Letter

Alex Chilton — guitar & vocals
Jody Stephens — percussion
Pat Rainer, Randy Romano, Beth Hudson,
& other unnamed hangers-on — backing vocals & yapping

ROB SEZ: If you're drawn to the chaotic / shambolic vibe of late-period Big Star, you'll probably be amused by this train wreck of a live performance. Otherwise, I recommend sticking with the ones below...

Alex Chilton
Singer-Songwriter Marathon
Tivoli
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Jan. 10, 1992

audience recording (sound quality VG+; transfer from master tape source)

01 stage entrance
02 Like a Sick Dog
03 I Will Turn Your Money Green  
04 Blind Man
05 Guantanamerika [tape flip]
06 Nighttime (abandoned) 
07 Single Again 
08 No Sex
09 Let's Get Lost
10 Only the Lonely

Recorded by Gentlen, transferred by scdegraaf, edited by Fredtaperin . Thanks to all of 'em!

various artists

Brett, Django, Skylar: singing Big Star

KCSN-FM studio
Northridge, CA
September 25, 2014

FM recording (sound quality Ex-) 

01 (interview part 1)
02 September Gurls
03 (interview part 2)
04 Take Care
05 (interview part 3)
06 Thirteen
07 (interview part 4)
08 Give Me Another Chance

Musicians: 
Django Haskins
Susanna Hoffs (of The Bangles)
Skylar Gudasz
Brett Harris

MP3@320

ROB SEZ: This combo post kicks off coverage of Big Star Third Live, highlighting the recent release of the DVD / CD of Big Star Third Live's grand finale. Look for more here soon. If you don't already have it, GO GET IT! Amazon U.S. Amazon UK

Big Star Third - Live in Memphis & Seattle 2014

Overton Park
Memphis, TN
May 23, 2014
 

Big Star Third Live: at the Bumbershoot Fest, Seattle, WA in 2014

photos by Suzi Pratt via Flickr

soundboard recording (sound quality VG++; via webstream)
   

N.C. talent: Skylar Gudasz & Brett Harris
(That's Mitch Easter in the background)

01 Kizza Me
02 O, Dana
03 Big Black Car
04 Blue Moon
05 You and Your Sister   
06 Stroke It, Noel
07 Lesa Aldridge intro
08 Femme Fatale
09 You Can't Have Me
10 Downs
11 Jody speaks
12 For You
13 Jesus Christ
14 September Gurls

Chris Stamey: master of the musical feast

Bumbershoot Festival
Seattle, WA
Aug. 31, 2014

soundboard recording
(sound quality Ex-; via webstream)

01 For You
02 Take Care
03 Nightime
04 Give Me Another Chance 
05 Thirteen
06 Jody speaks
07 Blue Moon
08 I Am the Cosmos
09 In the Street 

Jody Stephens: Big Star's one & only drummer

MP3@320
      

NEW FLASH: This article from Billboard magazine says a recent BS3rd live show 

was recorded & filmed for planned release in 2017. 

Recent Big Star Third live shows have featured performances of Big Star's first album in its entirety. Learn more about the music of Big Star Third at Wikipedia, the project's official site & FB page.

Jody Stephens + BS3rd - Live 2013-14

Jody Stephens
Live Sessions - Summer 2013
+
Big Star Third Live 2014

FM / webstream captures (sound quality VG++ to Ex-)
    

     

SAMPLE: "February's Quiet" (J. Stephens, live 2013)

SAMPLE: "For You" (BS3rd, live 2013)

   

     
ERRATA: Correct title for Track 2 is "February's Quiet". Thank to eagle-eye Fantom for the correction!

ROB SEZ: Regular readers of this blog know we are avid fans of Big Star, Alex Chilton, and just about everything musically related. (A direct connection to The dB's is Chris Stamey, who played bass for Alex Chilton in the 1970s, and who organized the first Big Star Third live concert in 2010. Chris remains musical director of the BS3rd shows, which continued into 2015.) Jody Stephens is now the only surviving member of the original Big Star line-up, and has admirably carried Big Star's musical torch for decades. Thanks to Gary from California, herein is a delightful collection of live sessions, including a Big Star Third live set (featuring Chris and Mitch Easter, et al) — all in pristine sound quality. Artwork by Gary is included in the download.

MP3@320
      

Jody Stephens recorded new, original music in 2015 with Luther Russell (Freewheelers). They call themselves Those Pretty Wrongs.
Read more HERE and HERE.

Alex Chilton Tribute 2010 (feat. Chris)

'Thank You Friend'

Cat’s Cradle

Carrboro, NC

May 28, 2010

(Chris Stamey, musical director)

soundboard recording (quality Ex-)

BIG THANKS to the taper & uploader!
 

DAMN. I'm really hating the thought of those folks who were frolicking down in Austin at SxSW Fest recently -- without me! -- and hearing the first of The dB's reunion shows since RSD 2011 in Atlanta (OK, the ones in Austin were minus Gene & plus Mitch, but you get the idea...). Anyway, I was thinking about how to console myself and remembered that I had this show. It features Chris, who was musical director, and Mitch plus Eric Peterson, who played guitar with The dB's during some of their live tours in the 1980s.

Uploader's notes: A special thanks goes to Doug Edmunds and Alex Maiolo for arranging this show. All of the show proceeds went to Future of Music Coalition, an advocacy group for musicians and their healthcare needs. Please see http://www.futureofmusic.org/ if you feel inclined to contribute. I've tried to identify most of the people playing but I know I missed a few of them. Generally the performers are noted above the songs they are playing. Also there has been a fair amount of editing to remove extended empty periods between performers.

Rob says: This tribute show is clearly a labor of love; but musically, it's a rather mixed bag. But all the performances are enjoyable, and some are true gems (eg, Chris’ performance of “I Am the Cosmos” on Disc 3.) Perfect sound quality from a soundboard master tape.

Preview article for the show, with comments from some performers, is here at IndyWeek.Com
 

Chris playing at a Big Star's Third live performance, NYC 2011
Ted Barron photo

DISC ONE

The Magic Babies w/ Jen Richelson

01  Soul Deep

02  Cry Like A Baby

03  Don't Lie To Me

Holden Richard w/ Chris Stamey

04  Try Again

Jeff Carroll, Greg Humphreys, Lynn Blakey, Jane Francis, Ann Humphreys

05  Thirteen

Adam Price, Matt McMichaels, Wes Lachot, Doug Edmunds

06  What's Going Ahn

07  Life Is White

Jeff Carroll, Eric Peterson, Doug Edmunds, FJ Ventre

08  Back Of A Car

09  Everyday As We Grow Closer

10  -banter/band intro-

Jay Manley, Jane Francis, Doug Edmunds, Wes Lachot, Lisa Lachot

11  September Gurls

12  Jesus Christ

Tom Maxwell

13  Nighttime

14  Holocaust

15  -banter-

DISC TWO

Stars Explode

01  -band/song intro-

02  Way Out West

03  In The Street

Lynn Blakey & Ecki Heins

04  -intro/#5 false start-

05  Watch The Sunrise

06  Give Me Another Chance

Chris Stamey

07  She Might Look My Way

08  -audience drummer request-

09  Downs

Jeff Hart & Mockpile

10  Oh My Soul

11  When My Baby's Beside Me

Doug Edmunds, Alex Maiolo, Missy Thangs, Tim Logan, Stu McLamb, Ecki Heins

12  Big Black Car

13  Stroke It Noel

The Huguenots w/ Doug Edmunds, Lisa Lachot

14  You Can't Have Me

15  -banter/thanks friends-

DISC THREE

Mitch Easter, Chris Samey, Doug Edmunds, Pat McGraw

01  The Ballad Of El Goodo (Doug Edmunds - vocal)

02  My Life Is Right (Pat McGraw - vocal)

03  She's A Mover (Mitch Easter - vocal)

04  I Am The Cosmos (Chris Stamey - vocal)

Greg Humphreys

05  I'm In Love With A Girl

06  The Letter

John Howie, Jr & the Rosewood Bluff w/ Jay Manley

07  Free Again

08  Alex Chilton (P. Westerberg)

Everyone

09  Thank You Friends

MP3@320

Alt. linx (MF):

Disc 1
Disc 2
Disc 3