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In December of 2005, Larry O. Dean of The Injured Parties decided to throw a party in celebration of one of rock and roll's most unique musical personalities -- and one of Larry's biggest influences -- Alex Chilton. The resulting show featured a slew of Chicago's coolest indie pop bands, covering songs from all phases of Chilton's career in a variety of idioms, some more slavish than others to Alex's oft inscrutable oeuvre. Everyone had a blast, and once the dust had cleared, beer was mopped up, and the symbolic birthday cake on its way to being digested, plans were already being bandied about for another existential and cathartic tip o' the fedora to Memphis' native son.
On December 28, 2006, the 2nd Annual Bash commenced. Despite a handful of last minute cancellations due to illness, LXBB '06 was a worthy successor to the previous year's edition. Twelve artists performed -- acoustic acts vied with rafters-rattling electric combos, each playing to its own strengths. The crowd ate it up, and once again the Chilton aura glowed throughout the room.
The 3rd annual bash is now history, but in its wake, another memorable night of music. Songs that had unaccountably slipped through the cracks in previous years were performed, with a welcome emphasis on Alex's solo years. (Perhaps most inspiring -- Kevin Junior of The Chamber Strings, playing a heretofore unheard Chilton composition rescued off a crinkling cassette bequeathed by Epic Soundtracks!) Of course, the Big Star catalog was also well represented, with stunning performances from the triumvirate of classics, as well as pithy renditions of numbers culled from the recent reunion album. In all, another killer night of music, fraternity, and good times in honor of LX.
The 4th bash was perhaps the best yet. Ten artists, mostly from Chicago but also ably representing Wisconsin (Certain Stars) and Michigan (Jeremy Porter) convened to show their collective love for LX. Dolly Varden returned after a three-year absence bringing their gorgeous rendition of "Thirteen" and also the Box Tops nugget, "I See Only Sunshine." First-timers Red Wigglers sprawled across the stage, adding trombone and trumpet to an expanded "I'm in Love with a Girl" and a funkified "O My Soul." (Not bad for a group that had been by necessity rehearsing material a few members at a time -- LXBB-IV was the first time all seven parties got to play the songs together!) Alla's cacophonous deconstructions of "Kanga Roo" and "September Gurls" were bone-rattlingly beautiful. Truly, a night to remember.
For something a little different, between the big bashes, at the halfway mark in June 2009 came the first ever "bash-and-a-half," an all acoustic event that may have been half the size and volume of the December shows, but twice the intimacy and oomph. Performers drew from all facets of Chilton's career, starting with The Box Tops and ending with the Big Star reunion album. Bringing their ineffable talents to the show were Christine Flores-Cozza, Larry O. Dean, Doleful Lions, Adam Fitz, Julie Jurgens, Kasper Hauser, and Dann Morr. While some obvious choices for an unplugged concert were played, other, more idiosyncratic numbers also made the transition, such as "Bangkok," "I Wish I Could Meet Elvis," and "Like Flies on Sherbert." Touche, troubadours!
Stay tuned for news & updates regarding LXBB-V!
