Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

MItch playing a 330 75th at December performance of Big Star's Third Album in NC. Nice to see these out and about. Note - another show is scheduled for March 26th in NYC.


Big Star Third by bigstarthird, on Flickr

I remember seeing him as a 20 year old or so,....in NYC, back around 1980, in an underground club called TR3. Summing up this smiling, red haired moptop with his poppy guitar, enthusiastic singing, and confident stage pressence. I thought, damn, that's an impressive performer. I remembered his name for a year or 2 following that, but not the band. 30 years later, I read about him on this website and flipped after seeing what a career that kid made for himself. The strange thing is, I saw Setzer play (Bloodless Pharaohs) at about the same time in the same club, and was equally impressed.

Very cool

My son just asked me for tix to the NY show as his gift for his 14th birthday. I had to oblige

We'll be in the front row.

Here's the ticket info for NY :

http://scenicpropagandatw.tickets.music ... utlet=2376

johnnysain wrote:I remember seeing him as a 20 year old or so,....in NYC, back around 1980, in an underground club called TR3. Summing up this smiling, red haired moptop with his poppy guitar, enthusiastic singing, and confident stage pressence. I thought, damn, that's an impressive performer. I remembered his name for a year or 2 following that, but not the band. 30 years later, I read about him on this website and flipped after seeing what a career that kid made for himself. The strange thing is, I saw Setzer play (Bloodless Pharaohs) at about the same time in the same club, and was equally impressed.

I'm wondering what band that was. I think 1980 was too early for Let's Active.

marc61 wrote:

johnnysain wrote:I remember seeing him as a 20 year old or so,....in NYC, back around 1980, in an underground club called TR3. Summing up this smiling, red haired moptop with his poppy guitar, enthusiastic singing, and confident stage pressence. I thought, damn, that's an impressive performer. I remembered his name for a year or 2 following that, but not the band. 30 years later, I read about him on this website and flipped after seeing what a career that kid made for himself. The strange thing is, I saw Setzer play (Bloodless Pharaohs) at about the same time in the same club, and was equally impressed.

I'm wondering what band that was. I think 1980 was too early for Let's Active.

I looked up "Let's Active" and they formed in 1981. I guess I was off by a year. Any mention of NYC gigs anywhere soon after forming? And maybe he was filling in with another band but I don't think so, he seemed to be the lead singer.

Interesting,...I wish I carried around a camera then like people do today.....I used to hang out a lot at Danceteria when Madonna was the coat check girl and Sade a bartender.

marc61 wrote:My son just asked me for tix to the NY show as his gift for his 14th birthday. I had to oblige

We'll be in the front row.

Here's the ticket info for NY :

http://scenicpropagandatw.tickets.music ... utlet=2376

I am in the ORCH RGT A 10, front row as well. See you two there!

Johnny,
If you saw me play at Tier 3 (TR3), it would've been with The Crackers. This was Steve Almaas' band, they were from Minneapolis and had moved to NYC to hit the big time. I was living in NYC then and played with that band for a short while. Steve went on to have Beat Rodeo and other bands, and has made several LPs under his own name since. I loved that club! I wonder if you saw us open for The Slits? That was pretty great. We did Little Green Bag, by The George Baker Selection, something the rest of the band has probably never forgiven me for.

Mitch,

Any hints about what non-Third Album stuff might be in store for us?

I'm not sure. In NC we did some obvious things like September Gurls as encores, but mostly is just that 3rd LP, with its odds and sods tracks included, like that version of 'Til the End of the Day... The trouble is, it's hard to have any rehearsals with the mega lineup!
Yeah, I really don't know!

blue330 wrote:I'm not sure. In NC we did some obvious things like September Gurls as encores, but mostly is just that 3rd LP, with its odds and sods tracks included, like that version of 'Til the End of the Day... The trouble is, it's hard to have any rehearsals with the mega lineup!
Yeah, I really don't know!

Thanks for the answer. I assumed as much. The rumors have been going crazy about the NYC show being bigger (in scope) than the NC show. It didn't nake sense to me, so I thought I would ask.

blue330 wrote:Johnny,
If you saw me play at Tier 3 (TR3), it would've been with The Crackers. This was Steve Almaas' band, they were from Minneapolis and had moved to NYC to hit the big time. I was living in NYC then and played with that band for a short while. Steve went on to have Beat Rodeo and other bands, and has made several LPs under his own name since. I loved that club! I wonder if you saw us open for The Slits? That was pretty great. We did Little Green Bag, by The George Baker Selection, something the rest of the band has probably never forgiven me for.

Amazing, I didn't know you posted here!

The 'Crackers' sounds familiar. Didn't see the 'Slits' that night,...But 'Beat Rodeo' really rings a bell. I was in a Rockabilly band that played the 'Lone Star Cafe' many times, and I think we may have opened for them. Well, your 'Crackers' performance was one of the few remaining club band memories I have from the 80's.

Anyway, congrats and good luck with your new endeavor!

*Wasn't the NYC nightlife/club scene great then? I grew up across the river, near Hoboken, which was just starting to flourish then too, with Maxwell's.

tmossman wrote:

marc61 wrote:My son just asked me for tix to the NY show as his gift for his 14th birthday. I had to oblige

We'll be in the front row.

Here's the ticket info for NY :

http://scenicpropagandatw.tickets.music ... utlet=2376

I am in the ORCH RGT A 10, front row as well. See you two there!

we'll be in 16,18...right near ya

johnnysain wrote:

blue330 wrote:Johnny,
If you saw me play at Tier 3 (TR3), it would've been with The Crackers. This was Steve Almaas' band, they were from Minneapolis and had moved to NYC to hit the big time. I was living in NYC then and played with that band for a short while. Steve went on to have Beat Rodeo and other bands, and has made several LPs under his own name since. I loved that club! I wonder if you saw us open for The Slits? That was pretty great. We did Little Green Bag, by The George Baker Selection, something the rest of the band has probably never forgiven me for.

Amazing, I didn't know you posted here!

The 'Crackers' sounds familiar. Didn't see the 'Slits' that night,...But 'Beat Rodeo' really rings a bell. I was in a Rockabilly band that played the 'Lone Star Cafe' many times, and I think we may have opened for them. Well, your 'Crackers' performance was one of the few remaining club band memories I have from the 80's.

Anyway, congrats and good luck with your new endeavor!

*Wasn't the NYC nightlife/club scene great then? I grew up across the river, near Hoboken, which was just starting to flourish then too, with Maxwell's.

I love Maxwell's! Have been a few times over the last 2 years to see The Feelies, Wild Carnation and Speed the Plough.

rkbsound wrote: I love Maxwell's! Have been a few times over the last 2 years to see The Feelies, Wild Carnation and Speed the Plough.

Yes, many notables have played in that little back room including REM,...very early in their history.