Big Star (Band)

M. Ward, Crescent Ballroom, 4/17/12

See also: M. Ward Discusses A Wasteland Companion, and His Arizona Ties to The Meat Puppets and Howe Gelb M. Ward Crescent Ballroom Tuesday, April 17, 2012 Following fIREHOSE's blistering set of punk jazz, I was almost worried that the hushed immediacy of Portland-based singer/songwriter/produce ... More >>

M. Ward's Solo Work Reveals the "Him" in She & Him

Loudon Wainwright III on 40 Odd Years, Rufus, Martha, and Emotionally Flashing

​The past few years have been busy for prolific songwriter Loudon Wainwright III: he revisited his early records with Recovery, a full-band effort produced by Joe Henry, won a Grammy for his High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project , a tribute to the American banjo player, and released ... More >>

Army Navy, Locksley and The Postelles Vie for Best Power Pop Release of Summer 2011

Big Hassle MediaThe timeless power pop of Los Angeles' Army Navy makes for a great summertime soundtrack.​Like your favorite comfort food, power pop music is familiar, tasty and satisfying... and, sometimes, it's the only thing you want. If you consider The Raspberries' 1972 self-titled debut ... More >>

Five Totally Rad Things About Katy Perry

​If every discerning music nerd only gets to pick one pop princess to admit to unapologetic digging, I totally pick Katy Perry.Yes, she's good looking-- that's a given, but it's much more than that. Perry has a sort of easygoing charm, a rare thing in the realm of radio dominating queens. Yeah, I ... More >>

One Year On: Alex Chilton Remembered

​At the risk of sounding like a real nerd, when I got knockout drunk on this day last year, it had nothing to do with green beer or a quick embrace of my Celtic heritage. Big Star leader, Box Tops singer, and solo provocateur Alex Chilton died one year ago today, and I reacted the only way I knew ... More >>

Sister Lovers: Paula Stop Pretending (1993)

Sister Lovers, "Paula Stop Pretending" ​ Welcome to Obscuro, a weekly feature where Up on the Sun dives deep into the world of vinyl oddities: private press jobs, major label cast-offs, and general thrift shop clutter that's thus far escaped anyone's attention. These LPs have been hiding out, coll ... More >>

Big Star's Alex Chilton Dies at 59

Alex Chilton.​Alex Chilton, singer and guitarist of '70s rock band Big Star died last night in New Orleans at age 59. The cause of death is suspected to be a heart attack, and Big Star was set to play at this year's SXSW.The band is cemented in history as a highly influential with a cult following ... More >>

Big Star Box and Deluxe Reissue of Alum Chris Bell's Lone Solo Effort are Pop Treasures

John FryThe mighty Big Star in their original early 1970s incarnation. L-R: Jody Stephens, Chris Bell, Alex Chilton, Andy Hummel.​ More than a decade into the internet age, it's hard to imagine a time when music and the artists who created it carried an aura of mystery. Before information abo ... More >>

The Academy Is… Power Pop’s Leading Light