How many times have you heard people talk about their best experiences being those that were unplanned and spontaneous? Maybe it’s because there were no preconceived expectations and you end up just rolling with it…the same can sometimes be said of musical performances, one of the best performances I saw by an artist was when they ripped up and threw away their set list. For Alex Chilton who passed away in 2010 his spontaneous off the cuff performance was in 1997 and was result of the lights going out at the Knitting Factory in New York City during their second set of the evening. With a borrowed guitar he treated the audience to a warm and cosy performance that was fortunately captured by Jeffrey Vargon with his tape deck and microphone.
Those present were certainly not expecting Chilton to perform Johnny Cash, Hank Williams or Beach Boys covers but they got them! This is a great release and the camaraderie of the audience can be felt on every track…it will bring a great big smile to your face as he searches for those perfect songs!
Chilton was that rare artist that re-invented himself over and over again often abandoning earlier successful formulas. He ran the gamut, working in many genres including the Memphis blue-eyed soul of the Box Tops (singing the number one hit “The Letter” at age 16) the Beatles meets Beale Street high harmony of Big Star (three classic cult albums) a stint as a ’77 punk provocateur at CBGBs and a co-conspirator in the mutant Memphis art rock of Panther Burns. In the early 1980s Chilton escaped his hometown and settled in New Orleans to recuperate from years of hard living. There he soaked up the music around him and developed a stripped down musical style and a sardonic persona. Instead of playing his greatest hits he played songs that spoke to him personally; lost obscure soul and blues tunes, jazz standards and rockabilly.
After younger musicians like REM and the Replacements began singing his praises to a new generation he put together a pair of touring outfits, one in the ’80s made up of Rene Coman and Doug Garrison and another group in the 90s with childhood friend Ron Easley and Richard Dworkin. It was the latter group Alex was playing with when the lights went out. Ron hung out in the balcony and snapped some pictures while Richard eventually set up a snare and played along.
Electricity By Candlelight adds something to the Chilton canon, the sound of the man himself unencumbered by electronics or amplification getting down and thinking off the top of his head, searching for that perfect folk song that can bring it all to a close. He never finds it but he takes those that stuck around that night on a musical joy ride rolling through decades of song.
Tracklisting
1. Last Bouquet
2. Step Right This Way
3. Let’s Get Lost
4. D-I-V-O-R-C-E
5. Raining In My Heart
6. Lovesick Blues
7. Girl From Ipanema
8. My Baby Just Cares For Me
9. Motel Blues
10. Someone To Watch Over Me
11. Footprints In The Snow
12. A Case Of You
13. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
14. Surfer Girl
15. Solar System
16. I Walk The Line
17. If I Had A Hammer
18. You Can Bet Your Heart On Me 1. Last Bouquet
2. Step Right This Way
3. Let’s Get Lost
4. D-I-V-O-R-C-E
5. Raining In My Heart
6. Lovesick Blues
7. Girl From Ipanema
8. My Baby Just Cares For Me
9. Motel Blues
10. Someone To Watch Over Me
11. Footprints In The Snow
12. A Case Of You
13. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
14. Surfer Girl
15. Solar System
16. I Walk The Line
17. If I Had A Hammer
18. You Can Bet Your Heart On Me
Electricity By Candlelight is released via Bar None on Oct 25, 2013
