By Sue (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 12:37 pm:

Here's a post-Christmas treat -- Marshall Crenshaw will be performing a show at the Magic Bag Theater on Woodward in Ferndale Jan. 30. That's a Thursday night ...

The theater isn't huge so usual suspects, get your tickets. I'll get in my word early and ask Marshall to reprise his rendition of "Wonderful One" ... as done at the Apollo Theater, with the Funk Brothers backing him up ...

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 01:57 pm:

Hey Marshall,
Crank the mother up so I can hear you in California.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 01:59 pm:

A couple more notches for the UK too, perhaps :o)

By Mark Speck (65.56.223.216) on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 03:02 pm:

Hey, Marshall, any chance that if you come to Cleveland, you can get booked at the Beachland Ballroom? It's practically in my back yard!

Best,

Mark

By mhc (172.168.254.12) on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 03:15 pm:

Sue, thanks for the plug. I really wanted to get into the Gem Theatre, or somewhere in the city, but that didn't work out. I'm going to have a drummerless (sort-of) Rockabilly trio type thing going on that night, with a standup bass, myself, and another guitar player. But I think that we'll slap together a version of "Wonderful One", partly because you asked. Mark, we are in fact booked that week at the Beachland Ballroom, then Chicago, then the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa on Feb. 1st. Hopefully I'll come back alive from that one. Ralph and Ritchie, thanks for the good words.. Happy Holidays, y'all..

By thecount (65.60.200.116) on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 04:20 pm:

MARSHALL,dont worry about a thing,BUDDY,RITCHIE,and THE BIG BOPPER will be hearing you in rock and roll heaven,and they will be in the SURF BALLROOM watching you and will get you home safe.Merry Christmas and a best of 03.
FEB.3,1959.(an awful day)I wish I could be there to see you perform,would love to play drums for you.Was at the SURF in 1996 for a BIG THREE REUNION.The place is really kool.
Take kare ."COUNT"

By Ritchie Hardin (62.254.0.8) on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 06:38 pm:

Hey, Count/Marshall

FYI, THIS Ritchie is still happily in the land of the living, even if I do share Mr Valenzuela's first name, and Charles Hardin Holley's middle name.

BTW, is the Surf Ballroom still there?

By Fury13 (64.31.7.141) on Wednesday, December 25, 2002 - 12:09 pm:

Ritchie, from what I have been told (by Jack Scott, who played there a few years back), the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake (yes, the original one) is as beautiful as ever!

By Mark Speck (64.159.101.39) on Wednesday, December 25, 2002 - 06:12 pm:

Good to hear that you're coming to the Beachland, Marshall. I will be ordering tickets for that one!

Best,

Mark

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 06:19 am:

Fury,

I'm delighted to hear it. From the pics I've seen, it looks like a wonderful place - a veritable 1950s time-capsule! (Presumably that's "the" Jack Scott you referred to?)

Well off-topic all this, I know for the Forum - but I have to admit, Buddy Holly and I go back a long way!

By mhc (172.162.75.11) on Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 12:03 pm:

Count, that's a great note, thanks a lot. I do fully expect to feel the presence of ghosts in that place.

By larry (12.141.160.25) on Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 12:38 pm:

Marshall,

Why you no play in Los Angeles? House of Blues would be nice. You've got lot's of fans out here man.

By thecount (65.60.200.116) on Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 02:26 pm:

MARSHALL,If I'am not mistaken,did'nt you do a cover version of "RAVE ON"(Buddy Holly).
If so,that would be a great one to do at the "SURF".With serious thoughts right now,I think I'am going to try to make it to the SURF for your show,my FO.MO.CO. auto shows are on hold for now till I go back from being on vacation until 1/22/03.Do you know Bill Frisell?
(BUDDY LIVES) "COUNT"
ps.Did you see one of my postings from a few months back about what I do every FEB.3rd.for,
BUDDY,J.P. RICHARDSON,and RITCHIE ?

By Fury13 (209.69.165.10) on Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 05:02 pm:

Yeah, Ritchie, I'm "THE" Jack Scott's publicist. He may do a return trip to the Surf soon.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 05:48 pm:

Fury - great! Delighted to hear he's still on the case :o)

By Sue (152.163.188.68) on Friday, December 27, 2002 - 10:22 pm:

Jack Scott is definitely still on the case -- he plays the Woodward Dream Cruise every year, so if any of y'all from Blighty are in Detroit around August 15, he plays a charity gig for Duggan's on Woodward. Jack's in great shape and has a great band, including Steve Nardella on guitar.

P.S. Whoever gets to the Magic Bag first on Jan. 30 for Marshall's show should put dibs on the largest table closest to the front ...

By PhilH (203.220.99.222) on Saturday, December 28, 2002 - 03:59 am:

Hi all,

Yes, the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake is still there (well, it was when I visited in July 2000 at any rate!) It seems to be open to visitors all the time, so you can wander around and write your name on the pinboard at the back, check out the portrait gallery of all the acts who've played there since the 40's (or maybe earlier?), and buy some souvenirs, including reproduction posters for Buddy, Ritchie and the Bopper's last gig. They also give you a map so that you can find the cornfield where the plane crashed and a small memorial that has been erected there (one caution: don't wear your best shoes, the path in that field is a little muddy in places!)

Phil

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Saturday, December 28, 2002 - 06:41 am:

Hi Phil

Thanks for the update. I've seen pictures of the crash site, which is very bleak, by the look of it. On a happier note, the Surf Ballroom sounds wonderful. Maybe I'll get to make that pilgrimage one year, along with Hitsville, of course :o)

By g wiz (68.43.160.189) on Sunday, December 29, 2002 - 11:04 am:

yo marshall
johnny powers is back from europe and id like to see if hell come by and sing a couple rockabilly tunes
if its ok call me at 586-995-6000
glenn wiz

By M.McLeanTech (64.236.243.31) on Sunday, December 29, 2002 - 05:16 pm:

Hi Marshall,

I am cracking up! I just noticed this thread and got the first clue that you were some kind of a "Star."

I just looked you up on www.google.com and I see that you are a well known performing artist.

I'm sorry that I was so demanding regarding the location of your home. It is very understandable to me now that a person in your position might be reluctant to hand out such information.

I thought that you were just some little known recording engineer. Gosh! At last I have communicated with a Star!

Regarding tube equipment: You are a musician and an artist. I say that a musician should decide how his/her music sounds. As such: For me to question your application of an electronic device, which imparts a special sound quality of it's own to the music, would be utterly improper.

You make the music, and then I will try to record it without screwing it up. That is the cornerstone of my philosophy.

If you control everything from the guitar pick to the final CD sold in the record shop, then the music only exists as the CD, and you have a right to control everything, without question, because the entire process is music making. As Berry Gordy Jr. said on his Gordy Records Logo: "It's What's In The Grooves That Counts!"

I still say that if I were going to record one of your concerts, I would use only the most modern high fidelity recording equipment in my effort to capture the quality of your live performance.

I apologize for the misunderstanding.

Sincerely,

Mike McLean

By thecount (65.60.200.116) on Sunday, December 29, 2002 - 07:17 pm:

HEY,not only is MARSHALL a star,a singer,and great actor,a headliner in "LABAMBA".Marshall,you did great as BUDDY HOLLY in the "LABAMBA" movie.So performing at THE SURF will be even more comforting to you.When we,Kontinentals The Doo-Wop Kruisers were planning our dance we had on DEC.14th.we were going to call it the KONTINENTALS WINTER DANCE TOUR,as in the BUDDY HOLLY movie,which GARY BUSSI played BUDDY HOLLY.
We changed it to Kontinentals doo-wop dinner dance
Hope to see you in CLEAR LAKE.
Respectfully Yours,"COUNT"

By mhc (172.165.127.162) on Sunday, December 29, 2002 - 09:08 pm:

Mike, it's no problem. I enjoyed our dialogue. On this bulletin board, as far as I'm concerned, you're the Star, one of them anyway, along with Jack Ashford, Bobby Eli, Bob Babbitt, et. al.
Count, when I read about the "Winter Dance Party of 1959" tour, it almost seems like it was purposely designed as an Instrument of Death. I feel so bad for those guys, being treated like complete shit by the tour promoters, and then dying in that horrible way. It's such a vivid memory for me because Rock and Roll was big at my house when I was a child, and I loved Buddy Holly. (The first time I ever heard "Peggy Sue" was when I saw him do it on "Ed Sullivan".) Anyway, when the plane crash happened my parents tried to keep me from finding out, but then I insisted on watching "Mickey Shorr's Dance Party" that Saturday, so I found out. This Surf Ballroom thing is kind of a heavy deal for me.

By M.McLeanTech (66.218.41.58) on Sunday, December 29, 2002 - 09:26 pm:

For me, the loss of the "Big Bopper" (J.P. Richardson) was the heartbreaker.

At that time, I had a brand new 45 of "Chantilly Lace" backed with "The Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor," and I was off the deep end over that record.

When I learned that there would be no more from the Big Bopper, I felt as I had when Oliver Hardy (Laurel and Hardy) died on 1957.

By the way, this may seem silly, but the fact is that I drive by the house in which Oliver Hardy died, every day, on my way home from work.

Mike McLean

PS: Thanks, Marshall

By Millie (68.40.209.129) on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 05:58 pm:

Speaking of the Magic Bag, I just ran into Steve Milgrom who used to own it, along with Sam's Jams back in the 70's/80's. He's got a very cool store just off Melrose in LA, and is working on opening another one in the Ann Arbor area. The last time we saw each other was at the Magic Bag for Dave Dixon's memorial.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 06:23 pm:

Buddy, Jerry, Ivan and Nicki on the Sullivan show

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 06:27 pm:

Sorry, for 'Ivan' read 'Joe' - (Ivan was Jerry!)

By Sue (152.163.188.68) on Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 10:25 pm:

OK gang ...the time is nigh -- the gig is next Thursday:

Marshall Crenshaw
Magic Bag, Woodward Ave., Ferndale, MI
Thu, Jan 30, 2003 8:00pm

GENERAL ADMISSION
$17.00

www.ticketmaster.com or 248-645-6666. Not sure if you can buy tickets at the Bag box office in advance, you can at showtime if there are tix left.

18 and over! No sneaking in ...

By Sue (152.163.188.68) on Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 10:43 pm:

Livonia Ken is coming ...barring a blizzard, SisDetroit will be there ...

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.101) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 08:35 am:

In the event that anyone is looking for me there, here's a picture of me with two cute girls.

http://www.geocities.com/nwca_48152/Christmas_Picture.html

Regards,
Ken

By douglasm (68.113.15.28) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 08:50 am:

I hate my brother....
....he's going. Tour out here, would you? I can't afford the airfare.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 09:57 am:

Ken,
Nice picture. Treasure these days pal. They grow up fast.

By Larry (12.141.160.25) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 12:22 pm:

Livonia Ken,

It's nice to see the face behind the post.
Dos Preciousita's!

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 01:10 pm:

MC5 rules I think I have Becky T coming, too bad you can't ....

SisDetroit, ya better come.

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.101) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 01:22 pm:

Thanks, Larry. Hey! Did you somehow know that my wife is a high school Spanish teacher? As a result, while not actually learning the language, I have become something of an authority on made-up but almost Spanish sounding words, myself.

Regardiosos,
Ken

By mc5rules (148.61.97.30) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 01:42 pm:

Sue:
Yeah, too bad indeed. Well, give her a hug for me and have a ball. One of these days, we'll all get together and paint the town red.

BTW, I was re-reading "Let it Blurt" last night, and the story about your evening with Lester Bangs, Ron Wood and Bobby Womack at David Ruffin's house was amazing...it takes on so much more meaning now that I know you.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 02:31 pm:

Sue - I'm going to try my best to get there. (In the meantime don't forget: book, film.)

By john dixon (63.101.17.207) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 03:26 pm:

I'm so jealous of you guys. I bet Marshall will whip out a cool Motown cover or two.

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 03:30 pm:

He said he'd do "Wonderful One" ...

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 03:31 pm:

mc5,
I can't believe DeRogatis got such a lucid remembrance out of Ron Wood. When I asked him if he remembered going to the Ruffin party he said "hunh?" Whereas Keith Richards can expound like a Rhodes scholar.

By john dixon (63.101.17.207) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 04:07 pm:

Is there any chance, Sue, in getting you to recount this encounter, Deke-style, or do I have to go to my nearest Barnes & Nobles for a little free reading? With the personalities involved, this has to be a whale of a tale; I'm laughin' already and I don't know the first thing about it!

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 04:23 pm:

John,
I thought I did recount it online here somewhere? I can give an expanded version, but I'll have to take some time to give it Deke-style dynamics and story structure (laugh) ...

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 05:18 pm:

Livonia Ken,
Now I know who to look for. There's a picture of me with Joe Hunter on the website Sis did for her brother Wendall ...I think you can get to it by Googling Funk Brothers and my name (or Sis will post the link).

I'll be there with Becky Tyner and a few more non-Forum friends.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 06:03 pm:

http://wenkiah.tripod.com/thefunkbrothers/id11.html

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 02:09 pm:

Whoever gets to the Magic Bag first, try to save a sizeable table ...there IS an opening act ...

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.154) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 09:47 am:

It was a nice gig. Marshall did some particularly nice picking and strumming on "Better Back Off" and he delivered a spirited "Wonderful One" as promised. Based on the audience, the Berkley High pep squad was out in force. Marshall even deftly handled an audience member who (I think) was continuously screaming for him to play a Gin Blossoms song other than the one that he co-wrote.

Sue, it was a pleasure to meet you and Becky in person. Maureen and I had a good time.

Regards,
Ken

By Sue (205.188.209.38) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 10:03 am:

Ken!
Sorry Becky grabbed me -- she has an early morning job -- and we ran after the encore so I didn't quite get to say goodbye to you guys.

It was great meeting you guys ...

Yeah Marshall handled the capacity crowd pretty well, there was a large contigent from Berkley High, and they were hammered.

Voice: "Jealousy! Jealousy! (annoyed): Marshall, I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!"

MC: "I don't have a song called Jealousy. I've FELT jealousy."

The crowd reacted when he talked about playing "Wonderful One" with the Funks, and a bunch started clapping as he sang the song. Loved the rhythm guitar. I thought it worked even with a minimalist backing, good addition to the set.

By mc5rules (148.61.97.30) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 10:40 am:

Speaking of jealousy, that's what I'm feeling this morning. Sounds like y'all had a good time!

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 11:49 am:

Mc5,
It was funny. And Livonia Ken confided to Becky that his used copy of "Kick Out The Jams" was confiscated by his parents.

Becky: "I've heard that before."

Actually Becky related how her father wanted to take the record down to the basement and burn it, but her father put it aside -- and now she has it, still in the shrink wrap.

Back to Marshall -- it's funny, his Berkley fans really have a sense of entitlement! At one point someone just screamed "BERKLEY HIGH!" He leaned into the microphone and said drily "That's where I went to high school."

I don't think I've ever seen so many mullets, although this IS Detroit and I suppose I'd see more at the Mountain show coming up there ...

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.154) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:54 pm:

At the time (early 80s), it was pretty hard to find any MC5 albums, IIRC. Fortunately for me, my parents never caught wind of my Stooges Metallic KO album.

In defense of the mullets, nothing seems to bring them out quite like hat season in Michigan -- well ... maybe deer season in Michigan.

Regards,
Ken

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:57 pm:

Hey,
It's true, our Detroitian hats will make a mullet out of any hairstyle!

Oh wait, that's right, we're supposed to cry and jump off the Ambassador Bridge because we're not in sunny Los Angeles. We are sooooooo unworthy.

By mc5rules (148.61.97.30) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 01:48 pm:

I don't know what would be more frustrating -- having parents confiscate MC5 albums, or listening to your father-in-law tell you IN DETAIL about getting loaded and going to the Grande to see the Five and the Stooges many times. I've never had the former happen, but I have experienced the latter, and it makes me soooo jealous...

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 04:09 pm:

Sorry I missed it. I'll be there next time.

By mhc (172.157.183.101) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 10:50 am:

I just want to say Thanks to all the forum regulars who came to my show; it's great that you were there. I actually thought that all the cat-calling from the drunken Berkleyites was a drag. In the future, if I can't get a gig within the Detroit city limits then I'll just stick to Ann Arbor. Anyway, thanks again...

By radiogoon (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 11:43 pm:

Marshall,

Take it from me, a lowley local blues artist. The louder the catcalls, the harder we hit it. If ONE person leaves the show gassed, my time was worth it. Don't let the bastards get to ya! I wasn't at the show, but I know in my heart of hearts, ya knocked the ass out of it.......the loudmouths are the jealous bastards, they need help playin' the juke box....let the music do the talkin'....that's our motto.

Peace,

Dr. Z
Automatic Slim

By radiogoon (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 11:48 pm:

Marshall,

I forgot to add....No Maybe.....WE UNDERSTAND YOU!

By stephanie (206.214.1.77) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 03:12 am:

I didnt know Marshall Crenshaw was on this board!!
MY GOD!!! He is so critically acclaimed its unreal..........(Stephanie bows down)
Steph

By john dixon (63.101.17.207) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 05:47 pm:

The word at Marshall's website is that he's finished recording his new album. Hot Diggity! Don't know the release date; maybe mhc can tell us himself. I know one thing; I'll be snatching one before it even gets settled on the racks at my local CD store come release day!

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 06:06 pm:

Stephanie - please do forgive me, but I had to smile at your last posting. It conjured up a surreal little scene:

A minor disaster, and someone shouts, "help! Is there a celebrity in the house?"

Marshall calmly strolls up. "Let me through - I'm critically acclaimed!"

Apologies to Marshall too ;o)

By Lionia Ken (206.148.229.88) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 10:26 am:

The half dozen or so new songs Marshall played at the Ferndale gig bode well for the new album.

Regards,
Ken

By Sue (64.12.103.48) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 10:49 am:

How about a "Live at the Berkley Front" album; mhc could take on all the Berkleyites and shut them down.

Although that probably wouldn't be fun! I guess the problem with the Bag is that it's too close to Berkley.