Big Star’s “Third” to be Performed By All Star Collective at Mason Hall, NYC (3/26)

February 15th, 2011 by Janice Brown

On March 26, an array of indie rock all-stars will gather to perform Big Star’s third album, Third/Sister Lovers, at Mason Hall in the Baruch Performing Arts Center, NYC (17 Lexington Ave). Full coordinates below.

Big Star's "Third" was recorded in 1974 with producer Jim Dickinson at Ardent Studios in Memphis.

Written and recorded when Big Star was primarily a studio project (Ardent Studios, Memphis) consisting of Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens, Third/Sister Lovers has long been revered by artists and critics, but was never been performed in public with the original string and wind orchestrations.

That changed in December 2010, when an all-star band unearthed the original scores, assembled an orchestra and performed Big Star’s Third at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC.

Performers that night included Jody Stephens (Big Star), Mike Mills (R.E.M.) and musicians/producer/engineers, Mitch Easter (Let’s Active) and Chris Stamey (the dB’s). The creative genesis they experienced there prompted plans for this upcoming performance in New York City. Tickets go on sale Thursday, February 17 at 11am.

Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Mitch Easter, Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo), Tift Merritt, Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Will Rigby (the dB’s), Matthew Sweet, Chris Stamey (the dB’s), Jody Stephens (Big Star) and M. Ward will be joined by The Lost in the Trees Orchestra with Jane Scarpantoni, Django Haskins, Brett Harris, Sidney Dixon and Matt McMichaels to recreate the original scores and breathe life into a bittersweet album that has impacted generations of musicians. Additional special guests will be announced in the days to come.

Preparing for the performances was a challenge. “The original written scores for the record were long missing,” Chris Stamey has said. “But John Fry at Ardent Records was able to supply us with elements of the original multitrack tapes. Composer Carl Marsh, who wrote the ground-breaking charts for the original record, used these tapes to precisely re-transcribe his arrangements. And I’ve orchestrated anew some other elements of the recordings for the players, in order to recreate live some of the aleatoric studio effects.”

Full Coordinates:
Big Star Third
Mason Hall, Baruch Performing Arts Center (at Baruch College)
17 Lexington (enter on 23rd St bet Lexington & 3rd Ave.)
Box Office: 646-312-4085
Tickets go on sale at 11:00am on Thursday, February 17th
http://www.ticketweb.com
http://www.scenicnyc.com
Doors @ 6pm -Show @ 7pm