Big Star Third: Ten Years Later

What do you get when you combine a legendary Memphis band, a chamber orchestra, and a star-studded lineup of special guests? A musical experience that I'll never forget, which happened ten years ago at South by Southwest.

*Score study for Big Star Third (aka Sister Lovers) at home*

As the festival approached, I was knee-deep in preparing for a series of orchestral and choral concerts, as well as planning for multiple large-scale collaborations. Despite my busy schedule, I had managed to schedule a break with my girlfriend during the week of SXSW, only to be asked back to Austin by my friend John Riedie to work with Big Star Third, who were in town for the festival.

Led by Jody Stephens, drummer and the last surviving member of one of my favorite bands of all time Big Star, BST is a celebration of the influential band’s mercurial third record (recorded when band leader Alex Chilton was famously going on the rails). The project features a wide assortment of musical guests and a chamber orchestra (which I would be directing). I jumped at the opportunity, quickly smoothed things over with my girlfriend, and began studying the scores that bandleader Chris Stamey had emailed me shortly after. The rehearsal process was a whirlwind of activity, with artists coming and going, and cues from me for those who needed them.

But as we rehearsed, I couldn't help but feel the energy and excitement building. With guest front people ranging from M. Ward, Tommy Stinson, the Posies and more, each artist seemed genuinely honored to be there. REM’s Peter Buck was disarming and sweet: as someone who had had a profound influence on my own guitar playing, he was the only one in attendance possessing the capacity to make me feel starstruck, but and any nervousness I initially felt evaporated as he’d toss out positive comments like “yeah… that’s great everyone!”

The show itself is a bit of a blur in my mind now, but I can say that it went really well. The most memorable event for me happened at the end: I walked offstage, and Peter was standing there in the wings. He abruptly grabbed my hand, shook it vigorously and said “Brent! Awesome working with you! Great job!” To which I instinctively replied, “thanks Peter! You too!”

At which point felt like picking up the phone and calling my 15-year-old self to say, "Hey man, I know you're really depressed, you feel like the world's biggest loser, and you perpetually worry about where you'll end up in this world. I can't tell you why, but everything is going to be just fine."

I’ve been blessed to work with BST — and a number of its affiliated artists — a number of additional times in the ensuing years. That first outing, though, is the one that will forever stick with me. Many thanks to Peter, Jody, Chris, and the entire BST family, and happy tenth anniversary.