Because he’s written so many great tunes for other performers, some people might get the wrong idea about Marshall Crenshaw. He’s also a fine singer. No matter how many celebrity vocalists have tackled his stuff, nobody puts more into a Marshall Crenshaw song than the man himself. If you somehow have overlooked the music of this 55-year-old Detroit native, you should immediately dive into the pond with the 2006 double-CD of his early stuff, Marshall Crenshaw: The Definitive Pop Collection (Rhino), then fast-forward to his new one, Jaggedland (429). Naturally, the voice sounds a little more lived-in almost 30 years later, but the songs are every bit as finely crafted. Crenshaw is guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.
Crenshaw: This October (on the 3rd, I believe), I’ll be playing at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park. Any time that I have any reason to be in San Francisco, it’s a great thing, but this festival soundslike “greatness overkill.” Almost anyone that I’d want to see myself is on the bill somewhere: Neko Case, Charlie Haden And Family, Amadou & Miriam, Marianne Faithfull, Dr. Dog, Ralph Stanley—just a ridiculously long list of brilliant and excellent guys and gals. Please join me there if you can. It’s free!!!
