During a press conference at this year’s Bonnaroo, Robyn Hitchcock posed the question, “What will the carcass of indie rock yield in 90 years?” As one of the godfathers of the genre, there is perhaps no better authority to ponder the fate of the underground. In the 30 years since his introduction to the alt-rock pantheon as a member of The Soft Boys, Hitchcock has produced three decades’ worth of wry, whimsical jangle-pop that’s influenced artists from R.E.M. to Billy Bragg to Pavement. Powered by his backing band The Venus Three—featuring Peter Buck—and keeping his cutting wit intact, his 2009 release Goodnight Oslo shows Hitchcock has not lost any of his vitality as a songwriter. If you’re a fan of Hitchcock’s, then you’ve probably seldom had a reason to patronize the Mecca of starry-eyed singer-songwriters—our very own Bluebird Café—so look at this as a better-than-good excuse to trek out to Green Hills. And if you missed his appearance at Exit/In last Spring—shame on you—then here is your chance to rectify.
Sat., Oct. 17, 9:30 p.m., 2009
Sat., Oct. 17, 9:30 p.m., 2009
