Marshall Crenshaw
Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats; Pontiac, Michigan
August 30, 2003
To: Marshall Crenshaw
Fm: Stephen Macaulay
Re: Benefit of a Doubt
The classic headline has it: “Local Boy Makes Good.” But you, playing a few miles up the avenue from your boyhood home in Berkley, with Mom and Dad and Bro and Other Relatives in the audience, know that the line no longer applies. And you wanted to make sure that those who had collected around the stage knew it, too. Sure, you’ll be 50 soon. Acknowledging it may be good for the soul. But when the first thing you noted was that you were getting older and so you opened up your set with a Buddy Holly tune. Yes, it was back to the days of Peggy Sue Got Married, which presumably did about as much for your career as Tucker did for Joe Jackson. And you wanted to make sure that we know you’re no longer local, too. Nice for you to give a shout out to the Detroit public radio station, WDET, by (a) thanking them for playing your new album, What’s In the Bag? And (b) noting that it is the only station you listen to when you’re in town. Former Local Boy Ages and Does All Right For Himself.