Music producers don't get on stage. They make records, not live music. Novel to see Joe Boyd (produced Pink Floyd, Nick Drake, REM and others--complete discography here) on stage at The Triple Door last night with Robyn Hitchcock.  The format was Boyd would read a passage from his book White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s, peppered with off-the-cuff, additional anecdotes. Then Hitchcock would sing a cover that connected to the anecdote.

The evening went something like this:

• Hitchcock started out playing the song "My White Bicycle" by Tomorrow
• Boyd talked about Dylan: the Boston folk scene vs. the NYC folk scene in the mid sixties and then talked about the Newport Festival when Dylan went electric, that canonicalized event. Hitchcock then played "Its All Over Now Baby Blue" with harmonica solo.
• Boyd told story of getting drunk in Scotland and discovering The Incredible String Band. Dylan played cover of Incredible String Band.
• Boyd booked shows in the sixties and found Fairport Convention -- made the point that they did to British music what the Band did to American music. Hitchcock covered one of their tunes (again, can't remember which) and talked about having to play it in front of Richard Thompson the other night.
• Boyd produced/promoted Nick Drake, talked about his shy demeanor and nicotine stained fingers. Hitchcock covered "River Man".
• Boyd had involvement with Jimi Hendrix documentary. Hitchcock played "Wind Cries Mary" with harmonica solo.
• Boyd worked with Syd Barrett. Hitchcock played "Bike."
• Encore: Hitchcock did another Incredible String Band song.

Overall, pretty entertaining despite the nostalgia factor.  Hitchcock's renditions sounded unrehearsed, appropriately. Would have rather listened to Hitchcock play his own material.