Pop diety Marshall Crenshaw, he of the one mega-hit and the 200 should-have-been-hits, performs at the Falcon in Marlboro on Saturday, May 3. The longtime Hudson Valley resident is the fully fit and worthy embodiment of the bespectacled pop tradition that runs from Buddy Holly through the Beatles to Emitt Rhodes, Elvis Costello, Squeeze and a dwindling pool of torchbearers.
In his songs, the simple, giddy joys of rock and roll meet the subtleties and sophistication of Tin Pan Alley, Cole Porter and the Liverpudlians.
A verbal craftsman, an effortlessly agreeable singer and a vastly underrated lead guitarist, Crenshaw has made a career out of blowing the curve for the rest of the triple-threat songwriters out there. His reward: he’s the poster child for inexplicable obscurity, a man who has become widely known mostly for deserving to be more widely known. Players: do yourself a favor and cover one of his songs today. You will find an embarrassment of riches to choose from. I do “T.M.D.,” a timeless gem of a song from a gem of an album called #447. What will you pick?
Marshall Crenshaw with special guest Ben Fields, Saturday, May 3, 7 p.m., The Falcon, 1348 Route 9W, Marlboro. For more information, call (845) 236-7970 or visit www.liveatthefalcon.com.
Join the family! 
