Marshall Crenshaw launched a “40 Years in Showbiz” tour a few years back, and has since updated it to “40+ Years.”
“Forty-four years doesn’t have any kind of ring to it, y’know,” quips Crenshaw, 70, who was raised in Berkley and released his first single in 1981. “I don’t know if I’ll be alive or be playing in a rock ‘n’ roll band when the 50th anniversary rolls around, so I’ll just keep the count rolling this way.”
Regardless of number, Crenshaw is happy to be commemorating an eventful career that’s included 10 albums and more than half a dozen EPs. He’s had hits (“Someday Someway,” “Cynical Girl”), appeared in films (“Peggy Sue Got Married,” “La Bamba”), did a brief stint in Bob Dylan’s band and co-wrote the Gin Blossoms’ hit “‘Til I Hear It From You” for the “Empire Records” soundtrack.
And Crenshaw’s title track for the 2007 film “Walk Hard” was nominated for Golden Globe and Grammy awards.
“I’ve created a body of work,” he notes. “One thing I always point out is the whole thing, it was all just to give myself a vehicle to play guitar and make records, two things I dearly loved doing. It was a platform for those things, for self-expression. That I’m still doing it is … great.”
Crenshaw — whose songs have been covered by Bette Midler, Ronnie Spector, Robert Gordon and others — is busy In the present, too. He’s still an occasional member of the Smithereens, and this fall he’s releasing a compilation of home recordings called “From the Hell Hole: Remixes, Rediscoveries and More 1990-2020.” He also continues to work on documentary projects about record producer Tom Wilson (Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel).
“When we play these shows now, we cover all points on the timeline,” he says. “A lot of people who come to the shows really know the whole catalog, so it’s not an oldies or a nostalgia show. It’s got a lot of oldies and a lot of nostalgia in it, but that’s not all there is. We’re doing stuff in the present tense.”
Marshall Crenshaw and James Mastro perform Saturday, March 15 at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.
Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …
FRIDAY, MARCH 14
• The Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s PNC Pops series goes “La Vida Loca” through Sunday, March 16, celebrating Latin pop from the ‘90s and 2000s at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. “A Night of Tango” also takes place for free at 6:30 p.m. at Candela Detroit, 3564 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• A batch of Motor City MCs — Tee Grizzley, Veeze, Babyface Ray, Icewear Vezzo and more — perform a 313 Day encore at the Masonic Temple Theatre, 500 Temple St., Detroit. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-548-1320 or themasonic.com.
• Britain’s Paris Paloma headlines at the Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. Sarah Julia opens. 313-833-9700 or majesticdetroit.com.
• The Rhode Island electronic troupe Darkside, along with Will Epstein, bang it out in the Masonic Cathedral Theatre, 500 Temple St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-548-1320 or themasonic.com.
• New Jersey’s Armor For Sleep celebrates the 20th anniversary of its album “What To Do When You Are Dead” at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• New York singer-songwriter Matt Sucich sets up at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. Trae Sheehan opens. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• German electronic icon Paul Van Dyk tops the bill at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• Pianist Scott Gwinnell and his Dectet are in residence through Sunday, March 16, at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Lunar Octet is in orbit through Saturday, March 15 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.
• It may be closer to Easter, but Halloween will rock at 8 p.m. at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• Succ, Tired, Dogsneeze and New Wendell offer a musical pileup at 8 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Michigan music veteran Al Jacquez joins Adam Plomaritasa at 8 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• Grand Circus, Midnight Proof and Berserker triple-bill at 7 p.m. at the New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. 313-638-1508 or thenewdodgelounge.com.
• Michigan’s Mike Sugg & the American Ride Band pay tribute to the late Toby Keith at 8 p.m. at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren. 586-268-3200 or andiamoshowroom.com.
• Terrapin Flyer plays the Grateful Dead at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. Doors at 7 p.m. district142live.com.
• The Emerald Theatre in Mt. Clemens hosts the Rockin’ the Paradise tribute to Styx and, on Saturday, March 15, Tapestry — the Carole King Songbook. Doors for both at 7 p.m. 31 N. Walnut St. 586-630-0120 or theemeraldtheatre.com.
• Folk favorite Maddy Ringo previews her next album, “People of the Earth and Sea” (out March 28) at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• The Pamela Wise Ensemble celebrates Women in Jazz through Saturday, March 15 at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: “Unbroken Chain,” celebrating the life and music of the Grateful Dead’s late Phil Lesh, streams live at 8 p.m. through Monday. March 17 for Port Chester, New York, for subscribers to nugs.net. Performers include Grahame Lesh & Friends, Oteil Burbridge, Eric Krasno and more.
• Virtual: “The Past is a Grotesque Animal,” a documentary about the band of Montreal, screens at 8 p.m. via veeps.com.
• Virtual: The Disco Biscuits stream live from Sayreville, New Jersey, at 8 p.m. and again on Saturday, March 15, for subscribers to nugs.net.
SATURDAY, MARCH 15
• The Detroit Symphony Orchestra hosts a pair of family shows, starting with the duo Fox & Branch at 10 a.m. in The Cube and followed by Gold Rush: An American Music Adventure in Orchestra Hall. 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• The “Travelin’ Man” Bob Seger exhibition wraps up at the Detroit Historical Museum with a 6 p.m. reception, panel discussion and auction for the photos. 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-833-1805 or detroithistorical.org.
• Troubadour Chris Trapper performs at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• New York hardcore heroes Agnostic Front play a sold-out show at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. Murphy’s Law and Violent Way also perform. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Narrow/Arrow takes aim at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. Petalwave, Swanton and Homes also perform. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• DJ Minx hosts “House Your Life” at 9 p.m. at Spot Lite, 2905 Beaufait St., Detroit. paxahau.com.
• Dino Munaco and Disc Jockey George man the decks at the Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 8 p.m. 313-833-9700 or majesticdetroit.com.
• Dan Flashes and the Patterns, the Bob Seger tribute side project of Michigan Rattlers, hit at 8:30 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Dirty Dancing in Concert recreates music from the hit film at 7:30 p.m. at the Macomb Center, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 586-286-2222 or macombcenter.com.
• Bobby Pennock and the Big Fluffy Band play at 8 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. Rachel Lynn opens. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• The Taylor Party takes care of the Swifties at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 8 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Ten Years Gone presents its tribute to Led Zeppelin at 8 p.m. at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• Tributes abound with Mothers Butter (Clutch), NIB (Black Sabbath and Ko No Yokan (Deftones) at 7 p.m. at the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.
• The Steel Wheels roll into Ann Arbor at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St. Greg Loftus opens. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• The Flashpoint Quintet plays a late set at 10:30 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
SUNDAY, MARCH 16
• The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players present a new production of The Mikado at 4 p.m. at the Macomb Center, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 586-286-2222 or macombcenter.com.
• Heavy rockers Helmet play a sold-out show celebrating the 30th anniversary of its album “Betty” at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. Slomosa and War On Women also perform. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.
• Long Island rock quartet Macseal is at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 6 p.m. Carly Cosgrove and Buffchick are also on the bill. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• Pasadena R&B singer Fana Hues comes to El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• The Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie Record show takes place at 11 a.m. at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Billy King and Sister Siren close the weekend at 7:30 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• Grammy Award-nominated jazz vocalist Jazzmeia Horn sings at 6 and 8:30 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
