What do you do when you’re a famous music critic whose well-known book just had its 50th birthday? Throw a party, of course, and invite your equally famous musical friend.
On March 7, Greil Marcus is holding a book talk at Oakland’s California Ballroom to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his 1970s tome, “Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock ‘n’ Roll Music.” A veteran of Rolling Stone and The Village Voice, Marcus has seen his work become a sacred tract for generations of music fans and cultural historians — drilling down on influential acts like Sly Stone, Elvis, The Band and blue singer Robert Johnson. No less than Bruce Springsteen called it his favorite book of all time; it’s also one of Time magazine’s best nonfiction books of the modern era.
Marcus will discuss the book’s legacy and how music still defines much of America’s ideology, along with Daveed Diggs, director of the Oakland-set 2018 film “Blindspotting.” A native of the city, Diggs has a long list of creative accomplishments, from winning a Tony, Grammy and Emmy to appearing in the original “Hamilton” on Broadway. It should be a treat to see what insights these two heavyweights have on something that’s energizes so many lovers of music.
Details: Details: Talk runs 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. March 7 at 1736 Franklin St., Oakland; admission begins at $27, for details visit baybookfest.org/events or search Eventbrite.
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