Greil Marcus rocked the intersection of tunes and words

Given his rep as one of America’s leading cultural intellectuals, one might expect Greil Marcus to be an intimidating presence. But the acclaimed rock critic and historian was funny, approachable and down-to-earth during his Thursday night appearance.

Marcus came to the Old Town School of Folk Music to talk about his latest book, “The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll in Ten Songs,” published by Yale University Press. Providing musical accompaniment were Jon Langford and Sally Timms, members of the British punk band the Mekons. Presented in partnership with the Poetry Foundation, the show was an engaging mix of conversation, songs and readings. The three sat on chairs on the stage and turned the venue into a 21st century salon.

One of the country’s seminal rock critics, Marcus’s many respected works — including his influential 1975 book “Mystery Train” — are deep and wide-ranging meditations on art and culture. Continuing to write with fresh insight, Marcus’ latest book avoids a traditional telling of the history of rock ‘n’ roll and instead considers the art form through the work of artists ranging from the famous to the obscure.

Dressed in a dark suit jacket and wearing his trademark spectacles, Marcus was a gentle, articulate presence who drove his critical observations home with the enthusiasm of a genuine music fan. “Songs move through time in ways that can never be anticipated,” he said, launching into an elegant analysis of various versions of “Money (That’s What I Want).”

The evening was peppered with humorous observations. As he spoke about “Shake Some Action” by the Flamin’ Groovies, Marcus noted that the band had “a name so stupid it’s embarrassing to say out loud.”

Langford and Timms, who have long called Chicago home, were on hand to musically illustrate a number of Marcus’ song choices. The two sang a tender rendition of “To Know Him Is to Love Him.” Timms read a passage from Marcus’ book about Joy Division’s “Transmission” before performing a bracing version of the song.

A number of artists these days have offered hybrid shows that combine music and storytelling, including punk icon Patti Smith and country star Wynonna Judd. It’s a welcome trend. With his thoughtful and entertaining presentation, Marcus joins those ranks as an author who lets his audience in on the conversation.

ctc-arts@tribpub.com

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