Because commercial radio found his songs too long or too offensive, massive stardom often eluded folk hero Arlo Guthrie. Still, the celebrated troubadour's catalog helped define a generation. The offspring of folk icon Woody Guthrie, Arlo is perhaps best known for his 1967 hit "Alice's Restaurant," the 18-plus-minute Vietnam war-protest paean that inspired the subsequent Arthur Penn feature. Of course, he also penned similarly ubiquitous tunes like "City of New Orleans" and "The Motorcycle Song," and his covers and collabs with artists like Pete Seeger and his dad rivaled the originals. Expect a slate of revolution tunes tonight, as Guthrie hits UCLA armed with two guitars, a harmonica, and his legendary, razor-sharp wit.
– Julian Hooper