Kevin Bronson on March 21st, 2010

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Power-pop icon Alex Chilton died suddenly of a heart attack on Wednesday at age 59, but his influential ’70s band Big Star shone brightly nonetheless Saturday night at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin. A headlining concert originally scheduled as a reunion show instead became a star-studded tribute to the late songwriter/producer whose work with the Box Tops and Big Star inspired many indie artists, including R.E.M and the Replacements.

Anchored by longtime Big Star drummer Jody Stephens and the two Posies who had joined the latest configuration of Chilton’s band, Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow, the 90-minute show at Antone’s kept it light on the banter and heavy on the group’s catalog. That made for a couple of stirring moments, notably from guests John Doe and Sondre Lerche.

Read the rest of the Big Star tribute coverage here.