Solar-Powered ‘NRG’ Source Comes to Virgin

The 28-foot mobile generator that provided juice for rock’s first solar-powered album, “Alternative NRG,” will be on display today from noon to 4 p.m. at the Virgin MegaStore at Triangle Square on Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa. Also on hand will be Dave Wakeling, the English Beat/General Public singer (and Dana Point resident) who spearheaded the recording project, a benefit for the environmental group Greenpeace. The album features 16 tracks by such acts as R.E.M., U2, Midnight Oil, Sonic Youth and Annie Lennox, most of them recorded live with equipment powered by the specially designed solar unit. UB40’s contribution, “Sing Our Own Song,” was recorded in August at Irvine Meadows. (714) 645-9906.

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Listeners of KUCI-FM (88.9) are being asked to help with the expenses of the nonprofit, student-run station based at UC Irvine. An on-air fund drive begins Monday at noon and will continue nonstop through midday Feb. 14. The station is offering goodies such as mugs, T-shirts and dinners to listeners who pledge $25 or more. (714) 856-6868.

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Steve Jacobs of the Swamp Zombies spent an interesting New Year’s Eve in Hamburg, Germany, playing an opening set with his own band, then serving as pickup bass player and backup singer for alternative-rock cult hero Alex Chilton.

Chilton had flown over by himself to play the club gig and was looking for a rhythm section. Jacobs volunteered, rehearsed five or six songs before the show, had dinner with Chilton and then joined him for a set of the rehearsed material and some off-the-cuff numbers.

The eccentric but greatly engaging Chilton has been celebrated by Paul Westerberg, the Posies, Teen Age Fanclub and many other young rockers who cite his overlooked 1970s band Big Star as a major smart-pop influence.

“I’d never even heard of Big Star before I’d played with him,” Jacobs confessed. “I knew the Box Tops (the ‘60s band Chilton fronted in his teen-idol days) and had heard some of his solo stuff. I kept asking him to do ‘The Letter’ (a No. 1 hit for the Box Tops in 1967), but he wouldn’t do it. He’s a really nice guy, down to earth, and I had a lot of fun playing with him. He even gave me some money after the show: 100 marks.”