Fri. Nov. 21

 Robyn Hitchcock didn't exactly disagree with the frequent comparisons to Pink Floyd's skewed genius Syd Barrett - see item on "Rock 'n' Roll" - but he got rather tired talking about it, oh, 20 years ago. I saw him at the Paradise and we had a great post-show chat and he reeled off what he thought were some of the ho-hum reference points people kept making about his music. I had to laugh. I'd been guilty of most all of them in my writing for the Globe. Fact is, Hitchcock, formerly of the Soft Boys, does have a knack for gorgeous, but somewhat strange, melodies and lyrics that take many a surreal twist. Not just to mess with your mind, but to take you to that other place that really good psychedelic music does. Now that the eccentric Brit has been practicing his trade for three decades or so, he's become a sort of beloved treasure. You can count on the man for his quick wit on stage and his catalog of strange-but-wonderful songs. On Friday Nov. 21, Hitchcock does take a step backwards in that he's playing, among many other songs, the entirety of his "I Often Dream of Trains" LP, done back in 1984. This is a trend. Might have been started by Cheap Trick when they p played their first three albums on successive nights more than a few years back. Picked up by many others, including Evan Dando and whatever version of the Lemonheads he assembled when he did "It's a Shame About Ray." But Hitchcock's choice is, let's face it, sublime and even if he follows form - you know, play the things "straight" - it's not likely to be a trip to Nostalgiaville, but a living vital entity given a sound, loving massage. Bonus note: Director Jonathan Demme is a big fan of Hitchcock, filming a concert movie for him ("Storefront Hitchcock"), putting him in his remake of "The Manchurian Candidate" and featuring him as the offbeat wedding singer-guitarist in his latest film "Rachel Getting Married." The rangy Hitch has become an eminence grise - I think that means he's wise and has gray hair - and a continuing joy for all who valued the good parts of post-punk music. At the Somerville Theatre with a show at 7:30. Tickets: $26.50.

55 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville, 617-931-2000 www.ticketmaster.com