There is more than one way to be blown away by a musical performance, to be inspired and moved and enthralled. I know of at least two ways, because last weekend, Oxford was treated to two disparate but equally engaging performances, each of which is already in my personal and imaginary Hall of Legendary Shows.

Friday night, troubadour Peter Rowan rolled into town armed only with a guitar and a rental car. His early evening performance to a seated and attentive crowd at Proud Larrys’ was downright mesmerizing. He deftly displayed a sampling of his vast repertoire, utilizing jaw-dropping fingerpicking, inventive alternate tunings and a captivating voice that was at times soothing, plaintive and introspective. Rowan’s yodeling howl during “Land of the Navaho” provided the kind of moment for which the phrase “chill-bumps” was invented.

He breezed through a medley of tunes from Old & In The Way, his classic collaboration with Jerry Garcia, David Grisman and Vassar Clements. He was unwavering in tackling the topical. He tipped his hat to “Panama Red” and the “Dust Bowl Children.” He regaled with tales of the “Free Mexican Air Force” and generally delighted the crowd with his imagery-laden lyrical lessons. Like the protagonist of his tune “Tumbleweed,” he left our town in better spirits than he found it.

The next night the same venue was treated to a radically different, but equally enthralling, evening. Swedish garage-rock sensations The Hives, in town to record their new album with producer Dennis Herring (Modest Mouse, Elvis Costello), chose Proud Larrys’ as the locale of a birthday celebration for front man Howlin’ Pelle Aliquots. Unlike the previous night, the crowd was not docile and seated. In fact, they were a rowdy, swaying mass before the band even took the stage, following chants of “Hives! Hives! Hives!” The place was electric.

The band spewed forth with a frenetic, high-energy performance of sheer intensity, Almqvist cajoling the crowd every step of the way, leading his band through their cathartic paces while jumping on speaker cabinets, hanging from the lighting rig and swigging beers handed to him from audience members. Decked out in their trademark black-and-white-only suits, the band showed a sense of humor as they played up the Egomaniacal Rock Star angle, Almqvist commenting at one point that all the songs left on the set list were great, and coaxing the audience to (willingly) sing happy birthday to him at least twice. They ended the night sprawled out on South Lamar Avenue, signing autographs for the fans.

Two nights, two awe-inspiring but completely different performances by big-name artists, and it happened right here in our so-called quaint little town. It is the weekends like this that make me feel like I’m living in a movie.

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My one music pick this issue is a no-brainer: the long-awaited, highly anticipated return of Oxford’s legendary and beloved Blue Mountain on June 8 & 9 at Proud Larrys’. These reunion concerts are just two of a select few dates the band has announced. Blue Mountain has been a pivotal group in the history of the Oxford music community, and this show should be a grand celebration of it, with both catharsis and reverence. .