Elliott Smith

The late singer Elliott Smith would have turned 44 this summer, and despite his death 10 years ago his music remains as beloved as ever. This spirit, which was extinguished when he took his own life in Silver Lake, will be celebrated in August when Smith'...

Once upon a time, record labels were so flush with cash they would send out promotional goodies to newspaper reporters. We're talking posters, stickers, guitar picks, matchbooks, even the occasional condom. Because I'm a music-obsessed packrat, I've...

Is there any kind of music that Bobby McFerrin does not sing? Certainly jazz, blues, spirituals, classical, pop and R&B fell easily in his purview Saturday night at Symphony Center, where the protean musician reminded listeners that there are...

Artists as diverse as Kelly Clarkson, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton and Alan Jackson are among those speaking out about the death today of celebrated singer George Jones. "It's a sad day for country music," said Loretta Lynn, while Paisley noted that Jones'...

The annual music geek holiday known as Record Store Day arrives Saturday, and with it precious rewards for the fans and collectors looking to hold in their hands music that could be easily heard for free on the Internet. That, of course, is missing the...

Comedian Kurt Braunohler has promised, within a matter of minutes, to rearrange the downtown Los Angeles sky. It's 2:23 p.m. and half a dozen people on a recent Saturday crane their necks and squint into the sun as they wait outside a Hill Street high-...

Though far from iconic, the hand-painted sign on the face of downtown music club the Smell has long held a place in the hearts of Los Angeles experimental rock fans. It reads, in big, bold letters, "No Age," and below it, "Weirdo Rippers." Like the Silver...

It's only a rock 'n' roll festival, but evidently they don't like it. Despite a series of suggestions to the contrary, the Rolling Stones will not play the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, according to Rolling Stone magazine, which cited a...

Jenny Owen Youngs w/ Mirah and Jaymay. $12 advance, $14 doors. 7 p.m., Nov. 11. The Space, 295 Treadwell St., Building H, Hamden, (203) 288-6400, thespace.tk.   As a frivolous pop song, "Call Me Maybe" happily aspires to be nothing more than that....

I wanted to turn 23 in Boston. Or maybe I wanted to try to end the 22nd year of my life on a good note — the kind of "good note" that even a maestro would appreciate.   But first I needed to arrange a way to travel from Pennsylvania to...

Best Singer-Songwriter: Becky Kessler Becky Kessler's sound is moody and low, electric, resonant, and influenced by a combination of folks like Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith, Morphine, Chris Whitley, Tom Waits and Nina Simone. She's been in the process...

After years of gaining fans the old fashioned way — self-produced albums, incessant touring — the time came in the summer of 2009 for Dr. Dog to graduate from low-fi psychedelic folk group to a fully formed band, with the confidence to rise...