Patti Smith Exhibits at the Atheneum
As an artist, Patti Smith is nothing if not multi-disciplanary. She began as a poet. She hung around with Robert Mapplethorpe. I read her as a rock critic in magazines…
Gaga, Grammys and L.L.
Staging a concert to announce the Grammys, as the National Society of Recording Arts and Sciences have done for four years now, all but admits that the most important thing…
Tree, Beiber, Both Light Up
Santa Claus hasn’t appeared on the “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” treelighting special in years. But another magical man who can cover a lot of ground in one night did stop…
Dave Alvin, Back at the Birchmere
Deep-voiced Dave Alvin, 56, dresses like a full-on cowboy in his shows, with a big hat, bandana and windswept song powered by a strong and tight band. For a show…
Ray Davies: Getting the Kinks Out in Silver Spring
Ray Davies so unlikes saying the word Kinks in his solo shows, he kids on stage that he fines himself $5 each time he utters it, giving the money the…
Remembering Heavy D, 1967-2011
Forty-four is an awful early age to check out, but that’s what happened to Heavy D Tuesday, collapsing outside his Beverly Hills home. When I last spoke to him, 17…
Also Tonight: ‘Pearl Jam 20’ on PBS
“American Masters” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) is always eager to seem up to date. But the TV premiere of “Pearl Jam Twenty” tonight only shows they’re only a…
A Bad Review for Bob Dylan, Artist
It was 50 years ago last month when a New York Times critic gave a big boost to Bob Dylan, effectively kickstarting his music career. But it was quite a…
The Mekons at the Iota
The Mekons are back out on the road in what they are calling an acoustic tour. But what that really means, they showed at the Iota in Arlington, Va., Thursday,…
VH1’s 100 Top Songs of the ’00s
Think rock and roll isn’t dead? Then get a load of the new list of “The 100 Greatest Songs of the ‘00s.” No rock band makes an apperance until No.…