Barlow to Lead Smith Tribute

Lou Barlow will front a tribute to Elliott Smith during what would have been Smith's time slot at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Los Angeles on November 9th.

Backed by members of Smith's band, Barlow will cover six of the late singer-songwriter's songs in addition to covering a song by the Minders, a Portland, Oregon, band that Smith admired. Minders frontman Martyn Leaper will also join the group.

Other guests are expected to be announced this week. The All Tomorrow's Parties fest starts November 8th and runs two days.

Smith, who took his own life on October 21st, was also the subject of a tribute show last night at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, with friends and admirers covering Smith's songs. Beck performed "Clementine," John Doe covered "Rose Parade," and Beth Orton offered her version of "No Name No. 3." Papa M, Rilo Kiley and the Radar Brothers were among the other performers. The show was recorded for a future CD release.

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Song Stories

“Too Close”

Next | 1998

Next was formed in Minneapolis when the uncle of Terry "T-Low" and Raphael "Tweety" Brown, who was a gospel choir director, introduced the brothers to Robert Lavelle "R.L." Huggar. Sounds of Blackness singer Ann Nesby groomed the R&B group before handing them over to Naughty by Nature's KayGee, who wrote and produced "Too Close." The idea for the song was sparked "from a conversation we had with several girls at a nightclub," explained T-Low. "It's talking about the club scene, with guys getting out of hand and the female telling him to back up, asking, 'What are you doing?'" 

More Song Stories entries »

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