FOR PROFESSIONAL REASONS, just a few items today before the regular Friday: CARRIE FISHER's body has been cremated, but some of her ashes will be buried with her late mother, Debbie Reynolds.…

WILLIE NELSON plays "Me And Bobby McGee" in an Austin City Limits tribute to Kris Kristofferson. ANGEL OLSEN stopped by World Cafe for a chat and mini-set. BRIAN ENO is streaming his…

SLEATER-KINNEY rang in the new year by covering George Michael's "Faith" and bowie's "Rebel Rebel," bringing The Thermals and Spoon's Brit Dnaiel for the latter. LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS performed for…

NOT A TON OF POST-HOLIDAY NEWS FOR TODAY….but we have these: WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (SORT OF):  The estimates aren't official, let alone the actuals, but Rogue One threepeats atop the early guesstimates…

THE NEW YEAR STARTS HERE: …with THE BEAT FARMERS!  Making a tradition of this more sober than usual, professionally-shot, early BF gig recorded at Universal Studios, including "There She Goes Again" (VU); "Road to…

JON PRATT played his "Last Hitch" on a  vintage Vega (C-20 from 1938), and wrote about the backstory. MATT POND PA played a Free At Noon concert for WXPN. TEMPLES performed live…

CARRIE FISHER, the actress, author and screenwriter who brought a rare combination of nerve, grit and hopefulness to her most indelible role, as Princess Leia in the Star Wars movie franchise, died…

KURT VILE turned out a holiday version of his "Wakin on a Pretty Day," with Lisa Loeb and others. BON IVER played a full set at Pioneer Works. HONUS HONUS stopped by…

GEORGE MICHAEL, one of pop’s reigning stars in the 1980s and 1990s, in the duo Wham! and on his own, died on Sunday at his home in Goring in Oxfordshire, England. He…

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY STARTS HERE: … with CHRIS ISAAK, live at Universal Studios. Your holiday-themed numbers include "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Hey, Santa," "Last Month of the Year," "Blue Christmas," and "Christmas on…