Elliott Smith would have turned 43 years old on August 6, 2012. Before he passed away in 2003, the singer-songwriter became a staple of Portland's music scene by penning deft folk-pop songs that possessed moments of vulnerability with which we can all identfy. An introverted spirit, Smith's voice--often fragile, and yet at times strikingly confident--yielded both intriguing stories and emotional soul-baring. Not typically one for the spotlight, his focus on music made Smith a very special indivudal.

To coincide with the recent Denver premiere of the independent documentary "Searching For Elliott Smith", a crop of Colorado musicians fetched their instruments and covered their favorite Elliott Smith songs in tribute to the late musician. The local Sacred Chao Productions has released recorded versions of these covers, which include music by Poet's Row, Eldren, Chella Negro and more. 

Kyle James Hauser has also released a video with his rendition of Smith's "Somebody That I Used To Know". It's a (surprisingly) slower version that features the local musician's voice at the forefront, accentuated by only his signature banjo plucking. Tune in to OpenAir to hear more of these local Elliott Smith covers.