Patti Smith and Her Band

Poet, punk progenitor, rock 'n' roll survivor: there's only one Patti Smith. The 66-year-old singer proved that she's lost none of her intensity – or her compassion – on last year's impressive Banga album, which included a song dedicated to the victims of the Tohoku disaster. In keeping with that sentiment, her first proper Japan tour in a decade kicks off with a gig in Sendai, followed by a pair of all-ages shows here in Tokyo.