Washington Blade Music en-us http://washblade.com/rss 2009 - Washington Blade: The Gay and Lesbian News Source of Record - D.C. and National Gay News, Entertainment and Opinion Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EDT Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EDT editor@washblade.com A gay ole' time
Kate Clinton, John Waters among upcoming acts at Birchmere
By Jaimie Schock
Friday, November 06, 2009
“A couple of straight guys” are hard at work booking gay musicians and performers at Alexandria's venerable Birchmere Music Hall.

Promoter Michael Jaworek and Gary Oelze, the Birchmere Music Hall's owner, have put together a schedule of top-notch performers, several of whom are lesbian or gay. Jaworek, a 20-year veteran at the Hall with experience at other venues, handles much of the booking and artist scheduling.

One of the upcoming acts is Kate Clinton, who has been a professional comedian for the last 28 years, telling jokes from a lesbian and Catholic perspective. Her partner Urvashi Vaid was executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task For ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/11-6/arts/music/15492.cfm Fri, 6 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST Diva-fest
Madonna milks the hits, Babs bores and Mimi's hit and miss
By Joey DiGuglielmo
Friday, September 25, 2009
It's a big music week on the diva front — Barbra Streisand, who only records intermittently these days, is out with “Love is the Answer,” her first album in four years; the pleasantly prolific Mariah Carey is out with “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel”; and Madonna's “Celebration” is a greatest hits double album with two new tracks. All three dropped Tuesday.

Mariah and Madonna are on an interesting trajectory. Though they're wildly different artists who started in different eras, they seem to have been lumped together as competitors by many observers who enjoy “Celebrity Death Match”-type record tallying. Two years ago, their las ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/9-25/arts/music/15271.cfm Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EST Betty rebounds
Big life changes mark lesbian band's return after five years
By Rebecca Armendariz
Friday, September 18, 2009
Breast cancer, babies and a heavy involvement with Show-time's now-retired lesbian drama series “The L Word” have kept the ladies of Betty busy. The group hasn't released an album since 2004's “Snowbiz,” but the wait may be worth it — guitarist and vocalist Elizabeth Ziff says new album “Bright and Dark” is “the shit.”

The album was recorded as Ziff, who plays in the band with her sister Amy, cellist, and bassist Alyson Palmer, underwent chemotherapy treatments. Both Ziffs are lesbians. Palmer is straight and married with two kids.

“They basically had to prop me up as I sang. It's all sort of a blur to me,&rd ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/9-18/arts/music/15179.cfm Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EST Notes to consider
Betty, Mika, Streisand, others plan fall albums
By Rebecca Armendariz
Friday, September 11, 2009
Pop music will reign again after this fall's slew of notable releases, which include Madonna's long-awaited “Celebration,” Mariah Carey's intriguingly titled “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel” and Nelly Furtado's “Mi Plan.”

“Celebration,” Madonna's third greatest hits album, comes out Sept. 29. The tracklist for the two-disc collection was chosen by Madonna and her fans, and features hits like “Frozen,” “Ray of Light” and “Lucky Star,” along with the new title track and “Revolver,” which features Lil' Wayne.

Mariah Carey will release “Memoirs …,” her 12th stud ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/9-11/arts/music/15155.cfm Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EST We look to Houston
Pop legend's much-heralded return disappointingly bland, safe
By Joey DiGuglielmo
Friday, September 04, 2009
Great singers who smoke cigarettes are an odd lot. I can appreciate the buzz of a cigarette as much as any tobacco lover but if my singing voice were my claim to fame, I'd manage to abstain.

Whitney Houston, who's smoked for years, is perhaps the most prominent example of a golden-voiced chanteuse who smokes unapologetically. And it's the question on everyone's lips as she released her first album in six years this week: Is the voice still there?

In the '80s, of course, she was in a league of her own. Even Streisand sounded lame by comparison. But now that the world's heard Celine Dion, LeAnn Rimes and Jennifer Hudson while Houston kept smoking and waiting eons between ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/9-4/arts/music/15108.cfm Fri, 4 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EST 'Life and Times' of Bob Mould
Gay singer playing Birchmere same day new record drops
By Rebecca Armendariz
Friday, April 03, 2009
Bob Mould's 2009 is of anniversaries. It's been 30 years since he and his former Hüsker Dü bandmates began playing together and 20 since the release of his inaugural solo album, “Workbook.”

Mould, who's openly gay, revisits the lyrics-first songwriting technique he developed for “Workbook” on his latest release, “The Life and Times,” which drops Tuesday, the same day he'll play the Birchmere. He describes the method as “improvising music on top of the randomness of the words.”

Despite the hint of a personal history in the title of his ninth record and its arrival during this commemorative period, “The Life ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/4-3/arts/music/14311.cfm Fri, 3 Apr 2009 05:00:00 EST Sounds of spring
Indigo Girls, Pansy Division, Clarkson prep new albums
By Rebecca Armendariz
Friday, March 06, 2009
This spring continues 2009's trend for scattered gay and gay-friendly album releases.

Kelly Clarkson, easily the biggest musical success to come out of “American Idol,” kicks off the season on Tuesday with “All I Ever Wanted,” her fourth album.

The Grammy Award-winning modern diva returns to the sound of 2004's hit “Since U Been Gone” on first single “My Life Would Suck Without You,” an indication that she knows what she does best.

Big, processed drum beats and booming, confident choruses are featured prominently throughout. Two of those songs, “I Do Not Hook Up” and the growling “Whyyawanna ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/3-6/arts/music/14183.cfm Fri, 6 Mar 2009 05:00:00 EST Live on stage
Gay-friendly acts playing D.C. this spring
By Joey DiGuglielmo
Friday, March 06, 2009
The spring's Washington-area concert season features a robust lineup of gay and gay-friendly acts. Some, like Ani DiFranco and comedian Kathy Griffin, are road warriors. Others, like straight pop tart Britney Spears and a reunited No Doubt, are touring for the first time in several years.

Here are a few to make note of:

Tonight, lesbian acoustic blues band Saffire plays the Birchmere in Alexandria, Va., at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. Visit www.birthmere.com for more information.

Tonight and Saturday, Ani DiFranco plays the 9:30 club at 8 p.m. Tickets for tonight's show are sold out but as of ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/3-6/arts/music/14184.cfm Fri, 6 Mar 2009 05:00:00 EST Something old, something new
Lennox adds two new tracks to solo collection; Morrissey rebounds
By Rebecca Armendariz
Friday, February 20, 2009
Legendary diva and former Eurythmics member Annie Lennox has been releasing music for almost 30 years, but only now is she releasing her first greatest hits compilation, “The Annie Lennox Collection.”

The Scottish singer and songwriter's accolades include four Grammys, an Oscar and a Golden Globe. She began her career with Dave Stewart in 1977, first in the Tourists, then the Eurythmics (the duo's output has been anthologized and also remastered/re-released).

This new disc spans only her solo career, which began in the early 1990s and has been highly sporadic — Lennox has only released four solo albums in the 17 years since 1992's “Diva” ( ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/2-20/arts/music/14110.cfm Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:00:00 EST Liza's legacy
Double album captures studio performances of her Palace set
By Brent Minor
Friday, February 13, 2009
I was fortunate to see Liza Minnelli make her triumphant return to Mama's stomping grounds in December with “Liza's at the Palace.” A double album of studio versions of the songs performed at the shows was released last week, though it was also being sold at the shows.

Liza opened with “Teach Me Tonight,” a standard from the '50s she's done before. Her voice was clear, strong and bright. She seemed thrilled to be back on stage though she had a slight problem catching her breath throughout the show. Thankfully it didn't interfere with what was an amazing performance.

Liza inherited the ability — Judy also had it — of making the person ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/2-13/arts/music/14079.cfm Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:00:00 EST Gay Grammy winner releases solo debut
Alber's soaring vocals can't salvage amateur production values
By Rebecca Armendariz
Friday, February 06, 2009
Matt Alber sat at a crossroads with all the tools he needed to create an album of original material — a familiarity with the process of recording, an award-winning vocal talent and musical prowess.
Unfortunately, he took a path littered with noticeably amateur production values and painful song topics and lyric choices.

When Alber extends the length of his notes, he sounds almost identical to gay crooner Rufus Wainwright. But his skills extend beyond holding a note — he's a classically trained soprano with the voice of a beautiful, gay angel. Had he used his extra bit of vocal talent correctly, his first record, “End of the World,” may have elevated th ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/2-6/arts/music/14036.cfm Fri, 6 Feb 2009 05:00:00 EST Breaking ground?
New musical chapters for Kylie, Franz not radical departures
By Rebecca Armendariz
Friday, January 30, 2009
Two new albums from across the pond were released this week: Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand's third full-length CD, “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand” and “Boombox,” a remix album from Aussie pop star Kylie Minogue. Both work to revamp an established sound — Franz with delicate adjustments and Kylie with complete overhauls of old tunes.

Gay fans revere Franz Ferdinand for its members' tight pants, gender-bending lyrics (see “Michael” from the band's 2004 debut) and sexually charged performances. Kylie's hosted gay festivals and performed at hip London nightclubs, which has led to her undisputed reputation as a fabulous diva.

Both rec ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/1-30/arts/music/14010.cfm Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:00:00 EST Darkness and 'Light'
Cult fave Antony out with eerie, string-laden wonder
By Rebecca Armendariz
Friday, January 16, 2009
Fans have been salivating over Antony and the Johnsons' impending third record since 2005. Antony Hegarty, the enigmatic and esteemed Mercury Prize-winning singer and composer, will finally release “The Crying Light” Tuesday.

The record starts with “Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground,” an eerie and bare-bones opener punctuated by a short, harmonious chorus and ended by a minute-long string composition. Antony mourns the loss of his mother and can still feel her presence. He comforts her spirit, telling her to “rest assured your love is pure.”

The full orchestral arrangement of the album was conceived by Antony and young, contemporar ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/1-16/arts/music/13910.cfm Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:00:00 EST Anthologies to anticipate
Several 'best of' collections likely to be gay faves in '09
By
Friday, January 09, 2009
This year is already seeing some exciting new music releases. Gays will get “best of” collections, new material and remix albums to add to their collections this year.

On Tuesday, a new disc of Judy Garland's “Love Songs” will find a place in fans' collections. The tracks all come from the soundtracks of “The Judy Garland Show,” her musical variety television series that aired from 1963-'64. The compilation features old standards like “From This Moment On,” “Come Rain or Come Shine” and “The Nearness of You.”

Another compilation, “Playlist: The Very Best of the Indigo Girls,” will be rel ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/1-9/arts/music/13886.cfm Fri, 9 Jan 2009 05:00:00 EST High notes
It wasn't just the divas who dominated the iPods of gay music fans this year
By REBECCA ARMENDARIZ
Friday, January 02, 2009
Musically, this year began as one of the mopey, alternative gay man, but then saw a period of releases from notable lesbian singer-songwriters, and later, diva comebacks. The good releases were great, and the bad, though few, were abysmal.

First, the large quantity of good news. Bob Mould and Mark Eitzel of American Music Club, two veteran indie rockers, put out commendable records with updated sounds. With signature motifs established in the 1990s, both artists must sound fresh to gain any sort of recognition. Mould spins dance tracks locally at the monthly dance party Blowoff, but produced guitar-heavy, catchy rock on “The District Line,” while Eitzel and co. poetica ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2009/1-2/arts/music/13863.cfm Fri, 2 Jan 2009 05:00:00 EST Whimsical worlds
Scottish rockers Belle & Sebastian out with new anthology
By REBECCA ARMENDARIZ
Friday, December 26, 2008
Swedish twee rockers Belle & Sebastian create whimsical worlds with lovable characters and engaging narratives. Lead singer Stuart Murdoch's signature lilt climbs high over lush instrumentation that includes horns, strings and varied percussion. Queer-themed subjects are not uncommon in the band's repertoire.

As a treat to longtime fans and a chance for new ones to peruse a selection of their vast catalogue, the seven-piece band has compiled songs they recorded for the BBC for two discs dubbed “The BBC Sessions.” The recordings span 1996 to 2001, a time when the band rarely performed live.

These recordings are different from the studio versions in many ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/12-26/arts/music/13835.cfm Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:00:00 EST Godfather of gay rap
Tori Fixx takes on hip-hop, gay relationships in 'Couture'
By RYAN LEE
Friday, December 19, 2008
HIP-HOP ARTISTS ARE BUILT on bravado, whether they're rapping about how many guns and greenbacks they own, or doing battle with other emcees for commercial supremacy.

Many assume gay men are too soft to fit into hip hop's hyper-masculine culture, but one of the godfathers of gay hip-hop goes to battle with the industry itself on his latest CD.

In “Couture,” rapper Tori Fixx shows how ironic it is that a musical genre that requires a strong backbone idolizes tepid artists who aren't bold enough to rap about anything but their car rims and white T-shirts, while marginalizing gay rappers like Fixx who show real bravery by not letting their commercial aspiratio ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/12-19/arts/music/13776.cfm Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:00:00 EST

By
Friday, November 28, 2008
... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/11-28/arts/music/ Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:00:00 EST Beyoncé gets 'Fierce'
Hitmaker unveils alter ego with new double album
By REBECCA ARMENDARIZ
Friday, November 21, 2008
Beyoncé doesn't wear make-up. Sasha Fierce, on the other hand, lines her eyes in black Sharpie. Beyoncé's lips are naturally plump, but Sasha Fierce has seemingly paid for a few collagen injections. Beyoncé puts her hair in a simple ponytail, while Sasha Fierce lets her locks flow wildly.
 
If the last name of Beyoncé's alter ego doesn't tip off listeners to what she's going for with her latest record and assumed persona, nothing will. With “I Am … Sasha Fierce,” we find this freshly married diva offering inspired performances as evidence of a push to new creative heights.

Lead track and first singles “If I Were a ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/11-21/arts/music/13618.cfm Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:00:00 EST 'Promise' keeper
Dance diva Deborah Cox returns to her R&B roots
By BUCK C. COOKE
Friday, November 14, 2008
DEBORAH COX HAS COME home. After a trip through other musical styles, she's released “The Promise,” her first R&B album in six years.

“The R&B fans were the first to embrace me and help me get to where I am today,” she says in an
e-mail interview with Southern Voice, a Blade sister paper. “I have been fortunate enough to be able to explore other genres of music, but I really missed doing R&B and thought it was time to return to it.”

For “The Promise,” Cox brings back a silky-smooth sound to her music. The lead single, “Did You Ever Love Me,” has a romantic vibe that stands in contrast to the ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/11-14/arts/music/13589.cfm Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:00:00 EST