Music & Concerts

Two indie singers join forces for D.C. show

Published

15 years ago

January 29, 2010

A Washington-based gay indie singer/songwriter is joining forces with one of his West Coast counterparts for a D.C. concert and mini tour next weekend.

Tom Goss, who lives in Columbia Heights but spends most of the year on the road, met Matt Alber last May when Goss was performing in Los Angeles, where Alber lives. Though their styles are different — Goss gravitated toward hook-laden pop confections on last year’s “Back to Love” album while Alber is a retro-influenced, electronica-doused crooner — they discovered in each other a mutual admiration society.

“I knew who he was already,” Goss says. “The gay singer/songwriter circles are so small, we all kind of know of each other. Matt’s been kind of one of these people who really broke out in the scene in 2009. He’s got such an amazing instrument in his voice and he touched a lot of people, including me.”

Alber, who enjoyed a Grammy-winning stint in the San Francisco-based classical group Chanticleer, found widespread gay acclaim last year for his video “End of the World,” a “Mad Men”-esque, vintage-looking video in which the singer finds unlikely romance in a barber shop. It won an OutMusic Award and is from his solo album, “Hide Nothing.”

They’re sharing the bill on two Feb. 6 concerts in Washington at DeLaski Theater in Adams Morgan. The 8 p.m. show sold out so a 5 p.m. show was added. Tickets (tomgossmusic.com/store) are $20.

Alber, during a break from a commercial recording session in L.A., says he’s excited about co-headlining with Goss.

“I really admire Tom on a lot of levels,” he says. “He’s brave enough to do this full time and that’s been a challenge for me. How do you sing songs for a living? It’s kind of a leap of faith. But Tom did that early on and he’s a huge inspiration.”

The somewhat unlikely duo, who’ll also play Baltimore and Norfolk, Va., next week, say the concert will feature collaborations on each other’s material, something Goss is excited about.

“We’re both individual artists and do our own thing and fans love that, but it’s boring playing by yourself if your songs always have the same dynamics,” he says.

Goss is just catching his breath after a whirlwind 2009. He sold about 2,500 copies of his “Back to Love” album, which went into a second pressing, and performed 130 shows in 80 cities. His only regret is spending so much time away from his partner, Mike Briggs. They postponed their wedding last fall because Goss was gone too often to make plans, but a new date is set. They plan to wed Oct. 2 in Washington.

Goss has a four-track EP of political songs set to drop in April. He wrote them in various modes of disgust after several same-sex marriage setbacks last year.

Related Topics:Adams Morgan Back to Love Chanticleer DeLaski Theater Matt Alber Tom Goss

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Music & Concerts

Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’

Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Published

2 hours ago

May 2, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Singer Tom Goss is back. (Photo by Dusti Cunningham)

Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.

For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.

Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

4 weeks ago

April 5, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Kylie Minogue visits D.C. on Tuesday.

Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her acclaimed “Tension” world tour to D.C. next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.

The show features songs spanning her long career, from 1987 debut single, “The Loco-Motion,” to “Padam, Padam” from her album, “Tension.”

Music & Concerts

Busy season for live music in D.C.

Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring

Published

2 months ago

March 14, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Cynthia Erivo plays WorldPride in D.C. on June 7. (Photo courtesy of World Pride)

One sure sign of spring’s arrival is the fresh wave of live music coming to Washington. With more than 10 venues and a diverse lineup of artists, the city offers no shortage of live performances for the new season.

In addition to this impressive list, don’t forget the many artists coming to town for WorldPride, May 17-June 8. In addition to headliner Cynthia Erivo performing on Saturday, June 7 at the two-day street festival and concert, many other performers will be in town. Jennifer Lopez, Troye Sivan, and RuPaul are among the featured performers at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds, June 6-7. Visit WorldPrideDC.org for a list of other performers.

MARCH

Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Mary J. Blige will take the stage at Capital One Arena on March 26 for her For My Fans tour. Two days later, on March 28, J Balvin will also perform at Capital One Arena for his Back to the Rayo tour.

The Lincoln Theatre will host the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for three performances—one on March 15 and two on March 16.

If dance parties are more your vibe, you’re in luck. DC9 is hosting a series of themed dance parties this month, starting with Poker Face: 2000s + Dance Party on March 14, the ever-popular Peach Pit ’90s dance party on March 15, H.O.T.S.: A Sapphic Dance Party on March 22, and RageRiot!—a burlesque and drag revue featuring a lineup of local drag kings, queens, and everything in between on March 29.

APRIL

Australian queen of pop Kylie Minogue will bring her Tension tour to Capital One Arena on April 8, with British dance artist Romy as her special guest.

Indie singer-songwriter mxmtoon will stop in D.C. for their Liminal Space tour on April 4 at the 9:30 club, followed by indie rock band Gossip on April 5. The 9:30 club will also host two dance parties in April: Gimme Gimme Disco – a dance party inspired by ABBA on April 11 and Broadway Rave on April 18.

The Atlantis will feature Brooklyn-based indie rock band Pom Pom Squad on April 2.

Comedy duo Two Dykes and a Mic will bring their Going Hog Wild tour to the Howard Theatre on April 19.

DC9 has two dance parties lined up this month: Bimbo Night on April 4, hosted by Baltimore’s “premier red-tattooed Filipina diva” Beth Amphetamine, and Aqua Girls: A QTBIPOC Dance Party on April 5, celebrating “queer transcendence through music, movement, and community.”

The Anthem will welcome a lineup of big names in April, starting with Alessia Cara on April 8. Lucy Dacus will take the stage on April 18 and 19 for her Forever Is a Feeling tour, while funky pop artist Remi Wolf will headline on April 27, joined by special guests Dana and Alden.

MAY

Indie-pop artist Miya Folick will bring her Erotica Veronica tour to The Atlantis on May 1, followed by multi-genre musician SASAMI on May 2. Pop artist Snow Wife will close out the month at The Atlantis on May 31 as part of an official WorldPride 2025 event.

Queer rock band Lambrini Girls will perform at the Howard Theatre on May 4, while rock trio L.A. Witch will take the stage at DC9 on May 12.

Union Stage will feature Rachel Platten on May 3 for her Set Me Free tour, followed by Femme Fatale: A Queer Dance Party later that night.

The popular DJ festival Project Glow will return to RFK Stadium grounds on May 31 and June 1.

JUNE

Pride month kicks off with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Trixie Mattel, who will perform at Echostage on June 3 as part of a series of official WorldPride 2025 events.

Queer icons Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe will take over The Anthem on June 5 for a WorldPride 2025 event performance.

Perfume Genius will bring his signature sound to the 9:30 club on June 7 as part of WorldPride 2025 festivities. Later in the month, Blondshell will hit the 9:30 club for her If You Asked for a Tour on June 24.