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Calendar: events through Jan. 15

Plays, concerts, exhibits and more among week’s offerings

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Florence Lacey as Norma Desmond in 'Sunset Blvd.' Signature Theatre, which is hosting a production of the show, is having a special 'Pride Night' at tonight's performance. (Photo by Scott Suchman; courtesy of Signature)

Friday, Jan. 7

D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is having its monthly open mic night tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. This month the event will feature the work of the Brother Tongue poetry workshop participants. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and performers can sign up between 7:30 and 8.

ANNIEthing Goes and friends present “Absolina” a birthday celebration with DJs Zenbi, Charles Martin and vANNIEty kills tonight at 10 at Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club (1103 Bladensberg Rd., N.E.)

RAW, hosted by DJs Bil Todd and Shea Van Horn, will be at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Free entry before 11 p.m. with a $3 cover after. There will be an open bar from 10 to 11 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older.

Metropolitan Community Church of Washington’s fundraising team is hosting a bingo night tonight at 7 p.m. at the church (474 Ridge St., N.W.). The evening begins with four early bird games which costs $2 for four cards or $3 for eight cards. This is followed by 17 regular and special games which are packaged for as low as $25. There will be homemade refreshments available in Mama Cecelia’s kitchen.

The Foundry Gallery (1314 18th St., N.W.) is holding an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. for its newest exhibit “Celebrate Gay Marriage” which is a juried show of regional artists. The reception will feature a performance by Potomac Fever, part of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington. The exhibit will continue through Jan. 30.

Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave.) in Arlington is hosting “Pride Night” tonight featuring a performance of “Sunset Boulevard” followed by a one-hour post-show cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception. The performance begins at 8 p.m. Signature has also teamed up with Fleet Transportation and is offering a shuttle service from Dupont Circle on P Street directly to the theater leaving at 6:30 and returning at 11:30 p.m. Roundtrip tickets for the bus are $5 and tickets to “Pride Night” are $86 and $91. All tickets can be purchased at the theater box office.

Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) and Gloss present First Fridays Ladies Night tonight with music by DJ Rosie in the main room and performances by the D.C. Kings and the D.C. Gurly Show at midnight. There is a $10 cover. Attendees must be 18 or older to enter.

Front Runners is having its monthly happy hour tonight at the Duplex Diner (2004 18th St., N.W.) at 6:30 p.m.

The Dance Party will be at 9:30 Club with Wallpaper, K-Flay, Ra Ra Rasputin and lowercaseletters at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at 930.com.

Saturday, Jan. 8

The planning committee for the D.C. Center’s sixth annual Oscar celebration, “Glamour, Glitter, Gold” is meeting today at 11:30 a.m. at the Center (1318 U St., N.W.). The committee is chaired by Michelle Ross and Timur Tugberk.

City Gallery (804 H St., N.E.) will be holding an opening reception for its newest exhibit “Leaves, Words and Screens” featuring the work of Ronnie Spiewak tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibit will continue through Jan. 29.

Pianist Alexander Paley will be giving a free all-Liszt concert tonight in celebration of what would be Franz Liszt’s 200th birthday at 8 p.m. at Westmoreland Congregational UCC Church (1 Westmoreland Circle) in Bethesda.

Team D.C. will be having an information Q&A session today at 10 a.m. at the Verizon Center. The session is open to anyone, but space is limited. To reserve a space, e-mail Ryan Bos at [email protected].

The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop will host its fifth annual juried photography exhibition and reception today from 5 to 7 p.m. at CHAW (545 7th St., S.E.). The exhibit will feature works from local and regional artists. The show will continue through Feb. 4.

Apex presents Glowing, a fusion of black lights, dayglo paint and glow sticks tonight with DJ Gigi. DJ Michael Brandon will host Caliente, a latin dance party, in the east wing dance lounge. Kristina Kelly and the Girls of Glamour will perform at 11 p.m. There is a $10 cover.

The NSO Teddy Bear Concert: “Fancy That!” will have three performances of a one-woman show with NSO violinist Marissa Regini today at 11 a.m., 1:30 and 5 p.m. in the Kennedy Center’s Family Theatre (2700 F St., N.W.).

Sunday, Jan. 9

LAMBDA SCI-FI, a monthly meeting and social of LGBT science fiction, fantasy and horror fans, will have its annual blind book exchange today at 1:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a snack or a non-alcoholic drink to share. The meeting will be held at 1414 17th St., N.W. For more information call James at 202-232-3141, e-mail to [email protected], or visit the group’s website at lambdascifi.org.

D.C. Kings will be at Phase (525 8th St., S.E.) tonight with “One Hit Wonders.” Doors open at 7 p.m. and the performance begins at 10. There is a $5 cover.

The Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive) is having its free family Sundays with “Collage Wacky Warhol Wigs” today from 2 to 5 p.m. Today is also the last day to view the exhibit “Andy Warhol: The Last Decade.” Tickets to the exhibit range from $15 for adults to $5 for children 6 to 18 years old.

Burgundy Crescent Volunteers will be helping fight hunger in the D.C. area today from 9 a.m. to noon, with D.C. Central Kitchen. Volunteers will help cook, working along chefs who have graduated from the Kitchen’s job training program. No experience is required, just an interest of cooking. The Kitchen provides job skills by using rescued and donated ingredients to teach unemployed and homeless individuals how to cook, then turns this food into free meal services. E-mail [email protected] for more information.

Monday, Jan. 10

The fourth Mid-Atlantic Band Battle IV Preliminaries start tonight at 7 p.m. at Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave., E.) in Vienna. The preliminaries continue through Thursday.

Tuesday, Jan. 11

The Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive) begins “Rest, Restore, Renew,” its winter yoga series, today from 6 to 7:15 p.m. There are six sessions and they are $95 for members and $110 for non-members.

Join Burgundy Crescent Volunteers to help pack safer sex kits from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at FUK!T’s new packing location Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct., N.W.

Wednesday, Jan. 12

The Big Gay Book Group will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at 1155 F St., N.W., Suite 200. The book for discussion will be “Great Speeches on Gay Rights” edited by James Daley. For more information, visit the group’s website biggaybookgroup.com or e-mail [email protected].

Rainbow Response will hold its monthly meeting tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.)

Thursday, Jan. 13

DCBiWomen will be having its monthly dinner at Café Luna (1633 P St., N.W.) tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit dcbiwomen.org.

Exposed Tattoo and Baller Inc., present the D.C. Tattoo Arts Expo starting today at the Crystal City Doubletree Hotel (300 Army Navy Drive) in Arlington with a VIP welcome party in the Sky Dome from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The expo will continue through the weekend, ending Sunday.

Friday, Jan. 14

DJ Joshua and TheNewGay present BALLS! Tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Velvet Lounge (915 U St., N.W.) featuring the debut DJ set of Steve Scarlata. There is no cover for this event. Drink specials include $3 Natty Boh and $4 kamikazes.

Gross National Product returns with “The Sound of Palin” at Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $20 and can be purchased at atlas arts.org.

Saturday, Jan. 15

Blowoff, a dance party featuring gay DJs Bob Mould and Richard Morel, will be at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight. Doors opens at 11:30 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at 930.com.

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Photos

PHOTOS: Pride Run

D.C. Front Runners hold annual 5K at Congressional Cemetery

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The Pride Run 5K was held at Congressional Cemetery on Saturday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The D.C. Front Runners held the 14th annual 5K Pride Run at Congressional Cemetery on Saturday, June 6.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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Books

‘Mighty Real’ explores history of LGBTQ music

From Judas Priest to Whitney, something for every taste

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(Book cover image courtesy of Viking)

‘Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969-2000’
By Barry Walters
c.2026, Viking
$35/496 pages

Step, step, tap, back step.

Shimmy in a circle, left hand waving over your head, shake your tail feathers, repeat to the beat. Once there was a time when you could do any dance in your sleep, but it’s been a while. So read “Mighty Real” by Barry Walters, and see if your toes don’t tap.

Fifty-seven years after Stonewall, and here we are: LGBTQ musicians still face scrutiny for their sexuality because, says Walters, music isn’t created for gay listeners. No problem: LGBTQ artists and writers have often penned lyrics carefully in order to say what can’t be said, “coding” songs for gay audiences that straight (and ignorant) listeners can dance to and enjoy with apparent obliviousness.

Walters offers “just a few” examples.

Lou Reed sang about trans people in the late ‘60s and offered a rallying song for the Gay Liberation Front in 1972, the latter of which felt like a message to a then-11-year-old Walters. Janis Joplin claimed she was straight, but she had several girlfriends. Motown singers often offered sometimes-ambiguous lyrics.

John Lennon’s hand placement on the back cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band made Walters begin to understand that he was different from other boys.

David Bowie is on his list, of course, as is Bette Midler, Elton John, Donna Summer, and Queen. You’ll find Judas Priest here, Green Day, and punk music. The Village People are included in this book, also Grace Jones, Duran Duran, and Cher, Whitney, Melissa, Latifah, and the lyrics from several blockbuster movies.

Two of Prince’s band members were lesbians, and they heavily influenced his albums. Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out” cemented her position in LGBTQ culture, and Michael Jackson’s inclusion here takes much careful consideration.

Read about Olivia Newton-John and the B52s. And then there’s Sylvester, for whom Walters has a soft spot in his heart. Sylvester’s death still makes Walters cry.

In his preface, author and music writer Barry Walters points out that music is what you make it and that it’s interpreted differently by each individual. To that end, this book naturally consists of preferential history and personal opinions about singers, bands, albums, and songs.

Agree or disagree. That’s where much of the appeal lies in “Mighty Real.”

Here, Walters wraps his memories around his choices, giving readers room for their own views, memories, and list making. Music-loving readers might also be surprised to note who’s not on Walters’ list – there aren’t many country performers here, for example, and the overall list focuses entirely on music from roughly 1968 to the year 2000, mostly on the kinds of songs you’ll want at the club or party. Again, discuss, and curate your own playlist.

This is a hefty book, but the chapters are browse-able and generally short enough to read in under five minutes. It’s nostalgic, yet also serious in the history it presents. This is the kind of book you want to leave near your album collection, or wherever you get your tunes. But finding “Mighty Real” is your first step.

The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.

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Photos

PHOTOS: ‘Soul Divas’

Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington performs at Lincoln Theatre

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A scene from the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington's production of 'Soul Divas' at Lincoln Theatre. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington performed “Soul Divas” at the Lincoln Theatre over the weekend. The show featured songs popularized by Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Whitney Houston and more.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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