Music & Concerts

Long-awaited Nicks fix

Fleetwood Mac singer joins Gaga, Britney with spring albums

Published

14 years ago

March 3, 2011

Stevie Nicks’ new album is largely a collaboration with the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart. (Photo courtesy of Warner Reprise)

For some queer music lovers — yes, we acknowledge that Gaga is all the rage (more on her in a minute) — the real reason we’re excited is the May release of the new Stevie Nicks album, her first solo studio album in a staggering 10 years.

The Fleetwood Mac singer’s solo career got rolling with a wallop in the ‘80s when she was putting out an album about every two years on top of her steady release schedule with the Mac. But things ground quickly to a near halt thereafter and, not counting compilations, there was only one album in the ‘90s (the dreadful “Street Angel”) and one in the ‘00s (the solid “Trouble in Shangri-La”). Yes, “Crystal Visions,” a compilation, and her live “Soundstage” release were welcomed — Nicks’ commentary on the video bonus disc on the “Visions” deluxe edition is priceless — but long-time fans are positively salivating at the thought of a new “real” album from the legendary, but in some ways underrated, songstress.

All early signs for “In Your Dreams,” set to drop May 3, are good. Nicks worked mostly with the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart on the 13-track album. First single “Secret Love” is a demo that’s been widely bootlegged for years so there were few surprises there, but Nicks sounds more excited and energized about this album than she has in years gushing to a California paper about “love songs, hard rock ‘n’ roll songs, really contemplative songs and very Bob Dylan-y songs …”

Even Mac-mate Lindsey Buckingham, who’s never been shy about dissing Nicks’ sub-par work, says the new album is amazing. He contributed a last-minute duet called “Soldier’s Angel.”

The last Mac album, “Say You Will” is masterful — here’s hoping Nicks is in equally fine form here.

The other big news is, of course, the new Lady Gaga record “Born This Way,” slated for a May 23 release. The first single is the title track, released last month. It went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, despite criticism that it’s a rip-off of Madonna’s “Express Yourself.”

Gaga, an unabashed workaholic, is still touring her last album (she was in town last week for a second D.C. stop on the same tour). Hopes are high for the new project, which will have 14 cuts though a deluxe edition with three extra tracks and five remixes will be available at Target. “Fame Monster” vets Fernando Garibay and RedOne are back in the production booth along with DJ White Shadow, Jeppe Laursen and Gaga herself.

The quirky singer has set the bar absurdly high promising fans “the greatest album of this decade.” Gaga says “it’s fucking really good” and “about what keeps us up at night and what makes us afraid.”

Is there room for more than one pop diva or will Britney Spears, whose “Femme Fatale” drops March 25, face a bomb like Christina Aguilera did last year with the brittle, rigid “Bionic?”

“Fatale,” Spears’ seventh album and first since 2008’s “Circus,” is off to a great start. Like Gaga, Spears’ first single, “Hold It Against Me” zoomed to the top of the Hot 100.

Look for a new R.E.M. album, featuring queer front man Michael Stipe, next week. “Collapse into Now” is the group’s 15^th album and was produced by Jacknife Lee and the band.

Also of note, Linda Eder’s “Now,” released this week, Avril Lavigne’s “Goodbye Lullaby” set for next week, Dionne Warwick’s “Only Trust Your Heart” on March 15, Duran Duran’s “All You Need is Love” on March 22 along with Jennifer Hudson’s sophomore album, “I Remember Me.”

Local gay singer/songwriter Tom Goss releases his third album “Turn It Around” April 12 with 11 new cuts though advance copies will be available at release parties slated for next weekend at Go Mama Go. A video for first single “It’s All Over” is in the works while “Lover,” a video from Goss’s last record, debuted on Logo last week.

Details are still sketchy on Beyonce’s new album, her fourth. Look for it sometime before year’s end. Also rumored to be working on 2011 albums are Fiona Apple, Kate Bush, Kelly Clarkson, Culture Club, Renee Fleming and Amy Winehouse.

Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

2 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

1 month 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.

Music & Concerts

Pride concert to take place at Strathmore after Kennedy Center rescinds invitation

International Pride Orchestra ‘heartbroken’ event ‘would no longer be welcome’ at DC venue

Published

2 months ago

February 27, 2025

Jaylon Curry-Hagler

The Kennedy Center (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The International Pride Orchestra has announced its Pride concert will take place at the Strathmore Music Center on June 5 after the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts disinvited the group.

Since President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center during his first month in office, LGBTQ events and performances have been banned with community allies withdrawing in solidarity.

The Kennedy Center has cancelled “A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,” a May 21 concert that was to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. The International Pride Orchestra on Monday said its concert will now take place at the Strathmore.

“We were heartbroken when we learned that our concert would no longer be welcome at the Kennedy Center,” said International Pride Orchestra Founding Artistic Director Michael Roest in a statement released by the orchestra’s media page. “The Kennedy Center has long been a symbol of artistic excellence, inclusivity, and freedom of expression. However, we are profoundly grateful to the Strathmore Music Center for opening their doors to us. Their willingness to host our Pride Celebration Concert ensures that our message of love, pride, and resilience will be heard on the doorstep of the nation’s capital.”

The Pride concert is among the events that have faced uncertainty since the Trump-Vance administration took office on Jan. 20. Many, however, are fighting back and looking for ways to push back against the bans and cancellations.

“We aim to create a powerful and positive representation of the queer community through music,” said Roest. “We want to show the world who we are, celebrate our queer identities, and amplify the work of organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.”

WorldPride is scheduled to take place in D.C. from May 17-June 8.