Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Nov. 18
Parties, concerts, exhibits and more through Thanksgiving day
‘Bougie Party of Two You Can Now Be Seated’ is one of the paintings feauted in Anthony Dortch's ‘Privileged Series’ on display at Touchstone Gallery. (Image courtesy Touchstone)
Today (Friday)
Out singer/songwriter Catie Curtis plays Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd.) in Vienna, Va., tonight at 8 p.m. with special guest Meg Hutchinson. Tickets are $22 and can be purchased online at wolftrap.org.
Green Lantern’s (1335 Green Court, N.W.) Fahrenheit presents “Leche” tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. featuring DJ Michael Brandon. There’s a $7 cover after 10 p.m. and free rail vodka upstairs from 10 to 11 p.m.
Out comedian Jason Stuart plays Riot Act Theater tonight at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at riotactcomedy.com. He will also perform Saturday night at the same times.
The Lambda Divers are having their monthly happy hour tonight at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) from 5 to 7 p.m. Also tonight is the Ski Bums Blizzard Bash, a party for LGBT skiers and snowboarders starting at 7 p.m.
Gay District is having its third annual Thanksgiving potluck dinner tonight from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal (1830 Connecticut Ave., N.W.). Attendees can coordinate with Justin to find out What may be needed, by emailing him directly at[email protected] or Facebook message. For more information, visit gaydistrict.org.
Gay/Bash!, a “queer night of rock and pop gems” with DJ Joshua is tonight at the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.). This is a free event and doors open at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 19
Kate Clinton brings her tour “The Glee Party” to the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased online atticketmaster.com.
Sulu D.C. is celebrating its second year of presenting Asian-American and Pacific Islander performance artists with a special fundraiser and awards show tonight at Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd.) in Arlington, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. hosted by Regie Cabico. Tickets are $20 and are available online at tickets.artisphere.com. For more information on Sulu, visit suludc.com.
Dulles Triangles is celebrating its 20th anniversary “Gayla” tonight at the Marriott Dulles (45020 Aviation Dr.) in Dulles from 7 p.m. to midnight featuring music by Crys Matthews and more. Tickets are $65 and are available online at dullestriangles.com.
Team D.C. is having a casino night tonight at Buffalo Billiards (1330 19th St., N.W.) from 8 to 11 p.m. There’s a $10 entry fee which gives attendees chips to play poker and blackjack or enter a pool tournament. There will also be prizes and drink specials. For more information, visit teamdc.org.
Green Lantern (1335 Greent Court, N.W.) presents “Black and White Interracial Underwear Party” tonight from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. featuring DJ tONE, a “Best Booty” contest and more.
The Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) has two events going on backstage today. First up is the free event, Hellmouth Happy Hour, featuring an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and drinks specials at 7 p.m. This week’s episode is “Faith, Hope & Trick.” Then DJ lil’e takes over the space for her ‘80s Alt-Pop Dance night, Right Round. Tickets are $7 and doors open at 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 20
“Masters of Illusion Live!” will be at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane) in North Bethesda today at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $65 and can be purchased online at strathmore.org.
The Grammy Award-winning group Manhattan Transfer plays the Kennedy Center tonight at 7 p.m. with Jon Hendricks and two collegiate a cappella groups. Tickets range from $20 to $65 and can be purchased online. For more information and to get tickets, visit kennedy-center.org.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) has two exhibits on display, one is an all member show and the other is “The Privileged Series” by Anthony Dortch. Both exhibits will be on display through Nov. 27. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit touchstonegallery.com.
Monday, Nov. 21
WEAVE, a support group for LGBT survivors of intimate partner violence/abuse will be meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Lighthouse Center for Healing (5321 First Place, N.E.). For more information and to register, call 202-280-6391.
Busboys & Poets presents “Other People’s Poetry” tonight its Shirlington location (4251 S Campbell Ave.) in Arlington at 8 p.m. hosted by Rebecca Dupas. Admission wristbands are $4 and will be sold all day in the Global Exchange store beginning at 10 a.m. until sold out.
Tuesday, Nov. 22
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) presents its “Glee” watch party tonight at 8 p.m. on the deck in the pub room.
The Chesapeake Squares are having a mainstream-through-advanced club night tonight at the Waxter Center (1000 Cathedral St.) in Baltimore from 8 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit chesapeakesquares.org.
Wednesday, Nov. 23
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsboro is hosting a special “Gobble Gobbler”Thanksgiving Eve bash tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with music provided by DJ Christopher Butler and DJXO. There’s no cover and drink specials all night including $5 Long Island Pint Size ReFreshers.
JD Razor ‘n Guido is at Cobalt (1639 R Street, N.W.) tonight accompanied by DJ Sean Morris. Cover is $8; open to 18-and-up with ID. Their set starts at 10 p.m.
The D.C. Gurly Show is putting on a special show tonight with “Black Friday: The Recession Show” at Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) featuring Velvet Kensington, Anna Steasya, Private Tails and more. The event starts at 10 p.m. There will be a $5 cover and all attendees must be 21 or older.
Thursday, Nov. 24
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) will be opening at 11 a.m. today in time for the football games and every customer can get a free slice of pie. Visit nelliesportsbar.com or NFL.com for the game schedule.
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
‘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.
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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