Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: March 2
Parties, exhibits, meetings and more through March 8
‘Memorial to a Marriage,’ a bronze sculpture featuring artist Patricia Cronin and her partner in a tender embrace, is one of the works in the ‘Bodies and Soul’ exhibit at Connor Contemporary Art. (Image courtesy Connor)
TODAY (Friday)
Busboys & Poets presents “Live! from Busboys: Open Mic and Talent Showcase” tonight at 11 p.m. in the Langston Room at its 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.) hosted by Ne’a Posey. This showcase opens the floor for all performers, not just poets. There is a $5 cover. For more information, visit busboysandpoets.com.
“Saturday Night Live” alum Tim Meadows plays Baltimore Comedy Club tonight at 8 and 10:15 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at baltimorecomedy.com. Meadows will also perform Saturday at 7 and 9:15 p.m.
The Creative Alliance is hosting the Baltimore premiere of the African film “Paparazzi: Eye in the Dark” at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore) tonight at 7:30 p.m. “Paparazzi” tells the story of a music producer, a mysterious murder and the ripples of its repercussions. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $7 for CA members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit creativealliance.org.
Atlas (1333 H St., N.E.) presents “Intersections: A New American Arts Festival” with performances by Tom Goss and Potomac Fever at 9:30 p.m. in the Lang Theatre. Tickets are $20. All-girl band The Pushovers will be giving a free performance from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Kogod lobby. The night ends with an after party hosted by DCypher Dance at 11 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit atlasarts.org.
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D St., N.W.) presents “Civilization (all you can eat)” tonight at 8 p.m. The show brings a corporate lecturer, a career waitress and an anthropomorphic pig all together to look at corruption, consumption and enterprise in the Obama age. Tickets range from $55 to $67.50 and can be purchased online at woollymammoth.net.
Saturday, March 3
Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents Hellmouth Happy Hour where every week an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will be screened and drink specials will be offered. This week the episode is “Doppelgängland.”
The Imperial Court of Washington will be at the Czar’s Ball and Royal Convention for the “Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Russian Tea Party” tonight at Remington’s (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) from 4 to 8 p.m. The candidates for Emperor and Empress will be announced. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit imperialcourtdc.org.
DJ Drew G sings at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight at 10 p.m. Cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after. Attendees must be 21 or older.
Code has its monthly installment tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.). Gear, rubber, skin, uniform or leather dress code will be strictly enforced. Music provided by DJ Frank Wild. Admission is $10. All attendees must be 18 or older. There will be an open bar from 9 to 10 p.m.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is having its 20th annual national dinner tonight at the National Building Museum (401 F St., N.W.) starting with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Individual tickets range from $225 to $2,500 and 10 tickets ranging from $2,500 to $250,000. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sldn.org.
Sunday, March 4
Singer/songwrighter Glen Phillips of rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket plays Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at wolftrap.org.
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) presents Drag Brunch hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee today at 11 a.m. with a $20 brunch buffet.
SMYAL’s Youth Arts Ensemble and Dance Exchange’s Teen Exchange will be performing at Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) today at 3 p.m. as part of the Intersections festival. For more information, visit intersectionsdc.org. This is a free event.
Monday, March 5
Boyz II Men plays the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $59.50 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is having its monthly volunteer night tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tonight’s activities could range from sorting through book donations, cleaning up around the Center and taking inventory for Fuk!ts, as well as socializing. Pizza will be provided. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Tuesday, March 6
Irish band Altan plays Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at wolftrap.org.
The Chesapeake Squares, a gay square dancing group, 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, March 7
Band White Rabbits play the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) with Tennis and Daughter. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at blackcatdc.com. Doors open at 8 p.m.
Conner Contemporary Art (1358 Florida Ave., N.E.) presents Patricia Cronin’s first solo exhibition in D.C. with “Bodies and Soul.” The exhibit features “Memorial to a Marriage,” a bronze sculpture depicting the sleeping figures of Cronin and her partner, artist Deborah Kass. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, visitconnercontemporary.com.
Thursday, March 8
Irish tenor Karl Scully plays Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at wolftrap.org.
Comedian Kathleen Madigan plays the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $49.50 and can be purchased online atticketmaster.com.
D.C. Strokes Rowing Club is having its Spring Rush tonight at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit dcstrokes.org.
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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‘Mighty Real’ explores history of LGBTQ music
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