Arts & Entertainment
Music in the air
Wide array of fall releases slated from Mika to Yoko
Newly out singer Mika’s new album drops in October. (Photo courtesy Girlie Action Media)
This season brings listeners a combination of whole new sounds, including new works from Mika and the Pet Shop Boys, along with re-imagined and re-worked throwbacks as Nina Simone is honored and Barbra Streisand releases never-before-heard songs from earlier parts of her career.
Folk-rock musician Melissa Etheridge’s newly released album, “4th Street Feeling,” takes listeners back to her hometown Leavenworth, Kan. Etheridge describes 4th St. as the main drag of downtown and this is the first time where she takes lead guitar to sing the bluesy sounds of her home.
Released earlier this week, the Pet Shop Boys’ new album “Elysium” is the 30-year-old group’s attempt to infuse the music with fresh sounds by recording in Los Angeles with Kanye West associate Andrew Dawson. The first single “Winner” was revealed in July and it was performed before the Olympic tennis game along with “Always On My Mind” and “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” in Henman Hill, Wimbledon.
Also just out is Amy Cook’s new album “Summer Skin” where singers as diverse as Robert Plant and Patty Griffin join her for the project she calls highly melodic and catchy.
The day after, Nelly Furtado’s latest album “The Spirit Indestructible” released and it is her first English language album in six years. Three years in the making, Furtado has returned to her “Whoa Nelly!” origins with a pop and R&B combo.
The multi-platinum out star Mika releases his new album “The Origin of Love” on Oct. 16. His third album, every aspect of “The Origin of Love” was put together completely by Mika over two years. He flew all over the world to put together a large amount of collaborators including Greg Wells, who has worked with stars such as Rufus Wainwright, Katy Perry, Elton John and Adele.
Yoko Ono has linked up with Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and Thurston Moor to produce “YOKOKIMTHURSTON” coming out Sept. 25. The album has only six tracks, however it still appears to be lengthy based on their first single “Early in the Morning,” which is 14 minutes long. The announcement of the new album came to surprise many fans since Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore split after 27 years of marriage last October.
Seattle-based rapper, Macklemore (also known as Ben Haggerty) has a new release “The Heist LP” coming out Oct. 9. The previously released single “Same Love,” which showed Macklemore’s support for same-sex marriage, is included on the track along with “Can’t Hold Us” and “Make the Money.”
While some artists are producing new modern sounds, some are putting fresh twists on the old. Meshell Ndegeocello comes out with “Pour Une Ame Souveraine: A Dedication to Nina Simone” on Oct. 9, a tribute to legendary singer and pianist Nina Simone who died in 2003. The juxtaposition of Simone’s lyrical clarity against the unclear style of Ndegeocello, who’s bi, appears in many of the album’s songs.
Also reimaging older numbers is Tori Amos, whose newest album “Gold Dust” comes out on Oct. 2. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Amos’ first album “Little Earthquakes,” and her new album includes several numbers spanning her career re-recorded with the Metropole Orchestra. The idea for the album was conceived in 2010 when Amos was invited to perform with the orchestra and she enjoyed hearing her songs being played in this style. She wanted the renditions of her songs recorded.
Also working somewhat within that vein is Aussie diva Kylie Minogue, whose “Abbey Road Sessions” drops Nov. 6 featuring 16 of her songs re-imagined and re-arranged with full orchestra. It will also include one previously unreleased cut, “Flower.”
Barbra Streisand is sharing 11 unreleased numbers that span from 1963 to the present in her album “Release Me,” which is available on Vinyl on Sept. 25 and on CD on Oct. 9. Many of the tracks were extra recordings that did not make it onto the original albums. The tracks include songs such as “Willow Weep For Me,” recorded in 1967 for the album “Simply Streisand,” and a version of Randy Newman’s “I Think It’s Going Rain Today” with Newman on piano and Streisand singing.
Leona Lewis is finally releasing her third studio album “Glassheart” on Oct. 15. The album was originally scheduled to release last fall, but was pushed back several times to add more recording sessions. Lewis performed the first single “Collide” on Simon Cowell’s new game show “Red or Black?” Later in September 2011, she performed this single along with the title song “Glassheart” at G-A-Y nightclub in London.
Freshening up the later part of fall is Taylor Swift with her studio album “Red” slated for Oct. 22. Swift is known for her tumultuous and emotional style, often pulling from her past relationships as inspiration. Her new work promises to be no different as the first released single “We Are Never Getting Back Together” might be the next breakup anthem. It’s up to listeners to figure out which past loves she is singing about in which tracks, as the singer is not giving any names.
On Oct. 23, Diamond Rings — a one-man outfit consisting of gay singer John O — releases “Free Dimensional,” which he says retains the melodicism, clever juxtapositions and lyrical honesty that garnered him kudos for his “Special Affections” project.
“What’s different this time around is how the songs were conceived and produced,” he said in a press statement, referring to his increasing comfort with “high tech bells and whistles.”
Music & Concerts
Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’
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.
Friday, May 2
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at P.F. Chang’s. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, May 3
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events for LGBTQ People of Color, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
Sunday, May 4
“The Chateau Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Chicatana. Enjoy fabulous Mexican food and cocktails while being entertained by a rotating cast of the DMV’s best drag performers. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
“The Bubble: Queer Brooklyn Comics in DC” will be at 5 p.m. at As You Are. Queer comedians Charlie Flynn, Evan Lazarus and Keara Sullivan are coming down from NYC for a night of fun as they split an hour of standup comedy. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Monday, May 5
“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Tuesday, May 6
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more details, email [email protected].
Wednesday, May 7
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older queer women can meet and socialize with one another. We will have discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, May 8
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga with Sarah M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
South Asian Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The peer support group is an outlet for South Asian-identified LGBTQ individuals to come and talk about anything affecting them. It’s a secure, judgment-free environment to discuss relationships, sexuality, health, well-being, identity, culture, religion, or anything that is on your mind. For more details, email [email protected].
Sports
English soccer bans transgender women from women’s teams
British Supreme Court last month ruled legal definition of woman limited to ‘biological women’
The organization that governs English soccer on Thursday announced it will no longer allow transgender women to play on women’s teams.
The British Supreme Court on April 16 ruled the legal definition of a woman is limited to “biological women” and does not include trans women. The Football Association’s announcement, which cites the ruling, notes its new policy will take effect on June 1.
“As the governing body of the national sport, our role is to make football accessible to as many people as possible, operating within the law and international football policy defined by UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) and FIFA,” said the Football Association in a statement that announced the policy change. “Our current policy, which allows transgender women to participate in the women’s game, was based on this principle and supported by expert legal advice.”
“This is a complex subject, and our position has always been that if there was a material change in law, science, or the operation of the policy in grassroots football then we would review it and change it if necessary,” added the Football Association.
The Football Association also acknowledged the new policy “will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify.”
“We are contacting the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game,” it said.
The Football Association told the BBC there were “fewer than 30 transgender women registered among millions of amateur players” and there are “no registered transgender women in the professional game” in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The Scottish Football Association, which governs soccer in Scotland, is expected to also ban trans women from women’s teams.
Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’
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