Arts & Entertainment
Gladys at the Strathmore: brief but magical
Soul legend delights with all-too-short 75-minute set
Soul legend Gladys Knight played two nights at the Strathmore last week. I caught the Friday night show which found the singer in fine voice running through a vigorous hit-heavy set with a smoking tight band.
She was also in a chatty, jovial mood. Her sassy, tell-it-like-it-is stories had the sold out crowd — probably 75 percent African-American — in the palm of her hand.
Gladys Knight at the Strathmore Friday night. (Photo courtesy Brian Walmer)
Looking 25 years younger than she is (68) and with vocals that sounded as rich and solid as they did in 1967, it was an almost magical night. The only downside — and with many tickets soaring past the $100 mark, it was an issue — was the overall brevity of the evening. Knight was on stage only about 75 minutes, with nearly 15 of that being eaten up by her joined-at-the-hip brother Bubba. Yeah, he’s an original Pip and deserves respect, but it was painful after awhile realizing his heavily stage-crafted schtick was taking up so much time.
Of course the Knight siblings — true to their old school show biz roots — pretended all this heavily worked out banter was spontaneous. And while much of it was cute, a little less of that and a few more songs would have made for an almost perfect evening. The lack of an encore — she sometimes comes back out for “The Way We Were” — added to the “bare minimum” feel.
To Knight’s credit however, she doesn’t phone in her show — it was substantially different from the set list she played at Wolf Trap in 2009.
The Strathmore is truly one of Washington’s finest concert venues. I was there two weeks ago for a classical concert (organist Cameron Carpenter) yet it works just as well for a “pop” show such as Knight’s. Friends in the top balcony said the sound was muddy up there — hard to know if that’s a venue thing or something with Knight’s crew — but the sound mix was pristine on the floor.
SET LIST
Soldier of Love
Just Fine
If I Were Your Woman
You’re The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
Feelin’ Good (Vacilon)
I’ve Got To Use My Imagination
End of the Road Medley:
-If You Don’t Know Me By Now
-Love Don’t Love Nobody
-End of the Road
Before Me Medley:
-The Man I Love
-Stormy Weather
-Someone To Watch Over Me
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Neither One of Us
Bubba Knight Segment:
-Yesterday (Duet w/Gladys)
-Love & Happiness
-Funky Good Time
-Dance To The Music
-Love & Happiness (Reprise)
Midnight Train To Georgia
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony
The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
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