Music & Concerts

An ‘Icon’ returns

Sheila E. still growing, singing, touring

Published

10 years ago

April 23, 2015

Keith Loria

Sheila E. says she feels energy on stage no matter how large or small the crowd. (Photo courtesy Howard Theatre)

Sheila E.

Thursday, April 30

8 p.m. (doors 6)

$37.50-75

Howard Theatre

620 T St., N.W.

In the mid-’80s, singer and percussionist Sheila E. defined cool for a generation of women musicians, first by collaborating with Prince on the classic “Purple Rain” album, lending vocals to the album’s “Erotic City,” and also by recording her own bestselling solo album, “The Glamorous Life,” which had a top 10 hit in its title track and another top single with “The Belle of St. Mark.”

“It was more than I ever expected but I worked really hard, I didn’t sit back and wait for something to happen,” Sheila E. says. “I went out and toured and did all types of publicity and released a record in Europe first, and pushed my record even before ‘Purple Rain.’ By the time I got to the states, ‘The Glamorous Life’ was already a hit.”

Now 57, the musician has released seven albums with several hit songs since her heyday, and is still a force to be reckoned with on stage.

“If the day ever comes when I don’t feel inspired and the butterflies are not there, that’s the day I’ll stop,” she says. “I get even more of a thrill today than I used to and it doesn’t matter if I’m playing for 10 people or 20,000.”

On April 30, Sheila E. will be appearing at the Howard Theater in what promises to be a night full of high-octane energy.

“What they can expect is a great show; great musicianship, a lot of fun, a big party, some old music, new music and Sheila E. at her best,” she says. “Howard Theater and the people of D.C. are some of my favorite people to play for. I totally appreciate the vibe they bring and I really look forward to being back.”

True fans know that her real name is Sheila Escovedo, and she learned her drum skills from her legendary father, percussionist Pete Escovedo. Still, following her dad’s musical footsteps wasn’t always in the cards.

“I wanted to be the first girl astronaut on the moon or win a gold medal in track and field,” she says. “I played a show with my dad when I was 15 because one of the musicians got sick, and to play with that type of musicianship at that level brought me to a place I had never experienced before. After that show, I knew that’s what I wanted to do the rest of my life.”

Fame came quickly as Sheila E. performed with artists such as Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and Marvin Gaye, and it was a chance encounter with Prince at one of her concerts that would lead to more than two decades of musical collaboration.

“I had a huge career even before I started working with Prince,” Sheila E. says. “Prince had followed my career and told me he was very excited to meet me the first time we met.”

In more recent years, Shelia E. has worked with Beyoncé and other music stars behind the scenes, but she never stopped making her own music. Last year, she released the aptly titled “Icon,” her first new album in 13 years, and it was viewed positively throughout the industry.

“If I didn’t continue to write new music and venture out to play with different artists and listen to different genres of music, I would be stuck in a place of not growing at all,” she says. “Inspiration comes from all the music I grew up listening to, as well as new music and just wanting to grow and learn more and do more and be a student for life.”

The 13-track recording includes colorful fusions of the Latin, jazz, R&B, pop, funk and rock influences that shaped her style over the last 30 years.

In addition to the new music, last year also saw the release of her autobiography, entitled, “And the Beat Goes On.” It was while writing the book, that she started hearing songs behind some of the stories she was telling, and that led to a number of songs on “Icon.”

“I looked back in my archives and found some things I had worked on five years before, and I wrote some songs telling my life story and I knew these songs needed to be in the book, so out came the CD,” she says.

Looking ahead, Shelia E. says she has a lot on her plate. She just opened a new club in Los Angeles and she has more music in the works.

“First of all, I just let God do what he does with me and knowing he has given me this gift and allowing me to go all over the world to share that, I am blessed by that,” she says. “I love that this is something I get to do and I don’t take it for granted. I’m inspired by the people who come out and support us and love us. Because of those fans, I come back more excited than ever.”

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Music & Concerts

Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’

Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Singer Tom Goss is back. (Photo by Dusti Cunningham)

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.

Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

4 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

2 months 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.