Music & Concerts

The Boys are back

Dance legends still exploring on ‘SUPER’

Published

9 years ago

April 7, 2016

Pet Shop Boys, gay news, Washington Blade

The new Pet Shop Boys album features vintage, ‘90s-sounding dance pop with a modern edge. (Photo by Joseph Sinclair)

It’s been 30 years since the debut of the Pet Shop Boys’ first album “Please” and its worldwide smash “West End Girls.” Since then they’ve unleashed an impressive run of acclaimed albums and have scored dozens of hits around the world.

Their new album “SUPER” reunites the duo with producer Stuart Price, with whom the boys collaborated on their excellent 2013 release “Electric.” “SUPER” is even better than its predecessor. This time the duo looks back and incorporates retro ‘90s dance grooves into their high-energy electro-pop. It’s familiar and nostalgic, but still with a bright modern sheen.

Neil Tennant is in prime form on “SUPER” — his incisive wit is as sharp as ever and his dour vocals have never sounded better. Studio whiz Chris Lowe dives back into those classic ‘90s sounds that pumped through the clubs in a golden era of techno, trance and house and brings them all hurtling into the present. Of course, there is always more than just big melodies, pulsing beats and waves of synths to the Pet Shop Boys’ music — under the glossy pop exterior is an undercurrent of anxiety and vulnerability to many of the tracks.

“Happiness” opens the album with a rhythm reminiscent of something Shep Pettibone might have remixed in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s. Between frantic burst of synths, Tennant repeats the lyrical hook that becomes the overall theme of the album: “It’s a long way to happiness/a long way to go/but I’m gonna get there, boy/the only way I know.” The first single is “The Pop Kids,” a song that seems simple at first, but once it sinks in the poignant reflection on the golden years of youth shines through.

“Twenty-Something” looks at the struggles of a millennial trying to keep up with the pressures and expectations of an increasingly cynical world beholden to money, status and technology. The restless anxiety and isolation is stoked to a fever pitch by the jittery rhythm and edgy synths. “Groovy” is an old-school banger designed to be blasted on massive club speakers while the crowd dances itself into a frenzy. Much darker is the tense and shadowy “The Dictator Decides,” one of the more dramatic tracks the duo has recorded in recent years. It’s told from the point of view of a despot who has given in to hopelessness and would love nothing more for his oppressed citizens to rise up in insurrection so he can be freed from his personal torment.

“Pazzo!,” a largely instrumental showcase for Chris Lowe, is another manic dance floor anthem. The hypnotic club vibe continues with “Inner Sanctum,” the first track the duo unveiled as a teaser when the album was announced earlier in the year. Two of the strongest commercial tracks anchor the last part of the album: “Undertow” and “Burn” are both highly melodic dance pop gems that should without question be on the shortlist of potential follow-up singles to “The Pop Kids.”

The final track is “Into Thin Air,” a haunting piece about a desire to disappear and fade away. It’s easy to understand why, given the pressures and tensions that never seem to abate in modern society.

“SUPER” is caught in a vice between the sometimes harsh realities of life and the freedom and release that losing yourself on the dance floor can provide. It’s a terrific collection of immaculately produced songcraft by wily veterans who deliver yet another gem in their already amazing catalog of work.

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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

1 day 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.