Arts & Entertainment
Gay dramedy ‘Front Cover’ screens locally
film will have limited engagement D.C. run
“Front Cover,” a gay, Asian love story, screens at Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market (550 Penn St., N.E.) from Friday, Sept. 30 through Thursday, Oct. 6.
The film tells the story of Ryan, a gay Chinese-American stylist trying to disassociate himself from his Chinese heritage, and Ning, an actor from Beijing who Ryan is assigned to style. Ryan’s Western ways clash with Ning’s insistence on staying true to his Chinese identity. The pair struggles to connectĀ but forms an unlikely romance that leads them both to some self-realizations.
Written and directed by Ray Yeung, the film stars Jake Choi and James Chen.
For a complete list of showtimes and to purchase tickets, visit here.Ā
Music & Concerts
Lana Del Rey, Katy Perry plan fall releases
A Fleetwood Mac live album, more Joni archives among vintage options
Paris Hilton released her āInfinite Iconā album on Sept. 6. Itās just the second effort following a massive hiatus ā her debut album āParisā was released way back in 2006. Sia produces. This summerās āIām Freeā was the first single. A tour is planned. Hilton promised a āheavily gay-leaning release.ā
Miranda Lambertās āPostcards from Texasā is slated to drop today. Lambertās 10th studio album was preceded by the May release of single āWranglers,ā which stalled in the lower 30s on country radio. Lambert calls the album a musical ode to her home state. She co-produces with Jon Randall and either wrote or co-wrote 10 of the projectās 14 cuts.
Katy Perryās ā143ā is set for a Sept. 20 release. It will be her seventh studio album. Its title refers to what she says is her symbolic angel number. Perry is aiming for a dance party feel working with producers Max Martin, Dr. Luke, Stargate, Vaughn Oliver and Rocco Did It Again! The proceedings are not off to a strong start. First single āWomanās Worldā stalled at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-up āLifetimesā failed to crack the Hot 100 at all.
Fleetwood Mac releases āMirage Tour ā82ā on Sept. 20. It includes six tracks previously unreleased including āDonāt Stop,ā āDreams,ā āNever Going Back Again,ā āSaraā and more. Available on double CD, triple vinyl and digitally.
Volume four of Joni Mitchellās āArchivesā series dubbed āThe Asylum Years: 1976-1980ā releases Oct. 4. Itās being offered in six-CD or four-LP (highlights) configurations. It will feature unreleased studio sessions, alternate versions, live recordings, rarities and a 36-page book with new photos and an extensive conversation between Mitchell and filmmaker/uberfan Cameron Crowe.
Sophie B. Hawkins releases her āWhaler Re-Emergingā album (a re-recording of her landmark 1994 album) on Oct. 15. Order through her site and the first 250 copies will be signed. Hawkins (who identifies as omnisexual) says it surpasses the original.
Joe Jonasās āMusic for People Who Believe in Loveā and Shawn Mendesās āShawnā are both set for Oct. 18 releases. Jonasās album (his first solo effort since 2011ās āFastlifeā) will feature songwriting he says is of a more personal nature. Billboard called it āunvarnishedā but with a shimmery pop sound aglow with garage rock and alt-pop influences. First single āWork It Outā was released over the summer and failed to chart.
āShawnā will be Mendesās first album since 2020ās āWonder,ā the tour of which he cancelled citing mental health. Two singles ā āWhy Why Whyā and āIsnāt That Enoughā ā have been released. The former stalled at no. 84 on the Hot 100. He has called the album his āmost musically intimate and lyrically honest work to date.ā
Lana Del Reyās āLassoā is expected for a possible fall release, although some sources say itās been bumped to early 2025. No date had been announced as of yet. Sheās apparently going the Beyonce route and releasing a straight-up country album.
Dolly Parton plans a Nov. 15 release for āSmoky Mountain DNA ā Family, Faith & Fables.ā Parton recruited family to help her on the 37 (!)-track collection, which will also encompass a four-part docuseries tracing Partonās familial roots. One song (āA Rose Wonāt Fix Itā) is an outtake from the feverish writing sessions that led to her solid (but underrated) 1998 album āHungry Again.ā An extremely limited-edition triple vinyl release is also planned.
Release dates shift and many more releases will be announced later. Pitchfork keeps a great running tab at pitchfork.com/news/new-album-releases. Also check your local record store for Black Friday special editions available on Friday, Nov. 29. Release info was scant as of this writing. Ā
(Joey DiGuglielmo was variously the Bladeās news and features editor from 2006-2020.)
Out & About
Free house expo set for Oct. 26
Capitol Hill Restoration Society hosts event at Eastern Market
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society will host a free House Expo on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 9 a.m. in the North Hall of Eastern Market.
If you have questions about your home, you can get answers at the Expo. There will be more than 30 home contractors, service experts and city agencies with historic house experience. There will also be free guided tours of Eastern Market.
For more information, visit chrs.org.
Go Gay DC will host āDrag Show for Charityā on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. at Freddieās Beach Bar and Restaurant.
Tips to the drag performers will benefit worthy charities that have been vetted by the Imperial Court of Washington, D.C. The mission of the Imperial Court is to raise funds for organizations, including but not limited to those supporting LGBTQ community, HIV/AIDS services organizations, social service organizations and youth enrichment programs. It seeks to provide a safe, social environment for people with the same interests as those of the membership and to create and promote positive community awareness.
This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.Ā
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