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FALL ARTS PREVIEW 2017: Miley, Demi, Dolly and then some

Taylor Swift, Pink, Shania among eclectic fall album releases

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albums, gay news, Washington Blade

After a long hiatus from music, Shania Twain is back with a new album dubbed ā€˜Now,ā€™ slated for a Sept. 29 release. Itā€™s her first album since 2002ā€™s RIAA Diamond-selling ā€˜Up!ā€™ (Photo by Giampaolo Sgura; courtesy the Karpel Group)

The new release schedule for fall is loaded with long-awaited new albums from some of the biggest stars in music. There will be plenty of new tunes to keep music fans occupied.

Today (Friday, Sept. 15) is highlighted by the latest from local favoriteĀ Dave GrohlĀ andĀ Foo Fighters, who unleash their ninth studio album, ā€œConcrete and Gold,ā€ featuring the electrifying first single ā€œRun.ā€

Also out is a live album and DVD documentingĀ Madonnaā€™sĀ record-breaking ā€œRebel Heart Tour.ā€ Also out is the latest from new wave pioneerĀ Gary Numan, ā€œSavage (Songs From a Broken World),ā€Ā YusufĀ (formerlyĀ Cat Stevens) with ā€œThe Laughing Apple,ā€ Swedish EDM duoĀ GalantisĀ are back with ā€œThe Aviary,ā€ former Vampire Weekend mainstayĀ RostomĀ will release his solo debut ā€œHalf-Lightā€ andĀ MetricĀ vocalistĀ Emily HainesĀ is set to release her new solo album ā€œChoir of the Mind.ā€

More big new releases arrive the following week, with new wave revivalistsĀ the KillersĀ leading the way with ā€œWonderful Wonderful.ā€ Also droppingĀ Sept. 22Ā is ā€œDouble Dutchess,ā€ the long-awaited second solo album byĀ Black-Eyed PeasĀ divaĀ Fergie. It comes 11 years after her smash ā€œThe Duchess,ā€ but judging from the singles so far it will be well worth the wait.

Other new albums due on the 22nd include the latest from trip-hop pioneerĀ Tricky, ā€œununiform,ā€ folk-rock legendĀ Van MorrisonĀ with ā€œRoll With the Punches,ā€ goth goddessĀ Chelsea WolfeĀ with ā€œHiss Spun,ā€ Australian electro-pop groupĀ Cut CopyĀ with ā€œHaiku From Zero,ā€ versatile R&B vocalistĀ LedisiĀ with ā€œLet Love Rule,ā€ rapperĀ Macklemoreā€™sĀ first solo albumĀ in 12 years, ā€œGemini,ā€ and a live album by acclaimed lesbian guitar virtuosoĀ Kaki King, ā€œLive at Berklee.ā€

Sept. 29Ā is a big week for multiple generations of female artists. The legendary country iconĀ Dolly PartonĀ will release a childrenā€™s album, ā€œI Believe in You,ā€ while country-pop superstarĀ Shania TwainĀ is back with her first new albumĀ in 15 years, ā€œNow.ā€

Demi LovatoĀ also returns on the 29th with ā€œTell Me You Love Me,ā€ featuring her platinum single ā€œSorry Not Sorryā€ andĀ Miley CyrusĀ delivers her latest, ā€œYounger Now.ā€ British synthpop duoĀ HurtsĀ also have a new album on the 29th, ā€œDesire,ā€ including the new single ā€œReady to Go.ā€

FormerĀ OasisĀ singerĀ Liam GallagherĀ has set his new solo album ā€œAs You Were Availableā€ for anĀ Oct. 6Ā release. Alternative rockersĀ Wolf ParadeĀ are also back on the sixth with ā€œCry Cry Cry,ā€ along with the debut album by the much-buzzed about R&B vocalistĀ Kelela,Ā the latest from indie-popstersĀ Ducktails, ā€œJersey Devil,ā€ the new solo effort by openly gayĀ Bloc PartyĀ vocalistĀ Kele Okereke, ā€œFatherlandā€ and glam-rockersĀ the DarknessĀ with ā€œPinewood Smile.ā€

Pop superstarĀ PinkĀ returnsĀ Oct. 13Ā with her first albumĀ in five years, ā€œBeautiful Trauma,ā€ featuring the stunning first single ā€œWhat About Us.ā€ On the same date, critically belovedĀ St. VincentĀ will deliver one of the yearā€™s most anticipated albums with ā€œMASSEDUCTION.ā€ Also scheduled for the 13th are new albums byĀ Beck, ā€œColorsā€; legendary Led Zeppelin frontmanĀ Robert Plant, ā€œCarry Fireā€;Ā William Patrick (aka Billy) CorganĀ with his collaboration with producerĀ Rick Rubin, ā€œOgilalaā€; and an intriguing collaboration between uber-talented troubadoursĀ Courtney BarnettĀ andĀ Kurt Vile, ā€œLotta Sea Lice.ā€

Also outĀ Oct. 13Ā is ā€œThe Con X: Covers,ā€ a 10th anniversary celebration of ā€œThe Conā€ by openly gay sistersĀ Tegan and SaraĀ with all of that classic albumā€™s songs covered by various artists.

Look for a newly remastered and expanded edition ofĀ the Smithsā€™Ā ā€œThe Queen is Deadā€ onĀ Oct. 20. Originally released in 1986, itā€™s widely considered one of their finest efforts.

October wraps up with two of the fallā€™s biggest releases:Ā Kelly ClarksonĀ drops her latest, ā€œMeaning of Life,ā€ onĀ Oct. 27, and on the same dateĀ WeezerĀ returns with ā€œPacific Daydream.ā€Ā The-DreamĀ also hits on the 27th with ā€œLove Affair,ā€ featuring the hit single ā€œSummer Body,ā€ and emo-rockersĀ the UsedĀ return with ā€œThe Canyon.ā€

The much-anticipated newĀ Taylor SwiftĀ album, ā€œReputation,ā€ arrivesĀ Nov. 10. Led by smash single ā€œLook What You Made Me Do,ā€ itā€™s likely to be the seasonā€™s biggest-selling release. Also hitting on the 10th is the latest from moody alt-rockersĀ Evanescence, ā€œSynthesis.ā€

Nov. 17Ā is highlighted by the latest from that icon of wit and misery,Ā Morrissey, who is back with ā€œLow in High School.ā€ The season is capped by the long-promised ā€œSongs of Experienceā€ byĀ U2, the follow-up to their outstanding 2014 release ā€œSongs of Innocence.ā€ Presumably, though, the new album wonā€™t show up on everyoneā€™s iPhone automatically, or at least we can hope.

Kanye WestĀ may (or may not) unload his latest, reportedly titled ā€œTurbo Grafx 16,ā€ this fall ā€” as always, he is hard to predict.Ā BjorkĀ is working with acclaimed gay electronic visionaryĀ ArcaĀ on an album expected in November, with the first single called ā€œThe Gate.ā€

Other artists expected to release new albums this fall but have yet to announce dates includeĀ Tei Shi,Ā Sam SmithĀ (who just released a new single, ā€œToo Good At Goodbyesā€),Ā Ne-Yo,Ā Paloma Faith,Ā Thirty Seconds to Mars,Ā En Vogue, ā€˜80s heroesĀ Tears for Fears, ā€˜90s rockersĀ the Offspring,Ā Travis Scott,Ā Charli XCX,Ā Barenaked Ladies,Ā Nas,Ā Clean Bandit,Ā Kylie Minogue,Ā MGMT,Ā Sara Bareilles,Ā Zayn,Ā Tove Lo,Ā Kiesza,Ā Avril Lavigne,Ā Mariah Carey, up-and-coming rapperĀ Kamaiyah,Ā Marilyn MansonĀ and a Christmas offering from one of popā€™s hottest stars,Ā Sia. Inevitably some of these will get bumped to 2018.

Other possibilities includeĀ Christina Aguilera,Ā Vampire Weekend,Ā My Morning Jacket,Ā Spiritualized,Ā Bruce Springsteen,Ā Sky Ferreira,Ā Modest Mouse,Ā Juicy J,Ā Iggy AzaleaĀ andĀ Violent Femmes.

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Music & Concerts

Musical icons and newer stars to rock D.C. this spring

Brandi Carlile, Bad Bunny, Nicki Minaj, and more headed our way

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Brandi Carlile plays the Anthem this month.

Bands and solo artists of all different genres are visiting D.C. this spring. Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight will team up to perform at the Wolf Trap in June, and girl in red will play at the Anthem in April. Some artists and bands arenā€™t paying a visit until the summer, like Janet Jackson and Usher, but there are still plenty of acts to see as the weather warms up. 

MARCH 

Brandi Carlile plays at the Anthem on March 21; Arlo Parks will perform at 9:30 Club on March 23; Girlschool will take the stage at Blackcat on March 28.

APRIL 

Nicki Minaj stops in D.C. at Capital One Arena as part of her North American tour on April 1; Bad Bunny plays at Capital One Arena on April 9 as part of his Most Wanted tour; girl in red performs at the Anthem on April 20 and 21; Brandy Clark plays at the Birchmere on April 25; Laufey comes to town to play at the Anthem on April 25 and 26. 

MAY 

Belle and Sebastian play at the Anthem on May 2; Chastity Belt performs at Blackcat on May 4; Madeleine Peyroux stops at the Birchmere on May 5; The Decemberists play at the Anthem on May 10; the rock band Mannequin Pussy performs at the Atlantis on May 17 and 18; Hozier plays at Merriweather Post Pavilion on May 17 as part of the Unreal Unearth tour. 

JUNE 

Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight will sing soulful melodies at Wolf Trap on June 8; Joe Jackson performs at the Lincoln Theatre on June 10; the Pixies and Modest Mouse are teaming up to play at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 14; Maggie Rogers plays at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 16 as part of The Donā€™t Forget Me tour; Brittany Howard headlines the Out & About Festival at Wolf Trap on June 22; Sarah McLachlan plays at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 27; Alanis Morissette performs at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 29 and 30

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Music & Concerts

Grammys: Queer women and their sisters took down the house

Taylor Swift won Album of the Year

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When the late, great Ruth Bader Ginsburg was asked when there will be enough women on the Supreme Court, her answer was simple: Nine. She stated: “I say when there are nine, people are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.” RBG did not attend the Grammyā€™s last night, but her spirit sure did. Women, at long last, dominated, ruled and killed the night.

Cher, in song a decade ago, declared that ā€œthis is a womanā€™s world,ā€ but there was little evidence that was true, Grammy, and entertainment awards, speaking. In 2018, the Grammys were heavily criticized for lack of female representation across all categories and organizersā€™ response was for women to ā€œstep up.ā€

Be careful what you wish for boys.

The biggest star of the 2024 Grammys was the collective power of women. They made history, they claimed legacy and they danced and lip sang to each otherā€™s work. Standing victorious was Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, SZA (the most nominated person of the year), Lainey Wilson, Karol G, boygenius, Kylie Minogue and Victoria MonĆ©t. Oh, yes, and powerhouse Taylor Swift, the superstar from whom Fox News cowers in fear, made history to become the first performer of any gender to win four Best Album of the Year trophies.

In the throng of these powerful women stand a number of both LGBTQ advocates and queer identifying artists. Cyrus has identified as pansexual, SZA has said lesbian rumors ā€œainā€™t wrong,ā€ Phoebe Bridgers (winner of four trophies during the night, most of any artist) is lesbian, MonĆ©t is bi and Eilish likes women but doesnā€™t want to talk about it. Plus, ask any queer person about Swift or Minogue and you are likely to get a love-gush.

Women power was not just owned by the lady award winners. There were the ladies and then there were the Legends. The first Legend to appear was a surprise. Country singer Luke Combs has a cross-generational hit this year with a cover of Tracy Chapmanā€™s “Fast Car.” When originally released, the song was embraced as a lesbian anthem. When performing “Fast Car,” surprise, there was Chapman herself, singing the duet with Combs. The rendition was stunning, sentimental and historic.

Chapman, like many of the nightā€™s female dignitaries, has not been public with her sexuality. Author Alice Walker has spoken of the two of them being lovers, however.

The legend among legends of the night, however, was the one and only Joni Mitchell. Not gay herself, she embodies the concept of an LGBTQ icon, and was accompanied by the very out Brandi Carlile on stage. On her website, Mitchellā€™s statement to the LGBTQ community reads, “The trick is if you listen to that music and you see me, you’re not getting anything out of it. If you listen to that music and you see yourself, it will probably make you cry and you’ll learn something about yourself and now you’re getting something out of it.”

Mitchell performed her longtime classic “Both Sides Now.” The emotion, insight and delivery from the now 80-year old artist, survivor of an aneurism, was nothing short of profound. (To fully appreciate the nuance time can bring, check out the YouTube video of a Swift lookalike Mitchell singing the same song to Mama Cass and Mary Travers in 1969.) In this latest rendition, Mitchell clearly had an impact on Meryl Streep who was sitting in the audience. Talk about the arc of female talent and power.

That arc extended from a todayā€™s lady, Cyrus, to legend Celine Dion as well. Cyrus declared Dion as one of her icons and inspirations early in the evening. Dion appeared, graceful and looking healthy, to present the final, and historic, award of the night at the end of the show.

Legends did not even need to be living to have had an effect on the night. Tributes to Tina Turner and Sinead Oā€™Conner by Oprah, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor and Annie Lennox respectively, proved that not even death could stop these women. As Lennox has musically and famously put it, ā€œSisters are doing it for themselves.ā€

Even the content of performances by todayā€™s legends-in-the-making spoke to feminine power. Eilish was honored for, and performed “What Was I Made For?,” a haunting and searching song that speaks to the soul of womanhood and redefinition in todayā€™s fight for gender rights and expression, while Dua Lipa laid down the gauntlet for mind blowing performance with her rendition of “Houdini” at the top of the show, Cyrus asserted the power of her anthem “Flowers” and pretty much stole the show.

Cyrus had not performed the song on television before, and only three times publicly. She declared in her intro that she was thrilled over the business numbers the song garnered, but she refused to let them define her. As she sang the hit, she scolded the audience, ā€œyou guys act like you donā€™t know the words to this song.ā€ Soon the woman power of the room was singing along with her, from Swift to Oprah.

They can buy themselves flowers from now on. They donā€™t need anyone else. Cyrus made that point with the mic drop to cap all mic drops, ā€œAnd I just won my first Grammy!ā€ she declared as she danced off stage.

Even the squirmiest moment of the night still did not diminish the light of women power, and in fact, underscored it. During his acceptance of the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Jay-Z had a bone to pick with the Grammy voters. He called out the irony that his wife BeyoncĆ© had won more Grammys than any other human, but had never won the Best Album of the Year. Yeah, whatā€™s with that?

But then, it brought additional context ultimately to the fact that the winner of the most Grammys individually ā€¦ is a woman. And to the fact that the winner of the most Best Album of the Year awards ā€¦ is a woman.

Hopefully this was the night that the Grammys ā€œgot it.ā€ Women are the epicenter of The Creative Force.

Will the other entertainment awards get it soon as well? We can hope.

Most importantly, in a political world where womenā€™s healthcare is under siege. Will the American voters get it?

A little known band named Little Mix put it this way in their 2019 song ā€œA Womanā€™s World.ā€

ā€œIf you can’t see that it’s gotta change
Only want the body but not the brains
If you really think that’s the way it works
You ain’t lived in a woman’s world

Just look at how far that we’ve got
And don’t think that we’ll ever stopā€¦ā€

From Grammyā€™s mouth to the worldā€™s ear.

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Music & Concerts

Janet Jackson returning to D.C, Baltimore

‘Together Again Tour’ comes to Capital One Arena, CFG Bank Arena

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Janet Jackson is coming back to D.C. this summer.

Pop icon Janet Jackson announced this week an extension of her 2023 ā€œTogether Again Tour.ā€ A new leg of the tour will bring Jackson back to the area for two shows, one at D.C.ā€™s Capital One Arena on Friday, July 12 and another at Baltimoreā€™s CFG Bank Arena on Saturday, July 13.  

Tickets are on sale now via TicketMaster. LiveNation announced the 2023 leg of the tour consisted of 36 shows, each of which was sold out. The 2024 leg has 35 stops planned so far; R&B star Nelly will open for Jackson on the new leg. 

Jackson made the tour announcement Tuesday on social media: ā€œHey u guys! By popular demand, weā€™re bringing the Together Again Tour back to North America this summer with special guest Nelly! Itā€™ll be so much fun!ā€

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