Music & Concerts

Carlile delights at Merriweather concert

Grammy-winning singer/songwriter proves she’s got the bona fides for a long career

Published

6 years ago

June 26, 2019

Colleen Dermody

gay events dc, gay news, Washington Blade — **Brandi Carlile** (Photo courtesy Sacks & Co.)

Brandi Carlile has an abundance of three things we all probably want. Innocence, joy and courage.

In an ebullient, June 14 appearance at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Carlile and her band, including twin brothers Tim and Phil Hanseroth, wowed an over-the-top crowd with her pitch-perfect voice and tight band orchestration as she effortlessly sang a varied set of both her poetic protest and just plain beautiful songs.

And she managed to deliver more than a ticketholders money’s worth while humbly thanking everyone for attending “this special, magical night” that ended with her emotional rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” sung with a majesty that could make Rufus Wainwright cry.

How does a 38-year-old lesbian, mother of two from Ravensdale, Wash., manage to capture the hearts of everyday folks in Columbia, Md., and dozens of Hollywood celebrities and musicians worldwide at the same time? Most likely through her honest, brilliant, blue-collar view of a day’s work and her exuberant, courageous and gracious performing style.

At her Merriweather show, Carlile’s authenticity and joy were palpable from the moment she stepped on stage to her cheering, guitar-raised exit two-and-half hours later. The audience could not get enough. They sang along to her storied song catalog, swooned, hollered and hooted, danced and swayed, used their phones as lighters and willed the concert not to end.

All the while Carlile gazed tenderly back at her adoring crowd, thanking them from the bottom of her heart after introducing her virtuoso band including her drummer, Matt Chamberlain (who’s toured with Tori Amos), whom she called a “badass motherfucker” and suggested they not be scared in an example of her down-home authenticity. His burley-biker-bear look definitely cried out for a tongue-in-cheek bit of reassurance.

The audience, a delightful mix of gay and straight, country, folk and hipster, cheered until they were hoarse when she spoke about her marriage to Brit Catherine Carlile, their two children and coming to terms with motherhood when she is not the traditional “birth mother.” Her heartfelt words came across as earnest and unrehearsed lending all the more credence to her message of gay pride, doing the right thing and loving one another.

While her thankfulness for gay marriage, finding her best friend and the love of her life, and her two beautiful children was touching and sweet, it was the powerful delivery of her songs, especially “The Joke” and “The Story,” that really hit the night’s theme out of the park — our stories are valued and important and the joke’s on those who try to tell us otherwise.

Her concert was an epic love fest for an under-the-mainstream-radar, three-time Grammy winning singer-songwriter- producer who came out when she was 15, taught herself guitar and piano by 17 and started a hometown band in her early 20s. Her career from playing small town fish shacks and honky-tonks to Americana music star and gay icon could be compared to a baseball player diligently grinding to get better every day and destined to crescendo into the Hall of Fame.

Carlile definitely has the musical “it” factor and, if her current tour is any indication, should have a long career ahead of her with a loyal fanbase.

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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

24 hours 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.