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SPRING ARTS 2020: Adam, Sam, Rufus, Gaga and more

Uber-queer spring brings spate of highly anticipated new albums

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albums, gay news, Washington Blade
Lady Gaga (Photo courtesy of Might Real Agency)

The excitement for upcoming new music releases is palpable and much of the blame can be pinned on Lady Gaga. The surprise release of her single ā€œStupid Loveā€ foregrounds her new album ā€œChromatica,ā€ which will be released in April. But thatā€™s not the only musical event worth our attention in the coming months, although itā€™s certainly the biggest.

Today (March 13) Niall Horan releases his album ā€œHeartbreak Weather.ā€ This is the second solo album by the former One Direction member, who has continued to put out successful hits, including ā€œSlow Handsā€ and ā€œThis Town,ā€ after the boy bandā€™s split up.  

Saturday, March 14 sees the release of the queercore band Middle-Aged Queersā€™ debut album, ā€œToo Fag For Love.ā€

On Friday, March 20 Adam Lambert is set to release his fourth studio album, entitledā€œVelvet.ā€ The fantastically talented Lambert, who has toured with Queen+Adam Lambert (comprised of original members of Queen with Lambert serving as lead vocalist), remains something of a gay icon since appearing on ā€œAmerican Idolā€ in 2009. 

On the same day, ā€œALICIA,ā€ Alicia Keysā€™ latest album, will be released. So far three singles have been released from the new album, ā€œShow Me Love,ā€ ā€œTime Machineā€ and ā€œUnderdog,ā€ which was released earlier this year along with a new music video.

The pop-punk boyband 5 Seconds of Summer (or 5SOS)will release its fourth studio album, ā€œCalm,ā€ on March 27. Touring early on with One Direction, the group has continued to made their own way well after One Direction dissipated. So far they have released four singles, including the popular ā€œEasier,ā€ which has nearly 200 million streams on Spotify.

Also on March 27, Sufjan Stevens will releaseā€œAporia,ā€ his first full album in five years. That isnā€™t to say that the Brooklyn-based singer has not been busy in the meantime. His music is everywhere lately. He has worked on the soundtrack for a number of recent film projects, including Luca Guadagninoā€™s 2017 ā€œCall Me By Your Name.ā€ And the song ā€œChicagoā€ from his fantastic 2005 album ā€œIllinoisā€ serves as the theme for Ryan Murphyā€™s Netflix show ā€œThe Politician,ā€ starring Ben Platt.

Vanessa Carlton is expected to release her sixth studio album,ā€œLove Is An Art,ā€ on the same day. Itā€™s unlikely thereā€™s a single person who doesnā€™t know ā€œA Thousand Miles,ā€ her monster hit. In fact, her debut album ā€œBe Not Nobodyā€ (2002) is the only one of albums to enjoy major success. Carlton has nevertheless continued to produce music.

On April 3, Nina Simoneā€™s album 1982  ā€œFodder On My Wingsā€ will be re-released widely in digital and physical format. It offers a chance to become reacquainted with one of the iconic R&B singerā€™s lesser-known albums.

Queer New York-based artist Stefan Alexander releases his sophomore EP ā€œCry Againā€ on April 3. 

The highlight of the spring album releases is without a doubt Lady Gagaā€™s ā€œChromaticaā€ on April 10. Nearly every project she has been involved in has been a success, including her starring role alongside Bradley Cooper in ā€œA Star Is Bornā€ (2018). The song ā€œShallow,ā€ sung by Gaga and Cooper, won Best Original Song at the Golden Globes and Oscars. But if the new single ā€œStupid Loveā€ is any indication, ā€œChromaticaā€ will be something of a return to an earlier iteration of Gaga, something more akin to the musical style of ā€œBorn This Wayā€ (2011) than to the more experimental ā€œArt Popā€ (2013) and ā€œJoanneā€ (2016). Her highly limited spring tour isnā€™t coming to Washington. 

Peggy Leeā€™s centennial year is being celebrated with various events. ā€œUltimate Peggy Leeā€ drops April 17 and features a 57-year-old unreleased track. 

On April 24, Rufus Wainwrightā€™s new albumā€œUnfollow The Rulesā€ will be released. In anticipation of the new record, the gay singer-songwriter released singles ā€œDamsel In Distressā€ and ā€œTrouble In Paradiseā€ earlier this year. 

Indigo Girls release their new album ā€œLong Lookā€ on April 24, their first since 2015. Theyā€™ve reunited with producer John Reynolds who produced their ā€™99 album ā€œCome On Now Social.ā€ They play Rehoboth May 2. 

Indigo Girls (Photo by Jeremy Cowart)

Sam Smith, a gay artist who recently came out as non-binary, will releaseā€œTo Die Forā€ on May 1, a follow-up to the widely successful ā€œThe Thrill Of It Allā€ (2017) and ā€œIn The Lonely Hourā€ (2014). Four singles have been released thus far, including ā€œDancing with a Strangerā€ and the eponymous ā€œTo Die For,ā€ released earlier this year.

The ā€™80s rock band The Psychedelic Furs will put out a new album, entitled ā€œMade Of Rain,ā€ also on May 1. The group, which continues to tour the world, has enjoyed renewed interest after their hit song ā€œLove My Wayā€ from the 1982 album ā€œForever Nowā€ was featured in ā€œCall Me By Your Name.ā€

Also May 1, the reconvened Dixie Chicks release their first new album in a whopping 14 years ā€” “Gaslighter.”

Additionally, ā€™90s rocker Alanis Morissette will release her ninth studio album,ā€œSuch Pretty Forks in the Road,ā€ on that day. Itā€™s her first album since ā€œHavoc and Bright Lightsā€ in 2012.

Hayley Williams, lead singer of the pop rock group Paramore (the song ā€œMisery Businessā€ was one of their most popular), will release her first album as a solo artist on May 8, entitled ā€œPetals For Armor,ā€ following after the EP ā€œPetals for Armor I,ā€ which was released in February.

MAXā€™s new album ā€œColour Visionā€ drops May 22. Heā€™s straight but has headlined at Capital Pride as an ally.  

MAX (Photo courtesy Donovan PR)

In addition to the officially scheduled releases, there is still a number of possible releases. The French singer Christine and the Queens recently the EP ā€œLa vita nuova.ā€ And we might also expect a forthcoming album from transmasculine artist Jakk Fynn, who released his debut EP, entitled ā€œCancelledā€ back in February. Hope remains for new music from Rihanna, Adele and Cardi B. Janet Jackson has announced a summer U.S. tour and teased new music but nothing concrete yet album wise. 

Thereā€™s lot of cool stuff slated for release on vinyl, too. Among highlights:

ā€¢ Whitney Houstonā€™s eponymous debut album is out in a 35th anniversary edition on ā€œpeaches-and-creamā€-colored double vinyl with a deluxe booklet for $70. 

ā€¢ ABBA ā€œLive at Wembley Arenaā€ is a triple-LP set out today.

ā€¢ Perfume Geniusā€™s fifth album ā€œSet My Heart on Fire Immediatelyā€ is out on double ā€œCoke-bottle greenā€ vinyl May 15.

And there are several cool releases planned for Record Store Day (April 18): 

ā€¢ Britneyā€™s ā€œOops! ā€¦  I Did it Again (Remixes and B-sides)ā€

ā€¢ Destinyā€™s Childā€™s ā€œSay My Nameā€ on 12ā€ picture disc

ā€¢ Two k.d. lang albums debut on vinyl ā€” ā€œDragā€ and ā€œAngel With a Lariatā€

ā€¢ Bob Mouldā€™s ā€œCircle of Friends,ā€ music from the concert film, debuts on vinyl for the first time 

ā€¢ Robynā€™s eponymous debut makes it vinyl debut on double LP

ā€¢ Sam Smithā€™s cover of Donna Summerā€™s ā€œI Feel Loveā€ gets a 12ā€ picture disc release

ā€¢ Tegan and Saraā€™s ā€œTonight in the Dark Weā€™re Seeing Colorsā€ on ā€œviolet with black splatterā€ vinyl

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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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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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