BY DAVID BYRNE
Whether with their respective bands or as solo acts, Stevie Nicks and Don Henley are quite a pair. The duo is reuniting for a summer concert tour, surely they will redo 'Leather and Lace' together, as well as signature songs by Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles. 'La Bella Donna' is headlining shows on her own in Las Vegas at the Colosseum in Caesars Palace.
The Audio Bully's 'Shot You Down' revamps Nancy Sinatra's version of 'Bang Bang ( My Baby Shot Me Down ) ,' which was heard during the introduction of the movie Kill Bill vol. 1. The original ballad is looped and sequenced over a dance beat similar to the 'Red Alert' era material from The Basement Jaxx, whilst the video is an acid trip creatively incorporating original footage of Sinatra. Old Blue Eyes' daughter even gave this bootleg project her blessing.
Another unlikely pairing is Karen O. of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs working with Squeak E. Clean for a dream sequenced Addidas commercial. Leaving behind her Chryssie Hynde stylings, the spot's song 'Hello Tomorrow' has Karen favoring a trip-hop sound more suited for Bjork. According to soundgenerator.com, this collaboration is part of a side project in between commitments for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Whereas Mariah Carey's latest album The Emancipation of Mimi may have taken the No.1 spot in the U.S., Mimi bowed in at No. 7 on the UK charts, as Natalie Imbruglia's third album Counting Down the Days claimed the pinnacle position, despite not being released stateside. Maybe the British market was better at distinguishing Carey's album cover from Beyonce's.
As a salute to the 10-year anniversary of her breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette is re-recording the entire album with its original collaborator Glen Ballard acoustically. The reworked album will be available exclusively through Starbucks shops, while the video of her live performance from VH-1 Storytellers just hit the retail shelves. Some artists cringe at supplying their fans with the well-known hits, but Alanis said she really enjoyed revisiting her angst-ridden anthems including 'You Oughtta Know' and 'Ironic.' The Canadian songstress is scheduled to perform at the Auditorium Theatre June 11.
Also on Saturday June 11, Sophie B. Hawkins returns to Chicago's House of Blues promoting her latest opus Wilderness. The beautiful and multi-talented artist will be at Pride Fest Milwaukee, as well as other pride-related events across the county. Sophie's Web site offers links to rare video footage and remixes. Ellen Rosner opens for the House of Blues Chicago gig.
Being heckled by the preacher man on State Street with a sermon about homosexuals being sinners and how we won't make it to heaven made me think of some religious-themed songs. Dusty Springfield crooned about the minister's kid when his father would go door to door witnessing on her hit 'Son of a Preacherman.' This cut was sampled by Cyprus Hill and was dusted off for the 1994 soundtrack to Pulp Fiction. Two classic Dusty songs 'Goin' Back' and 'I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love' are on the recent Pet Shop Boys' installment in the Back to Mine series. Nina Simone sang about repentance on 'Sinnerman,' which was remixed by Felix da Housecat for Verve Remixed 2. The late High Priestess of Soul has a colorful assortment of songs on the Verve Remixed collections, including 'Little Girl Blue' and 'Lilac Wine' on this year's Verve Remixed 3.
Slipped Disc
There are many artists that leave us wondering, 'Whatever happened to ... .' Pop-dance singer Cathy Dennis had a string of hits in the early '90s and then took a step out of the limelight. Her sophomore solo collection, Into the Skyline, showed a more mature side of her and remains a classic slipped disc. Into the Skyline reunited Cathy with D-mob and had her working with music veterans Shep Pettibone and Tony Shimkin, even a cameo on Beverly Hills 90210 couldn't get an audience to 'move to this.' The album's feature single 'You Lied to Me' is Dennis's last Top 40 hit. The standout tracks 'Falling' mirrors the bassline from 'Vogue' and 'For Your Love' has a strikingly similar introduction as Madonna's 'Borderline.' In the mid-'90s, Cathy briefly reemerged with a new image covering 'Waterloo Sunset.' Cathy went on the write several pop hits including for Britney Spears ( 'Toxic' ) and Kylie Minogue ( 'Can't Get You Out of My Head,' 'Come into My World' ) , even co-writing the theme song for American Idol. Unfortunately, Cathy has no intentions to record solo material again, but seems quite content with others singing her works.
Chicago to Host 2005 Outmusic Awards June 12
The Windy City will play a starring role in spotlighting gay and lesbian music when it hosts the 2005 Outmusic Awards Show honoring the year's best lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) musicians and songs Sunday, June 12. Now celebrating its fifth year, this is the first time the event will be held outside New York City.
The show will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Chicago's Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Preceding the show will be four days of citywide events celebrating LGBT music. Awards will be given in 12 categories: New Recording ( Female, Male, Duo or Group, Band, Chorus or Choir, and Instrumental ) ; Debut Recording ( Female and Male ) ; Producer; Songwriter; Outsong on the Year; and Outmusician of the Year.
Co-hosting the awards ceremony will be singer/actress/comedian Lea DeLaria and Chicago singer/songwriter Jinx Titantic.
See www.ticketweb.com or for info see www.Outmusic.com or call ( 773 ) 435-6829.
Sue the T. Rex's Birthday Marked By CD Release
On June 21, award-winning producer and songwriter Mike Himelstein serves up a musical birthday party in celebration of Sue the T. Rex's 5th anniversary at The Field Museum in Chicago. The most intact Tyrannosaurus rex ever found roars to life with original songs and a great guest lineup plus a mindbending 3D cover!. Five-time Grammy Award-winning vocal performer, Al Jarreau, is the guest narrator who takes you on Sue's journey from her discovery to her perspective on her new home and new friends.
The recording features a wide musical variety from the upbeat, foot-stomping, Texas swing of 'How Do You Get To South Dakota?' ( performed by Travelin' Smiley Whippersnapper ) , the New Orleans Bourbon Street-inspired 'Bones' ( sung by Al Jarreau ) , a snappy, song about, you guessed it, Sue's bones, to the jazzy piano lounge crooning of Greg Himeistein, 'See 'Em In The Museum', and the down-home blues of 'Sue's Chicago Blues' ( performed by Bonnie Bramlett & Joe Bonamassa ) . Other guest artists include Martha Davis ( of The Motels ) , and Spanky McFarlane, who join in the celebration as well.
The largest and most complete T. rex ever discovered, Sue was found 90% complete and at 42-feet long and 13-feet high, she's a colossal fossil. Discovered by fossil hunter Sue Hendrickson in South Dakota in 1990, Sue was purchased by The Field Museum in Chicago in 1997. Her complete skeleton, on display at the museum since 2000, has received worldwide attention with almost one billion media impressions. A merchandising blockbuster, Sue has generated over $8 million in total sales through The Field Museum Stores. Several casts of Sue are currently touring the U.S. and Japan.
