On April 22, a few days before the fourth annual Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards ( GLAMAs ) , there was a gathering of GLAMA-nominated artists at Eureka Joe's on Fifth Avenue in New York. It was a great opportunity for the musicians and some of their admirers to make their acquaintance. Among the GLAMA nominees in attendance were Scott Free, Patrick Arena, Michael Holland, Charles Cermele, Mark Islam, Casey Collins, Garrin Benfield, David Gurland, and Alan Wiley, to name a few.
That same evening, the one of several GLAMA-related live performances took place at the Sun Music Room on the Upper East Side of the city. The performers ( including Robert Urban Band, previous GLAMA-winner David Clement and Rob Bailey, the all-female trio Tara Lynne Band, and Scott Free ) were all positively riveting, and demonstrated both the variety and value of gay and lesbian musicians.
The actual GLAMA ceremony, held April 24 at the Manhattan Center ( on West 34th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues ) , was an evening full of surprises, delights and disappointments. The strong showing by Chicago-area performers nominated for GLAMAs proved to be a bust. The closest Chicago came to taking home a GLAMA were the two wins by Amasong, the lesbian/feminist chorus, based several miles south of the city in Champaign-Urbana.
However, "Debut Artist"-nominee KAMYS did have the chance to perform live at the GLAMAs. Backed up by a full band of Chicago musicians and back-up vocalists ( including the remarkable Catherine Smitko ) , KAMYS did a stirring rendition of his song "Trade" ( which was also nominated for a GLAMA in the "Out Song" category ) . Other live performance highlights included the cast of Hedwig & The Angry Inch ( who would go on to win two GLAMAs, in the "Cast Recording" and "Score For Film or Theater" categories ) , a surprisingly subdued Joi Cardwell ( who won a GLAMA in the "Dance Music" category ) , Meshell Ndegeocello ( who received GLAMAs in the "Female Artist" and "Album" category, as well as receiving the prestigious "Outmusic Award," and the superb Lea DeLaria ( a "Jazz" nominee ) .
Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the evening was host Bruce Vilanch, who had more misses than hits with the jokes he appeared to be trying out on the captive audience. His GLAMA hosting duties occurred a day before he was to open his one-man show Bruce Vilanch: Almost Famous at the Westbeth Theater Center ) .
Fred Hersch, who received the Michael Callen Medal Of Honor, drew parallels between himself and Callen, which made his receiving the honor even more meaningful. Hersch went on to win the GLAMA in the "Male Artist" category.
Gretchen Phillips, the former Two Nice Girls band-mate of two-time GLAMA-winner Meg Hentges, arrived at the Manhattan Center in time to accept the first of Hentges two GLAMAs, still wearing her jacket, with her purse slung over her shoulder. Her impromptu acceptance speech, which included mention of her late arrival, earned her a few knowing laughs. Perhaps this much-deserved recognition will convince the people at Hentges's label, Robbins Entertainment, to invest some time, money and energy into promoting this brilliant artist and album.
A list of GLAMA winners is on the next page.
Best wishes
Led Zeppelin and Earth Wind & Fire, two bands that occupied space on the pop charts during the 1970s, have both been honored by two "volume two" best of collections. The Best of Earth Wind & Fire: Vol. II ( Columbia/Legacy ) features 12 tracks ( 10, plus two "bonus tracks" ) from the beloved r&b band's late '70s and mid-'80s. The opening track, "Turn On ( The Beat Box ) ," has the sound that we've come to associate with Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know" period. The most timeless stuff on the disc pre-dates "Turn On," as you can hear on "Let's Groove," "After The Love Has Gone," the classic ballad "After The Love Has Gone," "Fantasy," and especially the band's duet with The Emotions, "Boogie Wonderland" ( 1978 ) .
The enhanced Latter Days: The Best of Led Zeppelin Volume Two ( Atlantic ) picks up where the first volume ( Better Days ) left off, and features a live performance video of "Kashmir," a song that is also featured on the disc in its original studio version. Among the other 10 highly influential tracks on this collection you will find "The Song Remains The Same," "Houses Of The Holy," "Trampled," "In The Evening," and the sumptuous "All My Love."
It's hard to imagine a performer more influential than Johnny Cash. Personally selected and produced by Cash himself, the three-disc themed-compilation Love, God & Murder ( Columbia/American/Legacy ) spans an almost 40-year period. Available as a box set or as individual discs ( Love, God, Murder ) , the songs are both familiar and obscure, in studio and live versions, and a few have been previously unavailable domestically. Additionally, the liner notes, by June Carter Cash ( Love ) , Bono ( God ) , and Quentin Tarantino ( Murder ) , and Cash himself, make this collection a must-have, and also serves to prepare Cash fans, new and old alike, for his forthcoming summer release of new material.
Consisting of songs that date back as far as some on the Cash compilation, Dementia 2000: Dr. Demento's 30th Anniversary Collection ( Rhino ) is every bit as amusing and educational as one might expect. Although it's been a while since a comedy album topped the Billboard pop charts ( as recently as the '70s, albums by Cheech & Chong and Steve Martin, to name a few, went gold or platinum on a regular basis ) , "Weird Al" Yankovic continues to release his parody-lyric songs, and he is one of the artists included ( three times ) in this two-disc set. Other novelty tracks ( in both musical and spoken word versions ) include "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III, "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" by Brian Hyland, "My Ding-A-Ling" by Chuck Berry ( ! ) , "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" by Rolf Harris, "Tennessee Bird Walk" by Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan, "Lumberjack Song" by Monty Python, and Mrs. Miller's unendurable rendition of "Downtown."
There are also a surprising number of tracks with gay references, including "Eskimo" by Corky & The Juice Pigs ( about "the only gay Eskimo in my tribe" ) and "Standing On The Shoulder Of Freaks" by Henry Phillips, to name a few.
When you call an album The Best Jukebox Album In The World ... Ever! ( Virgin ) you are asking for trouble. I'm not sure that I would necessarily want to have "You Can't Sit Down, Part 2" by The Phil Upchurch Combo or Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers' version of Lennon and McCartney's "Got To Get You Into My Life," on my jukebox. However, no jukebox is complete without "Green Onions" by Booker T. And The MG's, "Rumble" by Link Wray, or "Apache" by The Shadows.
Finally, a reason for celebrating, if there ever was one. Luaka Bop - 10th Anniversary: Zero Accidents On The Job ( Luaka Bop ) marks the tenth anniversary of the ground-breaking record label founded by musician and former-Talking Head David Byrne. The two-disc, 26-track fiesta includes tracks by artists who have crossed over to achieve limited but noteworthy mainstream recognition ( including Cornershop, Geggy Tah, Zap Mama, Cesaria Evora, Los Van Van, Susana Baca, and a duet by Byrne and the late Selena ) , as well as artists equally deserving of every daring music lovers' attention ( Clinton, Los Amigos Invisibles, Paulo Braganca, and Tom Ze, to name just a few ) .
Where it's @
compiled by Gregg Shapiro
@ Allstate Arena - 312/559-1212 ( TM ) : Diana Ross and the Supremes 7.1
@ Arie Crown - 312/791-6000: Dennis Miller 8.19
@ Centre East - 847/673-6300: Legends Of The Catskills ( Marty Allen, Jack Carter, Frank Gorshin ) 5.10 - 14
@ DOUBLE DOOR - 773/489-3160: Sam Prekop & His Band and Terry Callier 5.12 / Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers ( featuring Victoria Williams and Mark Olson from Jay Hawks ) * Jon Langford & Carlos Ortega, Mike Ireland and Holler 5.13 / Jeff Tweedy and Jim O'Rourke, The Aluminum Group, and Rebecca Gates 5.14 / Chantal Kreviazuk and Paddy Casey 5.15 / Casolando and The Spies Who Surf 5.20 / Bumpus 5.23 / Butterfly Child and Jay Bennett ( of Wilco ) 5.25 / Andrew Bird's Bowl Of Fire and Lonseome Organist 5.26 / Anna Fermin's Trigger Gospel 6.3 / Legendary Pink Dots 6.22 / BR5-49 6.30
@ Elbo Room - 773/549-5549: Frankie Goes To Hollywood 5.25
@ Empty Bottle - 773/276-3600: Apples In Stereo and Versus 5.11 / Frogs 5.19 / Aisler's Set 5.21 / Stereo Total, Bobby Conn and Solex 6.1 / Evil Beaver 6.5 / The Thrones 6.8 / The Sadies and Cash Money 6.12 / The Chicago Underground Duo 6.17 / Royal Trux 6.23
@ FitzGerald's - 708/788-6670: Sleepy LaBeef 5.11 / Brave Combo and The Polkaholics 5.12 / Webb Wilder 5.13 / Alice Peacock 5.18 / The Waco Brothers and Sally Timms 5.26 / Peter Case 6.1
@ Gentry of Chicago ( State ) - 312/836-0933: Denise Tomasello 5.10 - 13, 5.17 - 20, 5.24 - 27 / Open Mic with Beckie Menzie ( every Sunday ) / Job Christenson w/Beckie Menzie ( Mondays )
@ House Of Blues - 312/923-2000: The Judybats 5.13 / Futuresound Tour ( w/Big Daddy Kane and Mr. Len ) 5.18 / Toots & The Maytals 6.3 / Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band 6.8 / Los Van Van 6.15 / Ray Charles 6.16 Jean-Luc Ponty 6.21 / The Specials 6.24 / Robin Trower 6.29 / Brian Setzer Orchestra 7.5 / Credence Clearwater Revival 7.19
@ McAninch Arts Center - 630/942-4000: Tom Paxton 5.13
@ Metro - 773/549-0203: Wire and Seam 5.10 / Blonde Redhead and Unwound 5.11 / Sleater-Kinney, The Bangs and The Gossip 5.12 / Modest Mouse, Califone and Devil In A Woodpile 5.13 / Ruth Buzzy 5.16 / Boss Hog 5.18 / Elliott Smith 5.25 & 26 / L7 5.27 / Kid Koala 5.29 / Primal Scream 6.1 / Julianna Hatfield and The Slugs 6.3 / MDFMK 6.6 / Yo La Tengo and Sue Garner & Rick Brown 6.17
@ New World Music Theater - 708/614-1616: Blink 182 6.10 / Santana 8.19
@ Old Town School of Folk Music - 773/728-6000: Weavermania featuring Frank Hamilton 5.12
@ Park West - 773/929-5959: Medeski, Martin & Wood 5.13 / Jimmie Dale Gilmore Band 6.16
@ Ravinia - 847/266-5100: Taj Mahal 7.3
@ Rialto Square Theater - 815/726-7171: Neil Sedaka 5.19
@ Riviera Theater - 773/275-6800: Sonic Youth and Stereolab 6.10
@ Rosemont Theater - 312/559-1212 ( TM ) : Joni Mitchell 5.30
@ Schuba's - 773/525-2508: John Doe and Verbow 5.12 / Grandaddy and Brokeback 5.13 / His Name Is Alive 5.14 / Amy Cook 5.17 / SONiA and Ellen Rosner 5.21 / Sarah Dougher 5.23 / Sheila Nicholls 5.24 / Dolly Varden 5.27 / Joseph Arthur 6.4 / Sam Prekop 6.7 / Hank Williams III 6.9 / Of Montreal 6.15 / Continental Drifters 6.16 / Elizabeth Elmore 6.22 / Lowen & Navarro 7.3
@ Second Unitarian Church - 773/248-3953: Cris Williamson 5.13
@ Smart Bar - 773/549-0203: DJ Colin Newman of Wire and DJ Pete Nathan from Amazing Crowns 5.10 / Robbie Harkiss 5.12 / Miles Maeda 5.20
@ Soldier Field - 312/559-1212 ( TM ) : Dave Matthews Band, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, and Ozomatli 6.29
@ Uncommon Ground - 773/929-3680: Ripley Caine 5.13
