Did your Valentine's Day turn into a "Bad Romance" because Lady Gaga canceled her Chicago dates at the last minute? Little monsters will have something to sink their "Teeth" into as the tribute Bad Romance Show comes to the gorgeous, historical movie house, Copernicus Theatre, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., on Saturday, April 27. The musical-meets-concert event tells the feel-good story of a determined young woman pursuing her dreams of becoming a pop star. Throughout the production, the material of Lady Gaga is performed, including my favorites "LoveGame" and "Dance in the Dark."
Expect a celebration of all things Gaga here; her couture fashion, her choreography and the "Born This Way" singer's endlessly positive message. Having toured nationally, Bad Romance Show celebrates its first anniversary in the Windy City and will be headlining PrideFest Milwaukee. For tickets and more information, visit www.badromanceshow.com .
Legendary pop-rock act Fleetwood Mac reunites again for another tour, marking 45 years after its debut album was released. The tour itinerary has stops at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., on Saturday, April 13 and Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Rd., Rosemont, on Friday, June 14. Despite fans and former bandmates trying to convince her otherwise, Christine McVie will not reinstate her status to be a current member of the group. Another reissue of Rumours, featuring live and alternative versions, is out now. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham had solo efforts in 2011, but Fleetwood Mac promises new material is in the works.
Acclaimed gay crooner Rufus Wainwright comes to Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave., on Sunday, April 14. His latest, Out of the Game, shows a lively, pop aesthetic, owing to producer Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse; Duran Duran), as witnessed on "Bitter Tears." The remarkable lullaby "Montauk" showcases Wainwright's strengths in storytelling. On her 2009 collection The Performance, Dame Shirley Bassey puts aside the James Bond themes to belt out the unbelievable "The Apartment," which Wainwright penned.
My smartphone application Shazam saves the day once again. I was working away at my favorite independent coffee house and I was overtaken by a soulful, mid-tempo song with soaring vocals, recalling the likes of Cat Power, Sarah McLachlan and Antony Hegarty. My trustee app told me it was "The Fall" by Rhye. And how I did fall.
The duo's impressive full-length debut, Woman, is out now. Here, a laid-back sound comes across as if Sade teamed with Zero 7. The "Hunger" left me pining for more with its soft modern disco influence and "Last Dance" has a head-bobbing groove that suits Mike Milosh's androgynous vocal style. Rhye has a sold-out show at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., on Thursday, April 11.
What a tease Tears for Fears issued on the pair's Facebook page by posting, "Thanks for an amazing 30 years. This year is going to be a big one. Get ready!" Tears for Fears became wildly popular in its native England thanks to the debut, The Hurting, in 1983. The band hit the big time stateside with 1985's Songs from the Big Chair.
The Hurting contains some of the band's best work, including the moody singles "Pale Shelter" and "Change." Michael Andrews and Gary Jules rearranged "Mad World" for the film Donnie Darko. This cover ultimately knocked Kelly and Ozzy Osbourne's take on Black Sabbath's "Changes" out of the pole position to be a Christmas number one in 2003 in the U.K. Madonna and Belinda Carlisle's backup singer Donna De Lory did a fantastic remake of the title track. The Hurting was rereleased in 2001 with bonus tracks. After splitting in 1991, the band reunited for 2004's Everybody Loves a Happy Ending.
The other day I combed through my music collection to find something upbeat and I reached for Love U More: The Very Best of Sunscreem. The British dance act scored the feat of crossing over to American Top 40 with "Love U More." Watered-down versions of this hit have since been made by Steps and Rollergirl. The two-disc retrospective includes singles alongside album tracks plus a dozen remixes.
Sunscreem's frontwoman Lucia Holm has an angelic voice that sails over melodies and traps listeners with a hook, as she does on "Perfect Motion" by singing, "If rhythm is a drug, I'm hooked on you." The live version of "Walk On" fits in well here, proving that Sunscreem could translate the atmosphere of a rave into its live shows. "Pressure," "Chasing My Dreams" and "Psycho" catapult me back to the early '90s with the trademark piano complementing these dance tracks. Other perks are superbly penned "For Maddened Prophets," its dub "Be of Good Heart" and the temperamental spin of a nursery rhyme, "Exodus."
The album Out of the Woods was never properly released due to label Pulse-8 going under, but "Britannia" and "Change" surface here, hinting at the promise of what could have been. The bonus material is highlighted by K-Klass's euphoric reworking of "When," the absolutely genius mix of "Cover Me" by Trouser Enthusiasts and the trance gem "Please Save Me." Love U More might be out of print, but it is goldmine of greatness.
