After its successful maiden voyage last year, The True Colors Tour is ready is set sail once again. Covering 25 cities between May 31 and July 5, there will be varying line-ups during its return. The True Colors Tour stops at The Chicago Theatre Tues., June 10. Expect full sets from the concert series' founder, Cyndi Lauper, as well as The Cliks, The B-52s, Tegan and Sara and Chicago's own The White Tie Affair. The evening will be five hours of continuous entertainment with comedy from Rosie O'Connell, and Carson Kressley hosting. Proceeds from the tour will benefit The True Colors Fund of Stonewall Community Foundation.
Lauper continues to be a dedicated, vocal ally to the LGBT community 'time after time.' Her latest set, Bring Ya to the Brink, is an overdue return to original material. Here, Lauper does not come across as out of place, since she co-writes and co-produces every track, teaming with renowned dance producers, including Rich Morel, Dragonette, Basement Jaxx and Kleerup. True to form, Bring Ya To the Brink delivers catchy upbeat music, but has pressing lyrics lurking beneath the sugar coating. The lead single, 'Same Ol' Story,' is a perfect sequel to her duet with Erasure, 'Early Bird.' Lauper's comeback vehicle is the kind of an album ideal for the marriage between car stereos and summertime. If you are looking for a Lauper gem, hunt down her electronic collaboration with Tricky, '5 Days,' from his 2001 opus, Blowback.
The Indigo Girls will be making cameos throughout this year's True Colors Tour, although the duo is skipping The Windy City. On Aug. 5, Amy Ray will be releasing Didn't It Feel Kinder on Daemon Records. Ray's strongest solo outing yet is moody, dark, subtly political and rich in storytelling—just what one would expect from her. Those trademark Indigo Girls folk-pop harmonies are replaced by a crunchier sound with the guitar sometimes plugged into the amplifier.
During last year's True Colors Tour, The Dresden Dolls quickly became the darlings of the trek. Unfortunately, the group consisting of vocalist and keyboardist Amanda Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione will not be rejoining Lauper and crew this time around. The Brechtian Punk Cabaret performers have a set of oddities, B-sides and newly recorded songs aptly titled No, Virginia … , serving as a bridge between 2006's Yes, Virginia … and Palmer's forthcoming solo debut. No, Virginia … is out now via Roadrunner Records.
The Ting Tings has been making quite the buzz with a sound reminiscent of Blondie's hungry years, and the British duo also incorporates Berlin and Transvision Vamp into the mix. Advertising executives beat radio programmers to the punch, as The Ting Tings is the latest act to be licensed to an Apple spot with 'Shut Up and Let Me Go.' The pair's debut already entered in the top spot on the UK charts and is currently available via iTunes, while a physical release is slated for June 3. Don't be turned off by the scatting on 'Great DJ;' moreover, the duo's irresistible cut 'That's Not My Name' is part 'My Sharona' and The Sounds' 'Song with a Mission.' The Ting Tings rank up there with The White Stripes, The Dresden Dolls and Giant Drag as one of the great contemporary co-ed musical pairs.
I have been quick to discount American Idol, since it seems to be a factory milking naive hopefuls with the temptation of a complex contract and instant popularity. Most of the contestants have proven to be flashes in the pan, but last year's winner, Jordin Sparks, wins me over with her hit 'No Air.' Here, Sparks follows the advice from the show's judges and acts her age, instead of being partial to the mature-beyond-her-years-sound she favors. On this duet, Chris Brown makes his idol Michael Jackson proud. Sparks ignites, showing off her chops with outstanding vocal gymnastics and Brown keeps up, following her lead. There is no doubt that 'No Air' is a pop guilty pleasure.
Scarlett Johansson's venture into the world of music, Anywhere I Lay My Head, is a beautiful assortment of Tom Waits covers and the especially penned track A Song for Jo. Using her celluloid skills, the actress's voice takes on different personalities, as if each song is new a character to portray. Granted, Johansson will not be belting out The National Anthem anytime soon, she knows her limits. Interestingly, David Bowie cameos on 'Falling Down' and 'Fannin Street.' Produced by TV for the Radio's David Andrew Sitek, the production is gorgeous and lush, reminiscent of some of Sinead O'Connor's recordings circa the Universal Mother or Gospel Oak sessions. The end result is a cozy, dreamy set of interpretations of tunes from one of the most celebrated living songwriters.
One of Chicago's best kept secrets, Naomi Ashley, will be performing at The Heartland Café, 7000 N. Glenwood, May 31 and at Schuba's, 3159 N. Southport, June 1. The Midwest breeds a certain pedigree of Americana singer-songwriters and Ashley proves worthy to be in this class on her latest Another Year or So. Her material, like 'Dangerous' and 'That Kind of Girl,' seamlessly balances on the twang of bluegrass, the storytelling of folk and troubles associated with country music.