Northalsted Market Days will host a variety of musical acts Aug. 1-2. Highlighting the weekend are Jody Watley, all four original members of En Vogue and Chicago's own Jason Antone, who is openly gay. For a complete line up, please visit www.chicagoevents.com . Pictured: Depeche Mode
It is a sweet delight to see Candye Kane scheduled to perform Sunday, Aug. 2, at 5:15 p.m. at this street festival in Lakeview. Last year, Kane was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but she has overcome this battle and just released her latest, Superhero. The bisexual big-voiced belter brings her humorous brand to blues rock in the style of greats like Ruth Brown and Big Mama Thorton. Her songs "Till You Go Too Far," "Big Fat Mamas Are Back in Style" and "Masturbation Blues" would make humorous drag numbers.
Queer-fronted My Dear Disco will be at Party in the Park in Millennium Park Thursday, July 30, and at Northalsted Market Days Saturday, Aug. 1, at 3:30 p.m. Earlier this year, the seven-person outfit performed at We Are Michigan to raise awareness for LGBT rights. The Ann Arbor-based My Dear Disco can be best described as an electronic group that is not afraid to rock out. The electro-pop thumping full-length debut, DanceThink LP, is out now.
Dance diva Kristine W returns with the self-released album, The Power of Music. This set already boasts four dance-chart toppers, including a sassy take on Diana Ross' "The Boss" and the fantastic "Never." A revamped version of her breakthrough hit "Feel What You Want" appears here, courtesy of Love to Infinity. W's signature high-energy dance music is spiced up with the soulful title track, the disco-flavored "The Groove's Inside" and the slower-paced "Strings." Tackling "The Boss" was not enough, though, as the multi-instrumentalist vocal powerhouse also covers "I'm Coming Out" as a special bonus track. With 13 number ones on the dance charts to her name, the statuesque siren will be performing at Northalsted Market Days Saturday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m.
Looking at the Lollapalooza line-up, I have to ask, "Where are the LGBT acts?" Chicago's Pride Fest and Northalsted Market Days are getting better at representing the community. However, queer left-of-center rock bands like The Gossip, Telling on Trixie, The Cliks, The Balloons and Girl in a Coma all have new material out and could use the platform at any of Chicago's LGBT-marketed street festivals or Lollapalooza. The alternative music festival has big draws with The Killers, Beastie Boys and Jane's Addiction. Free downloads, maps and the schedule can be found at www.lollapalooza.com .
Carrying on as a trio, Depeche Mode is back with Sounds of the Universe. For an act that is almost three decades into its career, this group still has its hang-ups with religion, redemption and forgiveness. Sounds of the Universe features the catchy "Miles Away/The Truth Is" and the epic "Corrupt." After the hot lead single "Wrong" hit the summit on the club charts, Depeche Mode now has chalked up one more number-one dance hits than fellow British synthesizer pioneers The Pet Shop Boys. Earlier this year, select concert dates were rescheduled because lead singer Dave Gahan was derailed with gastroenteritis and a malignant tumor on his bladder, per www.nme.com . Then, additional shows were postponed because of Gahan's calf-muscle tear. Depeche Mode still is expected to headline at Lollapalooza Friday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m.
Somebody asked if Belly or Tanya Donelly had a new song out, that is used in the Bud Light Lime commercials. With TiVO and DVR's, who watches commercials anymore? Well, I caught the spot and it is Santogold's "Lights Out." The irresistible chorus recalls early '90s college-radio favorites, as she chirps, "Darling, don't got to worry, you're locked in tight/Darling, don't got to worry turn out the light." This rocking lullaby is pulled from her acclaimed self-titled debut. However, the singer-songwriter behind the Bjork-like hit "L.E.S. Artistes" now has to go by Santigold for copyright reasons. After touring last year as part of the MySpace Tour and appearing at select Get Out and Vote 08 shows during the pre-election season, the Brooklynite is slated to perform at Lollapalooza Saturday, Aug. 8, at 5:30 p.m. Santigold is working on new material, and is currently one of the contributors on "Gifted" by NASA featuring Kanye West and Lykke Li.
Unfortunately, the British electronic duo LaRoux had to pull out of Lollapalooza.
In 2005 Kidzapalooza was established, shattering the notion that family-oriented entertainment has to be torturous to the adults. Happiness Records recently issued Kidzapalooza Volume 1. Hipsters will spin on their heels seeing Perry Farrell, Debbie Harry and Lisa Loeb singing tunes that parents and kids alike can enjoy. Individuality is celebrated on "Cool to Be Uncool" by The Jimmies and "Gotta Be Me" by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. On "Fools Will Try," Ralph Covert encourages listeners to keep their chins up. Kidzapalooza Volume 1 serves as a great introduction to rock, jazz and hip-hop for youngsters, but most importantly, it is a wonderful alternative to all things Jonas Brothers and High School the Musical.
