One of Chicago's beloved queer outfits, Boys' Entrance, is going to be in The Battle of the Bands on Friday, June 4, at Metal Shaker, 3394 N. Milwaukee. Fronted by Tim Cain, Boys' Entrance re-released the single "Flash," which is inspired by Princess Diana. The group's latest, DEMOcrat Vol. 1: Songs from Tunnelvision, includes "Mr. Sissy" and also has the sex addict referencing "The 13th Step."
The forthcoming DEMOcrat Vol. 2: Cover Up will feature remakes of the material from Boys' Entrance's idols, like T-Rex, David Bowie, Bronski Beat and Depeche Mode. The new track "Give 'Em Hope" will debut this month of JD Doyle's Pride Month edition of his Queer Music Heritage Internet radio broadcast. DEMOcrat Vol. 1: Songs from Tunnelvision is out now.
The one and only Jinx Titanic returns from Ireland with A Very Classy Evening with Jinx Titanic & Super 8 Cum Shot on Wed., June 9, at Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark. The 23-track collection 100% Pure Class, the Very Best of Jinx Titanic and the Super 8 Cum Shot is available on iTunes and features the punk-party anthems "I Love a Boy," "Check Your Nuts" and "Trade."
Her voice is a national treasure. She shows off her manicure while performing in a way that rivals Barbra Streisand's technique. Patti LaBelle will be at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center, Hammond, Ind., Friday, June 11. For directions and information on shuttles, please visit horseshoehammond.com . On Saturday, June 12, Labelle will be at Milwaukee's Pridefest.
Having taken turns as an author and actress, the young-at-heart diva was cast as Kelly Rowland's mom in the video to Nelly's 2002 "Dilemma." The worldwide smash samples her tune "Love, Need and Want You."
Got a Labelle playlist and feel the need to "stir it up?" The godmother to Cyndi Lauper's son recorded a new version Moby's "One of These Mornings" with a gospel-tinged heartache for the Miami Vice soundtrack. Hex Hector miraculously reworked her 1997 single "When You Talk about Love," giving the jam "a new attitude." For the 2005 album Classic Moments, LaBelle remade Kristine W.'s "Land of the Living."
Iconic '80s alternative rockers Psychedelic Furs will be taking to the stage at The Metro, 3730 N. Clark, Friday, June 11. The band behind classics like "Heartbreak Beat" and "Love My Way" re-recorded the number "Pretty in Pink" for the John Hughes film of the same name. Lead singer Richard Butler has a certain renaissance quality that leaves many scratching their chins. Just check out the poses he strikes during "Sister Europe."
Other musicians have covered the Psychedelic Furs' work, including Foo Fighters remaking "Sister Europe," Annie Lennox delivering a soulful take of "Heaven" and Rapture redoing "Dumb Waiters." For a free download of an absolutely divine version of "Heaven" please visit Sunscreem vocalist Lucia Holm's official website, LuciaHolm.com .
Melody Gardot will have a stop at The Park West, 322 W. Armitage, on Friday, June 11, during a brief U.S. tour. The Philadelphia native released her sophomore bow, My One and Only Thrill, last year. She won me over with the slow-burning title track from her 2008 debut, Worrisome Heart. Gardot's voice effortlessly oozes with sex appeal on "Lover Undercover" and "Our Love Is Easy." Except for a cover of "Over the Rainbow," Gardot writes all of her own material. She really captures a timeless feel and plays the role of a cool cat in a jazz club so naturally. My One and Only Thrill is out now on Verve, and has had great chart success overseas.
Tracey Thorn can sing the tax code and I would sit there entranced by her delivery. The former frontwoman of Everything But the Girl returns with another solo outing, Love And Its Opposite. Here, she tackles mid-life issues like life after separation and getting older on "Oh the Divorces," "Hormones" and "Singles Bar." The sound here is more organic than 2007's Out of the Woods, but elements of electroncia are present on "Late in the Afternoon." I have Thorn's cover of Lee Hazlewood's "Come on Home to Me" stuck on repeat. This brooding duet with Jens Lekman dwells in the shadows, where one would expect to find a collaboration between Nick Cave and PJ Harvey. Love And Its Opposite is out now on Merge Records.
Leave it to the New York duo The Golden Filter to capture the electronic indie sound coming from Scandinavian acts like Kate Havnevik, Sally Shapiro and Frost. On the debut, Voluspa, lead singer Penelope Trappes has a light wisp of a voice. This fits perfectly on the ethereal "The Underdogs" and the opener "Dance around the Fire." The standout "Hide Me" resembles a DIY outtake by Goldfrapp. "Solid Gold" is the ultimate emo, shoe-gazer dance ditty.
The Golden Filter has remixed tracks for others such as "New in Town" by Little Boots, "We Are the People" by Empire of the Sun and "Far Away" by Cut Copy. Voluspa is out now and The Golden Filter will be at The Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, on Wed., June 9, with The Hundred Hands and Brilliant Pebbles.
Upcoming releases:
Christina Aguilera: Bionic, June 8
Andy Bell: Non-Stop, June 8
Robyn: Body Talk Part 2, June 15
Sarah McLachlan: Laws of Illusion, June 15
Sia: We Are Born, June 22
Cyndi Lauper: Memphis Blues, June 22
Macy Gray: The Sellout, June 22
Scissor Sisters: Night Work, June 29
Indigo Girls: Staring down the Brilliant Dream, June 29
Kelis: Flesh Tone, July 6
Kylie Minogue: Aphrodite, July 6
Sheryl Crow: 100 Miles from Memphis, July 20
Concerts to check out:
Liza Minnelli ( Sunday, June 6, at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State )
Jinx Titanic ( Wed., June 9, at Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark )
The Golden Filter ( Wed., June 9, at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western )
Patti LaBelle ( Friday, June 11, at The Venue, 777 Casino Center, Hammond, Ind. )
Psychedelic Furs ( Friday, June 11, at Metro, 3730 N. Clark )
Melody Gardot ( Friday, June 11, at Park West, 322 W. Armitage )
Adam Lambert with Orianthi ( Thursday, June 17, at The Venue, 777 Casino Center, Hammond, Ind. )
Jody Watley ( Friday, June 25, at Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. King )
Lilith Fair featuring Sarah McLachlan, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Heart, LaRoux and more ( Saturday, July 17, at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland, Tinley Park )
Hall & Oates ( Friday, July 23, at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State )
Joan Armatrading ( Sunday, July 25, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn )
Melissa Etheridge ( Saturday, Aug. 7, at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State )