Chicago continues to maintain its reputation for having magnificent music festivals with Lollapalooza and Northalsted Market Days coinciding over the Aug. 6-8 weekend.
This year, Lollapalooza has an impressive, yet exhausting line-up overtaking Grant Park. There are queer-fronted acts like Semi Precious Weapons and Grizzly Bear joined by alternative darlings the Stars, Matt & Kim and Rogue Wave. My recommendations to see include Mavis Staples, Chromeo, Raphael Saadiq and The Temper Trap. The main draws are Green Day, Soundgarden and a certain blonde New Yorker you may have heard of dubbed Lady Gaga. Tickets and a schedule are available at www.lollapalooza.com .
There will be a series of pre-Lollapalooza events, as well as additional concerts throughout the city after the festival calls it a night, as detailed on do312.com/lollaaftershows. The Ettes and American Bang keep jamming into the night at The House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn, on Friday, Aug. 6, at 11 p.m. The Cut Copy and Dragonette show for the same night at The Metro, 3730 N. Clark, has already sold out.
Headlining the 29th Annual Northalsted Market Days on Sunday Aug. 8 is Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Also due to perform are Latin music sensation Jon Secada, former American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis, dance-radio staple September and Tony Award winner Jennifer Holliday. Chicago's Sixteen Candles, Kimi Hayes, The Joans, Pulsation, Dot Dot Dot and Cathy Richardson and the Macrodots will be entertaining the crowd too. For a complete schedule, please visit chicagoevents.com .
Without the support of a record label, Kelis began working on a bold project that ultimately became Flesh Tone. This nine-track set finds the New York-based artist delving deeper into club music. "Intro" gets things started with its mesmerizing synthesizers and concludes with her whispering, "we control the dancefloor." The "Bossy" singer looks into the future on "22nd Century," where "everybody's dancing" and she pleads, "Just take me away."
"A Song for the Baby" and the album's highlight "Acapella" are inspired by Kelis' infant son, Knight. "Scream" and "Emancipate" keep Flesh Tone "young fresh n' new." The explosive "4th of July ( Fireworks ) " has been commissioned for remixes by Richard X and Calvin Harris. Kelis is embarking in a mini tour with fellow boundary pushing artist Robyn. Flesh Tone is out now via Interscope.
Need more Kelis? She takes to flight alongside Jean Baptiste and apl.de.ap from Black Eyed Peas on Benny Benassi's "Spaceship."
Now functioning as a quartet, Scissor Sisters returns with an abundance of filth, sleaze and camp—basically everything we love about the group—on Night Work. Just check out the raunchy Bee Gees knockoff "Any Which Way." The set's shining moments are when the mostly queer act brings a new approach to its sound, as heard on the Talking Heads-inspired "Running Out" and "The Harder You Get," where lead singer Jake Shears is almost unrecognizable singing in a lower register. The trimmed-down Ana Matronic gets her time in the spotlight on "Skin This Cat." "Invisible Light" is the missing link between Heaven 17's "Let Me Go" and Kylie Minogue's "I Believe in You," which Shears and Babydaddy co-wrote and co-produced.
Check out Scissor Sisters giving Minogue's "All the Lovers" a Dolly Parton-worthy makeover on YouTube. Night Work is out now and the foursome will be at The Riviera, 4750 N. Broadway, on Thursday, Sept. 2.
Shortly after releasing Dirty King, Toronto's rock outfit The Cliks lost three of its members then added Dresden Dolls' drummer Brian Viglione and bassist Tobi Parks—that guarantees one hell of a live show. Still fronted by Lucas Silveira, The Cliks will be at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, on Tuesday, Aug. 10, with the female trio Hunter Valentine and Killola.
Last year Matt Alber's first concert in Chicago sold out. The former Chanticleer singer could not hide his glee that a packed house came to hear his music and the stories behind his art. The openly gay crooner returns to Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark, on Friday, Aug. 20, with Jen Porter opening. Tickets can be purchased at fleshhungrydog.com . The videos to Alber's ethereal "Monarch" and hopelessly romantic "End of the World" reigned on Logo's Click List. Alber is working on a successor to Hide Nothing.
When I played Andrew Suvalsky's 2006 debut Vintage Pop and the Jazz Sides, his cool, smooth voice melted my headphones. This gay artist has recorded a broad variety of material—covering standards, pop classics and contemporary selections like Cole Porter's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," The Beatles' "Fool on the Hill" and David Gray's "This Year's Love." The Milwaukee native was a member of The Jackie Allen Jazz Improv Group in Chicago before moving to New York.
Suvalsky recently released the uplifting track "The Curtain." Part hymnal, part theatrical, his new single also features a gospel choir. Elements of "The Curtain" recall the '80s feel-good hit "That's What Friends Are For." "The Curtain," as well as both of Suvalsky's full-length albums, can be found on iTunes.
