ABC's Dancing with the Stars is making headlines, as Chaz Bono marks the first transgender contestant on the competition. This is garnering lots of fandom and sadly bigotry and intolerance as well. Few will remember the Bono was in the rock band Ceremony. His short-lived group only had one album, 1993's Hang out Your Poetry. The set's lead single "Could've Been Love" brings a '60s pop-rock sound to the next generation.
The iconic diva Barbra Streisand has so many signature nuances, that she readily can be parodied. Never mind her looks—an imitator must flash the nails, have the soft lighting, strike dramatic poses and copy that voice. The wildly entertaining Steven Brinberg does a knockout parody of Streisand.
While we wait for Streisand to return to the big screen in the comedy My Mother's Curse and Gypsy, come say "Hello, Gorgeous" as Brinberg brings his show "Simply Barbra!" Wed., Oct. 12, to Davenport's, 1383 N. Milwaukee Ave. Brinberg has paid tribute to the ultimate diva all over the world and on his albums Duets and Simply Barbra Live in London. Tickets to Simply Barbara! are available at www.davenportspianobar.com .
On the heels of its third studio album, folk duo Nervous but Excited is hosting a record release show on Thursday, Oct. 13, at Panchos, 2200 N. California Ave. Chicago's very own REGO will be on the bill, too. Nervous but Excited's latest, You Are Here, features beautiful folk-focused material ( "Away, Awake" ) and endearing use of the banjo ( "Ohio to Michigan" ) . However, "Happiest We've Ever Been" shows the duo's personality with spins about lesbian stereotypes. The phenomenal "No Telling" offers both longing set to dose of barroom rock. The self-released You Are Here is out now.
On its fourth effort Unpersons, The Pack a.d. is in fine form, blending gritty garage rock, blues and punk. The journey starts off blazing with "Sirens," which has a powerful mix of drums and guitars. "Take" has a catchy chorus, as Becky Black passionately belts out "You take everything I love" repeatedly. The accompanying video even nods to the '80s new wave masterpiece "Cars" by Gary Newman. Pearl Jam serves as the inspiration on "Seasick," while the magnificent "Positronic" has muffled vocals and a driving beat courtesy of drummer Maya Miller. Although the pair rocks out fearlessly, the lyrics tend to favor social insecurities, as heard on "8" and "Rid of Me."
Like the Canadian duo's 2008 sophomore album Funeral Mixtape, Unpersons is an absolutely outstanding tour de force. The Pack a.d. has a concert at Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., on Thursday, Oct. 6. E-mail rsvp@emptybottle.com for free admission.
Last year, The Ettes' performance was the highlight of my day at Lollapalooza. The Nashville-based trio is on the road again with a stop at Park West, 322 W. Armitage, on Friday, Oct. 7, to promote Wicked Will. Here, there is an enticing retro sound on "My Heart." "Trouble with You" has a beat recalling a racing heart. Resistance is futile to the double clap on "I Stayed Too Late." The Ettes puts a great spin on Lee Hazelwood's "My Baby Cried All Night," as if this was plucked from the vaults.
I had my ear to the dance floor and heard "Rumors" that Centaur would issue a collection of covers of Fleetwood Mac classics tweaked to a club beat. The newly released Retromix: Fleetwood opens with one of my favorites, "Everywhere." DeMarko! mixes these reworkings of material like "Sara" and "Dreams" into a continuous mix here, keeping the tempo upbeat throughout the 13-track set. Just try not feeling energized with the recognizable synthesizers introducing "Tell Me Lies" or the fiery chorus on "Go Your Own Way."
Fans must wait until 2012 for the next Fleetwood Mac reunion. But until then, this remarkable collection serves as the first in the Retromix series. The potential possibilities for future installments are endless; other timeless stars like Madonna or more contemporary hitmakers like Lady Gaga and Rihanna would suit this series well. Fear not! Lindsay Lohan's dreadful take on "Edge of Seventeen ( Just Like a White Winged Dove ) " and the Rumors follow up "Tusk" are not included here. Retromix: Fleetwood is available now.
According to a recent interview with Minneapolis Star Tribune, Stevie Nicks revealed that Prince approached her to write the lyrics to the song "Purple Rain." Although she shied away from that opportunity, Nicks also stated that she wrote "Stand Back" after playing "Little Red Corvette." Prince joined her on the track and, in return, invited her to help pen his massive hit.
R.E.M. has decided to disband after 31 years and 15 albums together. The Athens, Ga.-based group leaves a legacy. The 1991 hit "Losing My Religion" won six MTV Video Music Awards and the clip was directed by Tarsem Singh, who has gone to helm the films The Cell and The Fall. Tori Amos and dance divas Abigail and Rozalla separately have covered this track wonderfully. "Stand" has the distinct recognition of directly falling off the MTV Top 20 Countdown from the chart's summit. It was a memorable moment when "You Are the Everything" was used on Beverly Hills 90210.
I never have seen R.EM. in concert. While touring to promote 1994's rock-heavy Monster, my attempts were derailed by cancellations due to band members' injuries. Shortly after Bush's re-election, the politically vocal R.E.M. opened a Chicago show with "It's The End of the World As We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) ."
R.E.M. has had many great collaborations, notably Kate Pierson on "Shiny Happy People," KRS-One on "Radio Song" and Patti Smith on "E-bow the Letter." Queer frontman Michael Stipe contributes his famously unmistakable voice on "Kid Fears" by Indigo Girls. Collapse into Now marks R.E.M.'s last studio album. The three-disc career-spanning retrospective, Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage, is due out Nov. 15.
