Pop Making Sense - 2618 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News

The queer trio Gossip returns with A Joyful Noise, its most pop effort to date. The lead single, "Perfect World," is a catchy, inspirational number straight from the '80s. "Get a Job" could have been lifted from a jam session with Scissor Sisters, whereas "Move in the Right Direction" seems like an outtake from Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual. Unfortunately, similar to 2009's Music for Men, A Joyful Noise is plagued with clichés as heard on "Get Lost," where Beth Ditto sings, "Get lost / You're dancing to the beat of a different drum."

Gossip is featured in the recent sexy Dior commercial. The ad has Charlize Theron running late to a fashion show, as golden-era actresses like Lauren Bacall and Marilyn Monroe are backstage. The Monster actress owns the catwalk in a gold gown as Gossip's "Heavy Cross" blares in the background.

Nina Sky released remixes to the scorching hot single "Day Dreaming." Here, identical twins Natalie and Nicole Albino sing in unison like only siblings can, over lively beats courtesy of remixes by DJ Yonny, Eli Escobar, Boson and Tonnesen Chains. Nicole is out and married to fashion designer Erin Magee. The forthcoming album, titled Nicole & Natalie, is due in July.

Last year Nina Sky collaborated with CREEP on the mesmerizing single "You." Its black-and-white video clip is brilliantly edited, as images of Nina Sky are spliced to the drum and bass beat.

This spring, singer-songwriter Jason Mraz made a video in support of same-sex marriage for Human Rights Campaign's "Americans for Marriage Equality." Now on the heels of the success of the breakout single "We Are Young," fun. is getting in on the fun. Guitarist Jack Antonoff also contributed a video and told Washington Post that the band hopes to form an organization that is pro-same sex marriage. He said, "We're firm believers that if you're not talking about it, you're part of the problem." Members of fun. are straight.

I cannot stop raving about the album Colours by Graffiti6. Jamie Scott has a beautiful, soulful voice that works fabulously with retro-pop ditties like "Stare into the Sun" and "Free" as well as slower pieces like "This Man" and "Over You." The band has been dubbed as a You Outta Know: Artist on the Rise by VH1. The video for "Free" cracked the top 10 on the network's video countdown. Graffiti6 returns to Chicago with a headlining concert at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., on Friday, June 1.

I first heard of Penguin Prison because of its electro-fueled remix to Goldfrapp's "Rocket." The one-man band fronted by Chris Glover made a splash last year with the irresistible single "Don't Fuck with My Money." The accompanying video was filmed during Occupy Wall Street demonstrations. The self-titled album pairs his deep voice with '80s-inspired basslines, as if Rick Astley was working with Human League and Howard Jones. Penguin Prison comes to Chicago for a gig on Tuesday, June 5, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.

A stage production The Marvin Gaye Story: Don't Talk about My Father, Because God Is My Friend is scheduled to run through Sunday, July 29, at The Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. The musical was written, produced and directed by theater founder Jackie Taylor. Gaye's music challenges social issues ("What's Going On"), provides a romantic soundtrack ("Let's Get It On") and can fill the dance floor ("Got to Give It Up"). Let's not forget his magical duets with Tammi Terrell, either. His life story proves he was a "Trouble Man" with problems with drugs, women and his shocking murder. There have been rumors that a biopic on the "Sexual Healing" crooner is in the works. The all-star tribute album, Inner City Blues, came out in 1995.

Pride Month gets started properly with "For Singing out Loud: A Pride Celebration of Singers, Songwriters and Icons," on Sunday, June 3, at Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave. Here, local artists—including Amy Matheny, Beckie Menzie, Tom Michael, Meghan Murphy and Honey West—unite to cover beloved hits ranging from Cole Porter to Freddie Mercury and even Lady Gaga under George Howe's musical direction. For tickets and more information, visit www.maynestage.com .

Before Cake Chicago takes a summer hiatus, there will be one last show on Saturday, June 9 at The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood Ave. The LGBTA showcase will have a disco theme as well as performances by Milwaukee's Blue Sky Hour and Overstory; the PJ Harvey tribute band Rm:509; and Cake Chicago's mastermind, Ripley Caine. For more information, find "Cake Chicago" on Facebook.

Once again, Scott Free assembled a remarkable group of artists for this year's Alt Q Music Festival. The audience was treated as Nhojj sang "The Gay Warrior Song." Jason Brooks of J.C. Brooks & the Uptown Sound alternated between poetry and music. He dedicated an ode to those we lost in the wave of queer youth suicides. Local duo Band Practice was backed by an accordion and a banjo then a guitar to support its social commentary. E. Nina Jay delivered powerful, thought-provoking poetry, while Alix Dobkin humored the crowd with her classics "Amazon ABC" and "Lesbian Code." Former Chicago native Daphne Willis closed the festival with a cover of "Eleanor Rigby" and her own material like "One by One." Broadway Youth Center was this year's beneficiary.

The season's hottest LGBT releases:

Adam Lambert — Trespassing

Brandi Carlile — Bear Creek

Girlyman — Supernova

Gossip — A Joyful Noise

Ian Wilson — This Is Water

Imani Uzuri — The Gypsy Diaries

Nina Sky — Nicole & Natalie

Rufus Wainwright — Out of the Game

Sam Sparro — Return to Paradise

Scissor Sisters — Magic Hour

Sigur Ros — Valtari