BY David Byrne
From left: R.E.M. and Ross
Reality check, please ... Bobby Brown is the next celebrity having his own reality show, Being Bobby Brown, on Bravo according to USA Today. The soul singer and husband to uberdiva Whitney Houston signed a 10-episode contract with the network. Bobby intends to show his more sensitive side, his journey to revive his musical career and that he is a family man at heart. I was just thinking to myself that there's a need of better documentation of Bobby Brown's continual encounters with the law.
Diana Ross is going to be the new face for the upcoming MAC Cosmetics ad campaign. Miss Ross will also be doing a tour this fall, she is planning to stop at the Chicago Theater on Nov. 19 and a second autobiography is due in January.
Minnie Driver is showing off her voice, instead of just her acting talents. Although she has contributed her voice to South Park and sang 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow' for her beauty pageant movie Beautiful, Minnie is expanding her horizons. Her new album of mostly pop-rock material. Everything I've Got in My Pocket will bring her into a new medium, no doubt with the same dedicated passion as her acting. She even covers Bruce Springsteen's 'Hungry Heart.' Like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Driver intended to be a singer before having a successful try at acting. The British star will be in the film version of Phantom of the Opera due this December and is scheduled to perform in concert at the Double Door on Nov. 29.
Oscar-nominated actor Robert Downey, Jr. is also planning on releasing a CD, his set is due in early November on Sony classical. This talented gent wrote most of his songs. Robert's fans should know that he is not new to the musical front, as he sung the song 'Smile' for the Chapin soundtrack and performed on his TV show Ally McBeal with Vonda Shepard.
R.E.M. is just one of the many acts participating in the Vote for Change tour while promoting its latest politically fuelled CD, Around the World. The Sundance Channel just announced that it will air the documentary National Anthem: Inside the Vote for Change Concert Tour on Monday, Oct. 11. The special will include behind-the-scenes insights, plus live footage from the D.C. farewell performance of the tour. R.E.M. will then embark in a world tour, the band is scheduled to stop in Chicago on Oct. 25 & 26 at the Auditorium Theater.
Although the Vote for Change Tour will not be hitting Chicago, it will be making stops throughout the midwest, ultimately having a total 40 shows in 30 cities in nine swing states within just 10 days, each venue will have a slightly different line-up of performers. The Vote for Change tour benefits the organization America Coming Together (ACT). There are several artists involved including Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Babyface, Dixie Chicks and Bonnie Raitt. Although she will be joining for the Vote for Change tour, Tracy Chapman additionally is doing her own series of shows, which will be called 'Western Swing: An Evening with Tracy Chapman.' These will be performed at smaller venues in the swing states and will benefit DrivingVotes.org .
Ani DiFranco is taking her act on the road for her VOTE DAMMIT! Tour, again through the swing states. The independent star's goal in this tour is 100% voter registration from the audience, focusing mostly on her younger fans. Several national and local organizations, including Amnesty International, NOW and PETA, and artists like the Indigo Girls and Margaret Cho are contributing in favor of Ani's efforts.
Now giving the weather report from the beyond is Izora Armstead. Izora, one half of Two Tons o' Fun and the Weather Girls, supplied heavyweight vocals for some of Sylvester's most memorable disco cuts and the camp classic 'It's Raining Men'. Izora resurrected the Weather Girls in the '90s with her daughter and had some sizable hits overseas. Izora passed away due to heart complications in California.
Ivy's 2001 album Long Distance is truly a slipped disc. While beautiful melancholy songs with a coastal feel comprise most of the album, the outfit won't be pigeon-holed, delivering us some upbeat numbers as well, including a cover of the '80s song 'Digging Your Scene'. Singer Dominique Durand's airy voice fits the music well and she made a science of capturing a melody, while knowing her vocal capabilities. The feature single from the New York trio's album, 'Edge of the Ocean,' appeared in the Holland America Land Cruise commercials, as well as on the Roswell soundtrack and the song 'Midnight Sun' worked perfectly in the movie Insomnia. This is the kind of album that you can have playing in the background after a long day in the office or during a relaxing bath; it makes a great gift too. Ivy is currently working on a follow-up, due in early 2005.
— Also contributing: Tony Peregrin
