Pop star Jason Mraz talks the talk and walks the walk for gay rights How cool is Jason Mraz? His unwavering fight for equal rights led him to shoot a Human Rights Campaign video recently; he’s also waiting to wed until everyone can and, not long ago, united with Cyndi Lauper to tell the world [...]
Brannan expands his sound on ‘Rob Me Blind’ RICH LOPEZ | Staff Writer Does a queer singer have an obligation to sing only from and about the gay perspective? When Jay Brannan beautifully but blatantly sang about wanting to be a housewife in his 2009 debut goddamned, he was the Bob Dylan for gay men. But [...]
‘MDNA’ lacks the message of classic Madonna albums, but the Material Girl can still lay down a beat RICH LOPEZ | Staff Writer ……………. 3 out of 5 stars MDNA Madonna Interscope Records ……………. Thirty years ago, the world was introduced to a scrappy singer in shabby-chic clothes, but there’s not much about pop music [...]
Pop goes wild on CDs by queer-centric bands Magnetic Fields and Xiu Xiu RICH LOPEZ | Staff Writer The strongest talent of Jamie Stewart, the queer frontman for the group Xiu Xiu, is unifying his way-out-there compositions and lyrics into fringe pop. The band’s 2010 disc Dear God, I Hate Myself was an exercise in [...]
Pop falters while rock and folk ascend to strong releases RICH LOPEZ | Staff Writer lopez@dallasvoice.com Of Montreal Paralytic Stalks Polyvinyl Records Kevin Barnes and company get off to a wobbly start with “Geld Ascent” in OM’s new release. If static and feedback had a child, this would be it. It feels more like a [...]
Is Dallas’ gay dance scene what it once was — or can be? A panel of out DJs gives us the back beat In gay dance clubs, the bartender is crucial, and the doorman keeps the peace, but the hero of the night is the DJ. The DJ works not just as the person bringing [...]
Sexy gay pianist Anthony de Mare’s love of showtunes spurred his experimental concert tour inspired by the music of Stephen Sondheim GREGORY SULLIVAN ISAACS | Contributing Writer gregoryisaacs@theaterjones.com Dark, handsome and obviously buff, Anthony de Mare’s charm oozes out of his publicity photos. Smiling at you from behind his piano, he seems to have just [...]
Out singer Jackie Hall is the best Dallas diva you don’t know about … yet RICH LOPEZ | Staff Writer lopez@dallasvoice.com To label your band an “experience” is gutsy, but if it’s true, why not? When the frontlady for The Jackie Hall Experience belts out a tune, people shut up and listen. Always. So why [...]
These January releases go from blah to bliss while an overlooked 2011 album kicks ass RICH LOPEZ | Staff Writer lopez@dallasvoice.com Canyons Keep Your Dreams Modular Recordings Although they don’t want to be labeled as dance/electronica, electronica act Canyons provides multitudes of synth and drum machines in all 11 tracks of their latest album. Dreams [...]
Imperial Teen sheds its skin (again) to reveal fresh genius on ‘Feel the Sound’ RICH LOPEZ | Staff Writer lopez@dallasvoice.com Spring comes early this year — at least it feels that way with Feel the Sound, the new CD from Imperial Teen. The disc dwells in a happy pop universe that is wonderfully tough to [...]
