Tag Archives: pop music

Tegan & Sara: The gay interview

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TS2

In last week’s Music Issue, we had a review of the hot new CD from gay musical twins Tegan and Sara. Now, our Chris Azzopardi sat down with the sister act for this one-on-one … or, one-on-two.

Sister Act

They’ve been on the verge of straight-up pop music for years, but Tegan and Sara are going all in with Heartthrob. Don’t think they’re all happy and stuff, though.

“It’s our most heartbreaking record,” says Tegan Quin. “It’s a great record for people who loved our past music. It’s just that they have to get past the sound.”

The sound she’s referring to was captured in all its heavenly bliss when their seventh album’s first single, “Closer,” instantly aligned itself with some of the best pop songs of the mid ’90s. We revisited that defining era in music — and even before then, when the girls were hanging New Kids on the Block posters in their bedroom — during our interview with the Quin sisters.

Continue reading “Tegan & Sara: The gay interview” »

—  Arnold Wayne Jones

Rufus Wainwright: The gay/Gaga interview

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In this week’s edition of the Voice, we review Rufus Wainwright’s new CD of pop music, which comes out Tuesday. But you can read even more about the gay singer right now with this interview by Chris Azzopardi.

BACK IN THE GAME

There are bad romances, and then there’s the kind that Rufus Wainwright had during the making of his latest album, Out of the Game. The troubadour got smitten with super-producer Mark Ronson, who added a pop bend to Wainwright’s classical leanings. Love at first sight? Just about.

“One day, we finally hung out at this party — at the U.N., of all places — and we were just completely enamored of each other,” Wainwright says. “Needless to say, we went into the studio and struck up not only a great musical relationship but a great friendship … and, at least from my end, a huge crush.”

And the singer doesn’t just give his love away: He recently slammed Lady Gaga for being “predictable and boring,” setting off a media (and gay mafia) frenzy.

In our interview, after the jump, Wainwright talked about those comments, the eyes that comforted him during his mother’s death and the evolution of his gayness.

Continue reading “Rufus Wainwright: The gay/Gaga interview” »

—  Arnold Wayne Jones

WATCH: Madonna’s “Girl Gone Wild”

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Madonna makes a much more mature showing in this video more so than in “Give Me All Your Luvin’” from January. The buzz is all about its black and white atmosphere and her return to form. She succeeds in stepping up her presence with subtle nods to the Madonna of the Erotica/Bedtime Stories era, but still very fashion forward. This is leaps and bounds beyond the album’s first video, but where Madonna should be at this point.

The video premiered tonight on E! Online. M.D.N.A. is set for release March. 26.

—  Rich Lopez

Sia tonight at the Granada Theater

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‘Clap your Hands’ and say yeah

Even though Sia hasn’t quite made into the big time on the pop charts, she’s developed a strong following. The lez singer recalls the vein of Robyn, with smart pop music that keeps us coming back. She’s sold out here, but the venue has been releasing tickets so keep an eye out.

DEETS: With Oh Land and Ximena Sarinana. Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave. 8 p,m. $24. GranadaTheater.com.

—  Rich Lopez

Katy Perry & Robyn tonight at Verizon

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Pop fantasia

Take one part radio friendly diva, another part alt-pop queen and put them on tour together and bam, it’s like Candyland for pop music. Where Katy Perry delivers irresistible bubblegum treats, Robyn gives steely dance gems and the audience wins with both on hand the same night. DJ Skeet Skeet opens up the night for this stop of the California Dreams Tour.

Both artists weren’t too much in the interviewing mood, but we kinda dig Cat Downes’ faux interview with the two here.

DEETS: Verizon Theatre, 1001 Performance Place, Grand Prairie. 7:30 p.m. $45. Ticketmaster.com.

PS. If you’re a  fan of Robyn, catch her DJ set after the show at the Rio Room.

 

—  Rich Lopez

What’s Brewing: Marriage advances in Maryland; DADT training under way; Britney Spears video

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Your weekday morning blend from Instant Tea:

1. A Maryland Senate panel on Thursday advanced marriage equality legislation that now appears to have enough votes to pass the full chamber — but just barely. If the Senate approves the measure, it is expected to pass the House and be signed by the governor, which would make Maryland the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage, in addition to the District of Columbia.

2. Training is under way in all four military service branches to prepare for the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” The Army, the largest service branch, kicked off DADT repeal training Wednesday and is expected to take the longest to complete it — until mid-August.

3. Another week, another big gay pop music release. Britney Spears’ new video for “Hold It Against Me” is above.

—  John Wright

Adam Lambert announces acoustic album that would compete with Justin Bieber’s

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Lambert at his Palladium show in Dallas.

Dylan Lewis of For Your Consideration out of Australia talked with Adam Lambert in this video below about all things music. In it, Lambert reveals a possible November/December release for an acoustic album which would put it head-to-head with Justin Bieber’s recent announcement. I wonder who would rein supreme acoustically as pop music’s current king.

Lambert also discusses his desire to work with Christina Aguilera and plans for his sophomore release sometime next spring or summer. Actually, he’s just theorizing it at this point. Clearly this acoustic thing is just a “project” and not his second album. He says this acoustic album will contain stripped-back renditions of previously released songs.

—  Rich Lopez

Austin City Limits preview: Festival won’t be supergay this year, but it’s still worth the trip

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If you’re venturing down for this year’s ACL fest, chances are you’ve mentally prepared for a lack of personal space over the next two days. The weather will eventually get too hot, the treks too long and there’s bound to be mud somewhere. And that makes the music fest all the more glorious.

The roster of players is always impressive with at least one band that should appeal to the finickiest of music lovers. But I got a little curious as to finding the gay angle to ACL, which really is just seeing who’s playing that also plays on the LGBT side of the fence. Plus, I hope you won’t mind just a couple of non-gay recommendations along the way.

Friday night — If you missed them Wednesday night, Vampire Weekend, below,  plays at 7 p.m. on the ZYNC Card stage. I feel like I’ve pointed to gay member Rostam Batmanglij a lot this past week, but really, the band’s live show has a reputation of greatness. I wouldn’t know. Although The Strokes don’t have any confirmed gay members, there was that gay porn incident.They play at 8 p.m. on the AMD stage.

Continue reading “Austin City Limits preview: Festival won’t be supergay this year, but it’s still worth the trip” »

—  Rich Lopez

Show vs. Show • 03.26.10

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By RICH LOPEZ | Staff Writer lopez@dallasvoice.com

Dallas doesn’t find itself too often in the middle of a gay live music dilemma. This weekend, two musicians might get to bring their sounds to the masses. That is, if LGBT Dallas heads out to support their own.

Tommy Hernandez was mostly on the local music scene as a solo artist but his latest venture takes him away from pop music into a trancey realm. As one half of Museum Creatures, he and Stephen Holmes go the electronica route.

Museum Creatures is part of the Mercy for Animals Benefit at the Cavern on Lower Greenville. They share a heavy bill with Soft Environmental Collapse, Division of Power and more for the Rockout for Animals show.

Patrick Boothe approaches music with a raw attitude. In his latest release, Jump In, a five song EP, he explores his darker side.

Boothe relocated from Dallas to Austin partly to be near the music industry there. A lonely spell set in and provided inspiration for his newest set of songs. But he’s confident his gay audience will relate.

“I do have a mostly gay audience and they don’t listen to just the poppy music at gay clubs and bars you always hear.”

He’s alt-rock with a piano but more in the vein of Tori Amos. Yet, maybe a bit louder.

“It’s just me and a piano but it’s gonna be loud. I sing pretty loud and I’m not a classically trained pianist so it can get intense at times.”

He’s alt-rock with a piano but more in the vein of Tori Amos. Yet, maybe a bit louder.

“It’s just me and a piano but it’s gonna be loud. I sing pretty loud and I’m not a classically trained pianist so it can get intense at times.


— Rich Lopez

 


This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 26, 2010.


—  admin