Metro Weekly

Janelle Monae to Electrify Lincoln Theatre in October

Screen Shot 2013-08-21 at 4.16.49 PM.pngThe amazingly talented, ambitious, stylish and total class act Janelle Monáe will stop in town for a show in October, a month after release of her latest electronica-steeped R&B album The Electric Lady, featuring the strong uptempo jam “Dance Apocalyptic” and equally strong mid-tempo tune “Prime Time” featuring Miguel, as well as the great freak-affirmative, infectious anthem “Q.U.E.E.N.” featuring Erykah Badu. And if you haven’t caught the “Q.U.E.E.N.” video in particular, you’re really depriving yourself.

You’re also depriving yourself if you haven’t yet caught Monáe’s music, which channels Prince and Lauryn Hill as much as the Jacksons — that is, Michael and Janet — to say nothing of the 27-year-old Kansas City native’s fellow Atlanta-based hip-hop besties in Outkast, Big Boi and Andre 3000. Monáe isn’t afraid to throw in some improvisational jazz and gospel into the mix either.

Yes, I swear, if you don’t know this official CoverGirl spokeswoman by now — aside from hearing her buried vocals on fun.’s overplayed hit “We Are Young,” of course — she really is that good. And the artist, who has made pro-LGBT statements while so far deflecting questions about her own sexuality, is a total firecracker onstage, dancing and prancing, singing and rapping her heart (and soul) out. Just witness her 2011 performance of “Tightrope” at the U.K.’s massive Glastonbury Festival. 

With assist from additional guests including Solange, Esperanza Spalding and the one and only Prince — not to mention what seems like a bigger promotional push from her label Atlantic Records than her 2010 Grammy-nominated debut The ArchAndroid — all signs point to The Electric Lady being the one to finally propel Monáe into the mainstream. Naturally, if that happens, you’ll be able to brag about seeing her before her stadium tour days, in the relatively intimate Lincoln Theatre, a concert courtesy of IMP Productions. But no matter where her career leads, it has all the makings to be a solid show, certainly one to remember.

Tickets on sale Friday, Aug. 23, at 10 a.m., for Monday, Oct. 14, show at Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Tickets are $40. Call 202-328-6000 or visit thelincolntheatre.org or 930.com.

The full run of dates on Monae’s fall The Electric Lady Tour, with still more expected, are:

OCTOBER

13          Philadelphia, PA                             Electric Factory

14          Washington, DC                             Lincoln Theatre

16          Boston, MA                                   House of Blues

18          Montreal, QC                                 Olympia Theatre

19          Toronto, ON                                  Kool Haus

21          Chicago, IL                                   Vic Theatre

22          Minneapolis, MN                           Skyway Theater

24          Englewood, CO                            Gothic Theatre

25          Salt Lake City, UT                        In The Venue

29          Portland, OR                                 Roseland Theater

30          Seattle, WA                                  Showbox SoDo

 

NOVEMBER

1           San Francisco, CA                          Warfield Theatre

2           Los Angeles, CA                            Club Nokia @ L.A. Live

5           Anaheim, CA                                 House of Blues

6           San Diego, CA                               House of Blues

7           Phoenix, AZ                                  The Crescent Ballroom

9           Dallas, TX                                     House of Blues

12         Austin, TX                                     Austin City Limits Live @ The Moody Theater

13         Houston, TX                                   House of Blues

15         Kansas City, MO                            Uptown Theater

17         Nashville, TN                                  Ryman Auditorium

19         Raleigh, NC                                    The Ritz             

20         Charlotte, NC                                  The Fillmore Charlotte

22         Orlando, FL                                    Hard Rock Live

23         Miami Beach, FL                             Fillmore Miami Beach @ The Jackie Gleason Theatre

26         Atlanta, GA                                    The Tabernacle

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