Music section: Metro Weekly

Review: Aiden James

Aiden James adds many clever touches to punctuate his music, making ''Trouble With This'' a joy of repeat plays

Published on February 2, 2012, 4:42am

Aiden James is not just a pretty face, writing and singing pretty tunes. In fact, James could get by as your standard singer-songwriter, nothing more. He could choose to sing his songs while strumming an acoustic guitar or playing piano, without giving any thought to embellishment – little music flourishes that respond to his lyrics, and vice versa. {Aiden James (Photo by Russ Hickman)} If his new album Trouble With This were nothing but unadorned folk-pop, in other words, James ...[more]

Soul Salvation

Graffiti6's Jamie Scott had to overcome soul intimidation

Published on January 26, 2012, 6:26am

''I listened to amazing singers when I grew up,'' Jamie Scott says, citing Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway. In fact, listening to such soul greats intimidated Scott. The 27-year-old from England didn't initially pursue a singing career in the music industry. ''All I wanted to do was write music,'' he says, ''because that's what I was comfortable doing.'' {Graffiti6 (Photo by MarinaChavez)} One listen to his sweet tenor and gorgeous falsetto and you'll understand why Sony Music, upon ...[more]

Colorful Soul

Any fan of pop or soul in general should give a listen to Colours, Graffiti6's smart, exceedingly confident debut

Published on January 26, 2012, 3:23am

Jamie Scott killed his lover. ''I hear the sirens blaze in the distance, her blood still on my hands,'' Scott sings on the moody, lilting ''Goodbye Geoffrey Drake,'' a track from his soul/pop band Graffiti6's debut album Colours. Of course Scott is singing metaphorically. Assuming the role of a troubled character, he's decided the best way to get over his lover is to off his love for her. But he only comes to that resolve eight tracks into an 11-track ...[more]

Catie Cares

It may not be a cure, but Curtis is doing her part to help the Mautner Project

Published on January 19, 2012, 8:23am

No matter how you look at her, Catie Curtis is certainly not unsung. Not only has the gay singer-songwriter earned substantial accolades for her craft, she's also pulled in legions of devoted fans who have fallen for her richly fluid voice. Come Thursday, Jan. 26, she'll be firing up those vocal chords, along with her guitar, for the benefit of the Mautner Project: The National Lesbian Health Organization. {Catie Curtis (Photo by Joseph Anthony Baker)} ''This is really special,'' Curtis ...[more]

Maximum Impact

Courting gays is not the only thing distinguishing The Wanted, a UK pop sensation, from boy bands of yore

Published on January 19, 2012, 5:14am

''It's a little bit different with us than other boy bands,'' says Max George, of the five-piece U.K. outfit The Wanted. ''We have 10-year-old girls up to grown men that like our music.'' In fact, the band, which has become a major pop sensation in its home base over the past two years, will make a special appeal to D.C.-area grown men of the gay variety with an appearance at Town Danceboutique this Friday, Jan. 20, following a concert earlier ...[more]

Coma Catch-Up

If you missed the 2011 albums from either Girl In A Coma or Washington, you can start 2012 off with a bang

Published on January 5, 2012, 5:27am

''How long until I know you don't care for us?'' Nina Diaz coos sweetly on ''Adjust,'' the song that launches the fourth studio album from her band, Girl In A Coma. She has every reason to wonder. The two-thirds lesbian trio took its name from The Smiths, has recorded on Joan Jett's label for nearly five years now, and over the years has performed with Morrissey and Tegan and Sara, not to mention those on the 2008 True Colors Tour ...[more]

The Best Music of 2011

Pop music in 2011 was more satisfying than unsatisfying -- but there really was no one else like Adele

Published on December 29, 2011, 2:34am

Lady Gaga and Beyoncé both released new albums in 2011. But aside from some great tracks (most notably ''Americano'' and Sheibe'' from Gaga, ''Run The World (Girls)'' and ''End of Time'' from Beyoncé) neither artist came close to inspiring me the most. In fact, both produced among the worst albums I heard in 2011 -- by which I mean, they were among the albums that disappointed me most. While not bad per se, neither album was The Fame Monster ...[more]

A Diva DVD Christmas

Chances are your favorite diva has got a concert DVD to sell you this year, but only one can be the best

Published on December 15, 2011, 3:53am

Who's your favorite pop diva? Well, as long as it's not Madonna or Robyn or Rihanna -- or, God help you, Ke$ha -- chances are, she's got a concert DVD she's trying to sell you as a perfect stocking stuffer for your friends. Or maybe just for you -- some gifts are too good to give away. Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Shakira, Cyndi Lauper -- all present and accounted for. The highest profile? Lady Gaga, of course. The best? Well, that ...[more]

Concert Review: Tori Amos

With her Night of Hunters tour, Tori Amos puts on a stunning show, displaying her daring and versatility

Published on December 9, 2011, 9:07am

Tori Amos's left hand had to know exactly what her right hand was doing at her concert at DAR Constitution Hall on Monday, Dec. 5. For a few measures of a few songs, the gorgeously frocked Amos faced the audience and played a baby grand on her left while she tickled an electronic keyboard on her right. Her physical straddling of acoustic and electronic instruments signified several things. Most immediately, it displayed Amos's agility and cognitive dexterity with the ivories, ...[more]

Balladeers

''Arlen Blues & Berlin Ballads'' offers much gay appeal

Published on December 7, 2011, 11:57pm

The In Series targets one performance of every production to the LGBT community, labeling it ''OUT at the In Series.'' But honestly, any performance of the In Series's new cabaret Arlen Blues & Berlin Ballads () is gay enough. Jase Parker single-handedly makes that true -- and he's not even the one who sings Harold Arlen's gay standard, ''(Somewhere) Over The Rainbow.'' {The In Series (Photo by Paul Aebersold)} With his supple vibrato, exaggerated gestures and light-footed manner, Parker will ...[more]

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