“Tracks was very transformative and influential in the D.C. music scene, far beyond any of the acclaim that it’s gotten,” says Patrick Little, who was the general manager of the storied straight-friendly D.C. mega-nightclub when it ended its 15-year reign in 1999. As detailed in this week's Metro Weekly, Little led efforts planning this weekend’s Tracks Reunion event, with ... [Read]

On BBC2 Radio's Wednesday night broadcast of The People's Songs, an hour-long episode will be dedicated to the historical influence of gays in British pop music. Here's a preview from Stuart Maconie's show, Smalltown Boy, which takes its name from Bronski Beat's hit gay anthem: "In part 12 of The People's Songs, Stuart recalls the arrival of openly gay pop in the ... [Read]

The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington helps kick off Capital Pride with a fun and flirtatious homage to hit-making men in music, from teen idols to rock stars, from the '50s to today. You can expect performances to the tunes of Elvis, Justin Timberlake, Ricky Martin and Maroon 5, among others. Fingers crossed that we'll be spared Bieber Fever. Tonight, ... [Read]

Singing to recorded music signals that you can't afford live musicians. What Twyla Tharp has done in Come Fly Away, putting a big band onstage to accompany recorded vocals by Frank Sinatra, signals that she couldn't afford not to have live musicians. Not if she wanted a commercial product that could justify hefty ticket prices, anyway. But it's a superfluous ... [Read]

Every Monday night the 17-piece Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra performs a variety of music from the big band repertoire -- including pieces by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Billy Strayhorn and Maria Schneider, plus originals from band members. Founded by baritone saxophonist Brad Linde and club owner Omrao Brown, the orchestra features some of D.C.'s best jazz musicians, including Linde and ... [Read]

In the past dozen years, Amy Ray has released several solo albums in between Indigo Girls records and tours, all informed more by her punk predilection than the sweet harmonious folk bliss of her work with Emily Saliers. As a solo artist Ray is best when she finds the common ground in between punk and folk: usually soft rock, edgy ... [Read]

"What if God was one of us?" Joan Osborne asked in her 1995 hit. Since then, she's gone on to tour with the Motown band the Funk Brothers, including appearing in the band's 2002 documentary film Standing In The Shadows of Motown, and supporting the Dixie Chicks a year later. Now, she's touring on the Bring It On Home tour. ... [Read]

The R&B/pop superstar – the original Lady Marmalade – returns for two shows after last year’s sold-out engagement. She'll offer pop tunes, jazz standards, blues anthems and spirituals – and hopefully, even the showstopper from Fela! she performed on Broadway a couple years ago. Also, expect a lot of casual banter. Miss Patti, she likes to relate to her audience. ... [Read]

Virginia-based Wonder Woman and staunch supporter of the LGBT community Lynda Carter returns to the Kennedy Center this Friday to offer a new concert, “Body & Soul.” Supported by a smokin’ band and singers, Carter offers unique and personal takes on rock classics, jazz standards, country tunes and even some original songs. Friday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. Kennedy ... [Read]

LiveNation presents "Live & Unfinished," a concert by Jordan Knight, former lead singer of New Kids on the Block, whose solo career as an adult just hasn't had anywhere near the level of success he had as a teenager. In recent years, he's returned to the NKOTB fold to perform for a stadium tour with the Backstreet Boys. But ... [Read]

Born Quentin Cook, the British Fatboy Slim is one of dance music's most famous producers, known for his jerky, bouncy '90s hits "Weapon of Choice," "The Rockafeller Skank" and "Praise You." He tried to retire the moniker a few years ago, but the name has stuck -- it's just too fun to let go. Friday, March 23. Doors at 10 ... [Read]

The video for DEV's "Dancing Shoes" just premiered online. The track comes from DEV's debut album The Night the Sun Came Up, which will be released on March 27, 2012. Check out the video below. Follow @metroweekly Get Spotlight in your inbox. Join our mailing list. ... [Read]

We like the trance-like build of Youth Lagoon's new video, "July," from their album The Year of Hibernation. Worth checking out. Youth Lagoon will appear over the next few months at the following venues: 01/16: The Reef, Boise 01/19: Neumos, Seattle 01/20: Biltmore, Vancouver 01/21: Doug Fir, Portland 3/10: Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City 3/11: Larimer Lounge, Denver 3/12: Jackpot ... [Read]

Bradley Cox, the queer lead singer of the hipster band Deerhunter, has released his third intriguing album under his solo moniker Atlas Sound. The trippy, haunting Parallax is Cox's most accessible set yet. Tuesday, Dec. 20. Doors at 8 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. Tickets are $15. Call 202-667-4490 or visit blackcatdc.com. Get Spotlight in your inbox. Join ... [Read]

Pink Martini harbors no musical or linguistic boundaries -- but its home base is '60s-era cocktail tunes, with strong Brazilian influence. The Portland, Ore.-based band returns to the region after a performance last Spring with the NSO Pops and the band's occasional guest member, NPR's gay White House correspondent Ari Shapiro. Shapiro performed on the group's multi-denominational holiday album Joy ... [Read]

When Deutsche Grammophon asked Tori Amos if she'd be interested in creating a classical album, the fashionable pop eccentric with the pixie-sque voice was reticent. "The concept of something so demanding, it can really ruin a career doing something like that, if you get it wrong," she told Metro Weekly back in September. In the end, Night of Hunters, a ... [Read]

The music of Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael kicks off this year's three-part series on American pop and jazz standards at Wolf Trap, ably led since 1988 by local jazz veteran and pianist John Eaton. "Indiana On Our Mind" is the name of the program, signifying that both composers were Hoosiers, and referencing Carmichael's composition "Georgia On My Mind." "Night ... [Read]

I.M.P. presents a special concert at the new Kastles Stadium from D.C.'s own international music juggernaut, Thievery Corporation. At its best, Eric Hilton and Rob Garza's chillout electronic band transports you to the kind of progressive, multicultural global city that Washington could, even should, be. The music deftly incorporates various musical influences -- reggae, punk, soul, Afrobeat, Arabic -- and ... [Read]

An American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan, A Perfect Circle now includes bassist Matt McJunkins (Ashes Divide), guitarist James Iha (formerly of the Smashing Pumpkins) and session drummer Josh Freese (known for work with Nine Inch Nails and Devo). Tonight, Sunday, July 17, at 8 p.m. D.A.R. Constitution Hall, 1776 ... [Read]

She may have only come in third during the first season of the USA Network's Nashville Star, in 2003, but Miranda Lambert is arguably the biggest star to emerge from that reality series (certainly bigger than Buddy Jewell or John Arthur Martinez, the two to defeat her). All three of her critically trumpeted albums since have gone platinum, in part ... [Read]