An attractive young man, once a macho high school dude, kisses his same-sex partner and holds a sign reading “Just Married”.  This isn’t a pro-Gay commercial from the Human Rights Campaign.  It’s a music video clip from “Graduation Day, a hit single by the all-straight rock group Head Automatica.  The video is a realization that many of our former classmates grow up to be completely different than what they were in school.  For example, the Mormon prick on my high school tennis team now lives with his boyfriend in the Bay Area, after a brief stint in Gay porn.
Daryl Palumbo, Head Automatica’s puppy eyed lead singer, took time from a hectic schedule to talk with the Seattle Gay News.  He’s an interesting, sensible guy with a very open mind and a respectable attitude towards Gay marriage and non-hetero friendships.  Palumbo performs with fellow band mates at The Fenix (formerly The Premier) on Saturday, November 18.  Head Automatica is part of the multi-city “MTV2 $2 Bill Series” tour that features 30 Seconds to Mars (led by actor-hottie Jared Leto), Cobra Starship and several other bands.  For more on Head Automatica, check them out on MySpace and YouTube or visit the band’s official website, www.headautomatica.com.  Next week, Daryl Palumbo gets busy inside “The Music Lounge”. 

107.7’s “Deck The Hall Ball” enlists The Shins, Taking Back Sunday, Snow Patrol, Jet
Ho, ho, ho!  Santa Claus is coming to town, and he’s bringing guitars.  Lots of them.  Alternative radio station The End (107.7 FM) announced the lineup this week for its annual holiday shindig, Deck The Hall Ball.  The Shins, Taking Back Sunday, Snow Patrol, Jet, My Chemical Romance, Angels and Airwaves, Pete Yorn, and Gnarls Barkley will all appear at Key Arena, December 10.  Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning (10am), November 4.  Visit www.1077theend.com for ticket prices and box office locations, which weren’t available at press time.  Taking Back Sunday’s previous visit to Seattle was a summer outing at The Premier (now The Fenix) this summer.  Matt Rubano, the group’s bassist interviewed with the Seattle Gay News before that performance.  Deck The Hall Ball is Snow Patrol’s second Seattle appearance this year, after a sold out concert at the Moore Theatre in September.  The Shins haven’t played Seattle in 2006, though they jammed at the Sasquatch Music Festival in May.  Seattle Gay News is part of the media covering Deck The Hall Ball, so look for a preview of the rock fest in early December. 

Can’t afford tickets to the Pet Shop Boys concert this weekend?  Here’s the alternative.  “West End Boys”, a dandy tribute to the electro-pop duo, takes center stage at Sugar (916 East Pike) the night before, November 4.  For just $5, you can hear the British pair’s best-known songs performed by two Seattle-based, Gay uber-fans turned musicians.  Giulio Pellegrini and Sonny Dunes adored the Pet Shop Boys so much that they decided to become them, or at least an extension of them.  “West End Boys” celebrates the music of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe in a Queer sort of way.  The sound is what you’d expect from a tribute band, not as good as the main act but worth exploring if you’re a diehard of the original artist.  Fankick and DJ Kyler open the show, beginning at 10pm.  And don’t be surprised if you see Tennant and Lowe in the audience.  They have a night off between their Utah and Seattle performances.  Visit www.myspace.com/westendboys for more info. 

Mraz working on new album, featured on Happy Feet soundtrack
This just in.  Jason Mraz is working on a new album.  That’s right, the Curbside Prophet is occupied at the moment with putting together fresh material for an upcoming CD.  Unfortunately, that’s all I know.  I’m not sure how far along he is in the process, but I’ll gladly post any updates I get from Mraz’s camp here in “The Music Lounge”.  Mraz, the peachiest dude on the planet who I’d give my firstborn to (if I ever figure out how to have one), is featured on the soundtrack of the animated film Happy Feet, in stores this week.  Mraz’s “The Joker/Everything I Own” appears alongside contributions by k.d. lang, Prince, The Beach Boys, Pink, and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman.  The movie opens nationwide on November 17.  More on Jason Mraz coming up.