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posted Friday, June 20, 2008 - Volume 36 Issue 25 |
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| Indigo Girls, The Gits, Bumbershoot, George Michael, Sigur Ros
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by Albert Rodriguez -
SGN A&E Writer
Are you ready for the Indigo Girls? They're here on Pride weekend, playing a sold-out concert at Woodland Park Zoo. Before the show, they're talking to Seattle Gay News. As I write this column, hung over and groggy, Amy Ray is set to call me within two hours. She and Emily Saliers comprise the Grammy-winning duo who, aside from Melissa Etheridge and kd lang, are music's most recognizable Lesbian performers. Since their breakthrough in 1989, the Indigo Girls have released several great recordings that have sold over 12 million copies and collected seven Grammy nominations. The pair's latest offering, Despite Our Differences, was released to rave reviews from The New York Times and Paste magazine. Seattle-based artist Brandi Carlile appears on the album, harmonizing with Saliers on the final track "Last Tears." As mentioned, the Indigo Girls performance on June 29, as part of the ZooTunes summer concert series, is sold out, but the zoo sometimes releases a limited number of tickets on the day of show, purchasable in person only. Look for my interview with Amy Ray in next week's special Pride music section.
Longtime Seattle residents, particularly those close to the music scene, will remember the unfortunate death of Mia Zapata. She was a member of up-and-coming band The Gits, and was found murdered - a victim of rape and homicide - on her way home from a night out on Capitol Hill. Zapata's death shocked the music community and an outpouring of support, including fundraising efforts by Joan Jett and Nirvana, helped pool the resources that eventually brought her killer to justice. The Gits were on the verge of breakthrough in 1993 when Zapata died, a hardcore punk act heralded as the next big Seattle band. From July 4 through July 10, a documentary directed by Kerri O'Kane will run exclusively at Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Avenue) twice daily, at 7 and 9 p.m.. Tickets are $8.50 for the general public, $5 for Forum members. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com. I encourage you to see this movie, especially if you lived in Seattle in the early '90s, as footage of The Gits and the music scene at that time will definitely bring back memories.
More acts have been added to the Bumbershoot lineup. Old 97's, Flobots and The Offspring are now on the festival's roster, joining previously announced performers Beck, Stone Temple Pilots, Neko Case, Band of Horses, Sons and Daughters, Ingrid Michaelson, The Blakes, Jakob Dylan, Keyshia Cole, The Walkmen, and Anti-Flag. Three-day festival passes are available now through August 15 for $80, single-day passes go on sale July 15 for $35. The final Bumbershoot lineup will be announced next month, but to view the current list of performers visit www.bumbershoot.org. As we've done for several years, Seattle Gay News will be on-hand at Seattle Center to cover the festival. This year's coverage looks to include live blogs, mini reviews, surprise interviews, and VIP performances. This is shaping up to be one of the best Bumbershoots ever!
If you're low on cash and still want to see George Michael in concert, tickets will be priced at $25 during a 25-hour sale running through Saturday, July 21 (6:25 p.m.). The Gay pop icon is scheduled to perform July 2 at Key Arena, the night after Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors Tour" comes to town. Michael's upcoming Seattle appearance is part of his first North American tour in 17 years, and will include songs from the Grammy-winner's long career such as "Father Figure," "Faith," "Freedom 90," "I Want Your Sex," "Careless Whisper," "Jesus to a Child" and "Monkey." Tickets to the George Michael concert would make an excellent Pride gift for a close friend, and at $25 you can afford to see the show and grab drinks afterwards.
Gay boys love Sigur Ros to the extent of packing the aisles at their sold-out concerts, which is why I'm thrilled to announce an upcoming performance by the Icelandic group on October 5 at Benaroya Hall. I have no immediate ticket information, so you'll either have to check the band's website or Ticketmaster in the coming days for updates. Sigur Ros is set to release a brand new album, which has a title I can't even begin to pronounce, on June 24. The forthcoming tour features Jon Thor Birgisson (vocals, guitar), Georg Holm (bass), Kjartan Sveinsson (keyboards, piano) and Orri Pall Dyrason (drums).
Weezer is in town this weekend for a promotional gig. It's a radio show, sponsored by our used-to-be friends 107.7 The End (they broke up with us last year), and you can only get into the show through them. I am told, however, that Weezer is planning a regular tour for later this summer.
Lastly, the reason I'm hung over (not to mention spraying one of my neighbors' lawns with a concocted digestion of beer and wine) is because I partied backstage with Switches after their gig at The Showbox. Members of She Wants Revenge were backstage as well. I don't quite remember everything that happened, but I do recall giving one Switches band member a massage in the bathroom and closing out the night at Union just down the street from The Showbox. I also squeezed myself between another band member's warm legs to take a photo with him. Ah & the perks of being a music writer.
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