(TIME-WARP) The Death of a King!

Journalist Tony Scherman writes that by early 1977, "Elvis Presley had become a grotesque caricature of his sleek, energetic former self. Hugely overweight, his mind dulled by the pharmacopoeia he daily ingested, he was barely able to pull himself through his abbreviated concerts." In Alexandria, Louisiana, the singer was on stage for less than an hour and "was impossible to understand". Presley failed to appear in Baton Rouge; he was unable to get out of his hotel bed, and the rest of the tour was cancelled. Despite the accelerating deterioration of his health, he stuck to most touring commitments.

OVTV: (TIME Warp) 57 Years ago; The Beatles Invaded America and our Hearts!

In late 1963, Sullivan and his entourage happened also to be passing through Heathrow and witnessed how The Beatles' fans greeted the group on their return from Stockholm, where they had performed a television show as warmup band to local star Lill Babs. Sullivan was intrigued, telling his entourage it was the same thing as Elvis all over again. He initially offered Beatles manager Brian Epstein top dollar for a single show but the Beatles manager had a better idea—he wanted exposure for his clients: the Beatles would instead appear three times on the show, at bottom dollar, but receive top billing and two spots (opening and closing) on each show.

(OUTview NW) Out NPR co-host Ari Shapiro returned to his native Portland last month for his international-themed one-man show, 'Homeward'!

by MK Scott 

I first heard of Ari Shapiro two years ago. I knew he was someone from my hometown of Beaverton, OR and was a nationally known journalist working for NPR (National Public Radio) who'd become a co-host of the famed 'All Things Considered' program. We listen to him daily, here at the SGN offices.

I personally met Shapiro, 39, last fall at the Association of LGBTQ Journalists Convention in Philadelphia. About a month later I was thrilled to learn he would be in Portland to perform his one-man show, 'Homeward,' which he presented at the World Trade Auditorium in Portland last month. (On other occasions when he's in Portland he performs with the Portland-based band, Pink Martini.)

(OUTview NW) EXCLUSIVE: Storm Large brings her new band Le Bonheur to Federal Way on Friday, Dec. 1

by MK Scott

Pacific Northwest favorite Storm Large will take the stage on Friday, Dec. 1, at 8pm at the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center (31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way S.)

Known as a vocalist for Pink Martini, Large and her new band, Le Bonheur, will deliver a concert rolling with their interpretations of the American Songbook.

Large cartwheeled out of her checkered past across a thousand punk rock stages and into her infamous stint on the CBS rock 'n' roll reality series 'Rock Star: Supernova.' From there, she went on to tour the world, singing in 17 different languages, as vocalist for the joyful little pop orchestra Pink Martini.

Large has performed nationally from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Large is also an actor, playwright and author. Her award-winning one-woman show, 'Crazy Enough,' broke every box office record at Portland Center Stage in 2010. In 2012, she detailed her wild life in a memoir of the same title published by Simon and Schuster.

NPR's Ari Shapiro, co-host of 'All Things Considered' on occasion, also performs with Large and Pink Martini on occasion and I had a chance to chat with her in-person following Shapiro's one-man show, 'Homeward,' this past weekend in Portland, Oregon.

(OUTview NW) Chris Botti jazzes up Seattle Symphony's Seattle Pops concert!

by MK Scott

After years of missing famed trumpeter, Chris Botti, perform live in Seattle at such local venues as Jazz Alley, I finally got my opportunity, but this time he was part of the Seattle Symphony's Seattle Pops concert - one of my favorite series - at Benaroya Hall this past weekend.

Botti performed with one of the top jazz pianists around, Geoffery Keezer, along with drummer, Lee Pearson and Michael Olatuja on bass.

The program included some incredible solo work by violinist, Caroline Campbell, guitarist, Leonardo Amuedo, and vocals by Sy Smith and Rafael Moras.

Accompanied by the Seattle Symphony conducted by Lawrence Loh, this concert was a mixture of familiar ballads, jazz, rock and American songbook standards.

(OUTview NW) Victor Janusz's 'Summer Crooners' concert at Egan's in Ballard made the summer swell!

by MK Scott

On Saturday, July 29th Seattle's amazing piano-man, Victor Janusz (VJ) along with his always smooth Medearis Dixson (MD), on sax, appeared in a return engagement at Egan's Ballard Jam House (1707 NW Market St.)

The show was titled 'VJ and his Summer Crooners' with special guests; Arwen Dewey, Marilyn Deering, Mama SUE and Arnaldo! (Out of Drag).

VJ started the show by performing his latest classic, 'Bones of Richard III,' from his current CD, Living in a Blue State, and then spoke with elation about seeing the legendary Burt Bacharach at Jazz Alley a few weeks ago, which lead into a Burt Bacharach medley of 'Are You There With Another Boy?,' 'Knowing When to Leave' and 'The Look of Love.' Later, VJ and MD performed 'Never Can Say Goodbye.'

VJ also announced an upcoming French-English standard album that he has been recording with singer Arwen Dewey who sang the following songs in French: 'Route Nationals 7', 'Sous L' Ciel de Paris' and 'Le Baiser.' One song, 'Via Con Mi' was sung in Italian.

(OUTview NW) EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: R&B sensation Mya to headline Tacoma Pride Party at Club Silverstone on July 8th!

by MK Scott

If you thought that the Cuff Pride Party with Berlin and Vicci Martinez was great, Club Silverstone in Tacoma has something special planned for their annual Pride Party on Saturday, July 8th. Hosted by The Lady Bunny, the headliner there will be R&B singer and actress, Mya. It was 15 years ago when she collaborated with Missy Elliot and was one of the foursome in the iconic Lady Marmalade remake for the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, which was followed by her cameo in the Oscar-winning Chicago as cellmate Mona. I had a chance to chat with by phone last week (June 22).

(OUTview NW) Exclusive Interview:Terri Nunn of Berlin still “Take[s] My Breath Away”!

by MK Scott

You know what Pride weekend means? Another epic street party at the Cuff Complex on Sunday, June 25th. Last year I chatted with disco diva, Martha Wash (“It’s Raining Men”) and this year the Cuff has a headliner with the group Berlin headed by a diva (Terri Nunn) that should heat up your summer nights. I had a great opportunity to chat with Terri Nunn by phone last week on June 15th.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: It was an 1980's Party with all-new Nu Shooz and Animotion at Everett's Historic Theatre.

by MK Scott

While the 1990s was the era for Seattle music (Nirvana, Pearl Jam), it was Portland in the 1980s that was the birthplace of three incredible bands. I am talking about the legendary sound of Quarterflash (headed by Pat Benatar-like Rindy Ross), the percussion-heavy Dan Reed Network (headed by dreamy Dan Reed, with a Jon Bon Jovi-like smirk) and finally the Pop/R&B/Funk style of Nu Shooz (led by Valerie Day with husband, John Smith).

After a lengthy hiatus from the world of Pop/Funk and Soul (to raise a family and play other styles of music) Valerie and John have revived the original Nu Shooz sound. The husband and wife team are back on the road as part of the Super Freestyle Explosion Tour with their live eight-piece band, Shoo-Horns, and are playing shows for the first time in 25 years.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Seattle Opera's As One is a triumph and provides discussion and education about the Transgender community!

by MK Scott

Get this, an opera with only two performers, with no elaborate set or costumes, in a smaller venue in the Central District. The fact that the characters (one male and one female) are two sides of one transgender character (Hannah) makes this a rare treat. Seattle Opera has finally brought this groundbreaking 2014 production to share with their Seattle audience.

As One by Laura Kaminsky is a chamber opera that made its debut in 2014 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music as part of American Opera Projects. What makes this production so unique is the performers are people of color.

We meet 'Hannah-before' (played by baritone Jorell Williams) with 'Hannah-after' (played by mezzo-soprano Taylor Raven) in the shadows as Williams expresses himself and struggles with his gender identity.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Olivia Newton-John at Snoqualmie was simply a magical 'Twist of Fate'!

(Snoqualmie)

by MK Scott

Olivia Newton-John is an icon and is clearly a pioneer as a crossover artist and I realized just how much like Taylor Swift she was when I learned of Olivia's journey as a crossover artist from country to Pop in the mid-70's to being a cultural icon from Grease to Xanadu to, of course, the 'Physical' phenomenon in the '80s and once again re-inventing herself in the '90s and beyond.

In my interview published in the SGN August 19 she was ecstatic to be back in Seattle and that the Aug 25th concert would at Snoqualmie Casino's Outdoor amphitheater. The show started only 15 minutes late with no opening act. Olivia, wearing a black suit with a gorgeous white jacket brought back the 'Magic' and 'Xanadu.' Then 'Suddenly,' with one of her back-up singers, she took on the Cliff Richard part.

(OUTview NW) Concert RE-view: For the first time in 15 years Culture Club is Back, Mature and really Wowed Chateau Ste. Michelle!

Photo: Drew Lienau

by MK Scott

Another concert on my bucket list was finally fulfilled on Thurs, August 11th, when Culture Club toured the US for the first time in 15 years with a visit at Chateau Ste. Michelle's summer concert series in Woodinville.

With Boy George's muse (and ex-lover), Jon Moss taking center stage at his drum set and followed by Roy Hay and Mikey Craig and finally Boy George, 55, himself belting out Church of the Poison Mind without Helen Terry, but with the key backupsinger mimicking her voice perfectly. Boy George's voice sounded lower (ongoing throat issues) but didn't disappoint.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: After 32 years, 'Weird Al' is Still Ageless and Weird-ly Funny!

MKS

by MK Scott

It was 1984, when I first heard this singer/comedian hit the airwaves with parodies of hit songs from Madonna and Michael Jackson and while those music videos were comic gold, we thought he had disappeared from the spotlight until a few years ago with some you song, but it was eminent that "Weird Al' Yankovic has always been in pop culture and even the punchline in many TV shows and films as evidence on his Seattle stop on July 26th at Woodland Parks' Zoo Tunes.

The concert was family-friendly and started at 6:00 pm on a Tuesday night, and most probably had no idea of 'Weird Al's' iconic status.

(Blank on Blank) B.B. King on The Blues!

"I don't like to feel that I owe anything. I like to feel that I pay my own way, no free lunch."
- B.B. King on September 5, 1986, as told to Joe Smith

Mr. B.B. King. The blues legend says he played 300 nights a year for four-plus decades. That’s just ridiculous. We’re talking about nearly 15,000 shows. King turns 90 this year and you still just might be able to see him on stage. So what's his secret? We heard some keys to living life to its fullest in a 1986 interview that had been unheard until now.

In this animated film created from B.B. King's interview with legendary music executive, Joe Smith, the musician explains how he approaches an audience, how a fire at a juke joint led to his naming his guitar "Lucille", why the blues isn't just being down on your luck, and why compliments don't mean it's time to stop practicing or perfecting your craft.

(Time WARP) the GATE turns 79 and Remembering Robin Gibb!

Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to Marin County. It is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco, California, and the United States. It has been declared one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Frommers travel guide considers the Golden Gate Bridge "possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world. The project was finished by April 1937, $1.3 million under budget.

The bridge was visualized in such film classics as Vertigo, Star Trek IV and  View to a Kill.

The bridge-opening celebration began on May 27, 1937 and lasted for one week. The day before vehicle traffic was allowed, 200,000 people crossed by foot and roller skate. On opening day, Mayor Angelo Rossi and other officials rode the ferry to Marin, then crossed the bridge in a motorcade past three ceremonial "barriers", the last a blockade of beauty queens who required Joseph Strauss to present the bridge to the Highway District before allowing him to pass. An official song, "There's a Silver Moon on the Golden Gate", was chosen to commemorate the event. Strauss wrote a poem that is now on the Golden Gate Bridge entitled "The Mighty Task is Done." The next day, President Roosevelt pushed a button in Washington, D.C. signaling the official start of vehicle traffic over the Bridge at noon. When the celebration got out of hand, the SFPD had a small riot in the uptown Polk Gulch area. Weeks of civil and cultural activities called "the Fiesta" followed. A statue of Strauss was moved in 1955 to a site near the bridge.

DEBUT! (It's FAB w/ MK) -Holiday Special!

MK chats with Michelle Visage (with Jinkx) about her new book.

The Debut of It's Fab with MK Scott podcast is HERE! We got 3 Pals all with FAB stuff to promote for the Holidays from Matt Zarley's Hopeful and Michelle Visage's Diva Rules to Matthew Rettenmund's Madonna Encyclopedia and Starf*cker. Plus New Music! Stay Tuned as we Celebrate the Holiday!

Check Out all these items Below as well as others we endorse at our Amazon Store; 

Twitter: @mkscott206
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Its-FAB-w-MK

(OUTview NW) Concert RE-view: Coleman's Farewell SMC Season Sparkles with Home for the Holidays' Greatest Hits!

DIVA: Saving the Best performance for his Final Season!

by MK Scott

The Dennis Coleman 35th Season and Final Seattle Men's Chorus Holiday show premiered this past Saturday and it was a Greatest Hits show of his favorite songs from Holiday concerts past.

By tradition, the first 2 performances featured an appearance by a special guest and this years was no exception with Broadway turned comedy star, Tituss Burgess (The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and the running joke of the night was no rain in Seattle and Titus was unhappy with the weather. From the song King of the world to Mr. Grinch to the soulful, A Gift to Be Simple, brought down the house.

(92nd Street Y) Rod Stewart with Hoda Kotb!

Rod Stewart, the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and global superstar talks about the early days—from his humble childhood to busker, bohemian and Mod in London’s ’60-70s club scene, to fronting The Jeff Beck Group and his five raucous years with the Faces, to writing “Maggie May,” and setting in motion one of the most successful and enduring music careers of all time. About his other great passions (Celtic FC), family and his not-so-private private life, and his renaissance as a songwriter and performer of original hit songs as his second album of the decade, Another Country, hits stores.

(OUTview NW) Concert RE-view: Madonna Returns to Portland after 30 Years (8 Tours Later) and made History all over again!

(Rettenmund)

by MK Scott

It took me 30 years to attend a Madonna Concert and it took 30 years for her to return to Portland on Tour. Why so long? Well, opportunity and money was my excuse. What was Madonna's? Hard to believe that when Madonna last performed in Portland, it was the Reagan Administration, and the Virgin Tour stopped in Portland, according to Wiki,  for 2 shows on April 15 and 16, 1985, not at the famed Coliseum, but at the Arlene Schnitzer Hall, the Portland Sister to Seattle's Paramount Theater where she performed 3 times from April 10-13, 1985. This was after 'Desperatlely Seeking Susan" but before the Playboy and Penthouse Pictorial and Live Aid. So that means, Portland missed the Who's that Girl, Blond Ambition (The Best), The Girlie Show, Confessions, MDNA and others. We could only watch Ambition and Girlie Show on HBO or visited Seattle, which most Portlanders don't (and still) believe that Seattle even exists.

(92nd Street Y) Don Henley with Billy Joel!

Don Henley and Billy Joel, true American rock royalty, have remained friends throughout their careers.

Joel even sang at Henley’s wedding, while Henley showed his admiration by performing at Joel’s Kennedy Center Honors. Now these two music legends are set to make a rare public appearance together, when Joel moderates a conversation with Henley at 92Y. Hear them talk about their lives, their careers and about Henley’s Cass County, his first solo album in 15 years, a musical return to his roots.