(MK SCOTT) EXCLUSIVE: Cyndi Lauper on Cher and How she still wants to have FUN after 30 years!

 by MK Scott

Cyndi Lauper is a Legend that credits Cher as an influence and after 12 years after opening for her during Cher's never ending Farewell  Tour, she is back as the opening act for the Dressed to Kill Tour, which comes to Seattle's Key Arena this weekend.  I was emailed Cyndy some questions and she responded. Look for Cyndy to talk about Cher, the 30th Anniversary of her Iconic "She so Unusual" album and the Pride from True Colors.

OVTV: (Dazed) Money (That's What I Want?)!

Am I blaming my lack of money for my lack of productivity?

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: When a legend, Burt Bacharach, plays at Seattle's Snoqualmie, You Go!

by MK Scott

I have had some great opportunities in the last few years to meet and review some of the Best singers and song writers of the Late 20th Century from Neil Diamond to Melissa Manchester to Kenny Loggins to Paul Williams. One the greatest songwriters, Burt Bacharach, appeared at Seattle's Snoqualmie Casino this past Thursday (January 23rd). You wouldn't call Bacharach a singer, but more of a Songwriter/Bandleader in the Marvin Hamlisch/Tommy Dorsey kind a way.

As I compared Paul Williams to being the composer of songs with a Gay Interest (Evergreen, Rainbow Connection), Bacharach has huge songbook of LGBT interest from the Look of Love (Used as the theme to Boys in the Band) to I say a little Prayer and Do You Know the Way to San Jose? to On my own and Close to You to the theme of Making Love. Who could also forget the first single to raise money for AIDS Research with That's what friends are for.

Also what Gay male doesn't enjoy the classic film, 'My Best Friend's Wedding' with Julia Roberts and Rupert Everett? Bacharach's music is the center of that film.

(Dazed) Post-Cynicism!

Let's leave cynicism behind us!

(MK Scott) MK's Exclusive with Broadway Star/Recording Artist, Natalie Toro, 'Just in Time for Christmas'!

by MK Scott

Natalie Toro is the latest Broadway (In the Heights) star to make to make it Big as a recording artist. Like, Matt Zarley and Shoshana Bean, Toro started on the stage, but has transitioned into being a recording artist. Her 3rd CD is a Holiday CD with some traditional Favorites and some new material and with a few Hunks as her duet partners. I chatted with Toro, via email, earlier this week.   

(OUTscene NW) RE-view :Villiage People and KC team up for Boogie Night at Seattle's Snoqualmie!

by MK Scott
Even Though I was just a kid, I was so attracted to the sounds of Disco, and my personal favorites were the Bee Gees, Donna Summer and of course, the Village People and KC and the Sunshine Band. So when I heard they would be playing a Double Bill at Seattle's Snoqualmie Casino, I said Hell Yeah, I will be coming to potentially the Gayest night at SNO for the first time since Berlin in the Spring of 2012.

I was surprised when the Village People (the ultimate Kings of Disco) came out first and performed
 Macho Man, San Francisco (You've Got Me), and In Hollywood.

But when only 2 out of the 6 members are Original members Felipe Rose (Indian) and Alex Brilley(Marine) and then have 4 New members Ray Simpson (Cop, since 1987),  Eric Anzalone (Biker) and Recently Jim Newman (Cowboy)  and Bill Whitefield (Construction Worker).

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: NW Native, Michael Buble' goes BIG at Seattle's Key Arena!

by MK Scott

NW Native, Michael Buble' performed at Seattle's Key Arena this past Friday. Buble', 38, was Bred in near by Burnaby, B.C.

Usually I don't mention an opening act especially if I have never heard of them, but this time Naturally 7 was a perfect match for Buble'. According to other members of the audience, N7, has toured with Buble' before. The 7-member  a Capella group is a band that uses their voices as the instruments.  Opening with the 1972 R & B classic, Summer Breeze and ending with Stevie Wonder's Happy Street with Stevie projected on the big screen during the Yeah, Yeah, Yeah moments.

After a brief intermission, the mood was set for Buble'. A little bit Sinatra, a little Elvis, and a little bit Newton, Buble' is the new King of the standards.

The production was top notch from the beginning with Streams of Flames coming from the stage floor as Buble' came out in a Black tux singing,  Fever.

Surrounded by a full orchestra, Buble continued with Haven't Met You Yet, Try a Little Tenderness,
You Make Me Feel So Young, Moondance,  and Come Dance with Me.

(SHOWcase) Matt Zarley's HOPEFUL ROMANTIC...NEW album & 3 NEW videos!

Award winning, Billboard artist Matt Zarley promises a timeless collection of pop songs and videos that embrace matters of the heart.

The 2012 OutMusic Award Winner for ALBUM & SINGLE OF THE YEAR!

From Matt Zarley:
I have always wanted to do an album that was purely romantic. The original concept of this album was inspired by a true love that I had experienced. I now believe in "love at first sight", cuz I lived it. When I first started to work on this, my relationship unexpectedly ended...leaving me heartbroken and confused. Since then, I've uncovered truths about myself and lessons were learned. What started as a sweet valentine to the one I loved, was now becoming alot more dimensional. Though this is inspired though my own personal experience, it's a universal story...told through an optimistic lens.

(DAZED) The Way I Am!

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(OUTscene NW) Chaka Kahn, The Diva Wows Seattle's Snoqualmie!

(c) LEVY

by MK Scott

Going back 30 years, a Dance craze called Breakin' was emerging as the new Disco. Any new craze needs a Diva and queen, as was Donna Summer to Disco, the Queen of Breakin' in my opinion was the Funky, Chaka Kahn. I remember being at Dances at Middle School and witnessing a circle with individuals taking turns spinning on the Floor, in most cases on their heads! In the background I hear Chaka's 'I feel for You'. Later in the 90's the Dance soundtrack included Chaka again with a remix of I'm Every woman' and the height of Oprah's Booming rise and the song became a theme of Women's empowerment in the 90's.

The newly slim, Chaka Khan played this past Sunday at Snoqualmie Casino and actually started with the Biggest hit,  1984's I Feel for You, it wasn't the full song, but just enough to get the crowd moving.  Then she followed up with I'm A Woman, 1981's What Cha' Gonna Do for Me, Sweet Thing. Through the Fire and Do You Love What You Feel. 

(C) LEVY

Khan left the stage for several minutes and returned to Belt out I'm Every Woman, and with Her 1983 Hit with Rufus' Breakin' anthem, Aint Nobody! 

Kahn at 60 and a New figure is back in great form and her voice is better than ever. Long Live the Queen of the Break Dance!

(Dazed) Obsession!

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(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Josh Groban's Emotional return to Seattle!

by MK Scott

Josh Groban, 32,  returned to Seattle's Key Arena for the first time since August 2011, and still showed off his 'Full Package' for a night filled with Humor, Audience interaction, Flurtiness and yeah that Voice!

The opening act was Judith Hill (The Voice, 20 Feet from Stardom) and shined with her Glorious voice. Hill later joined Groban for 'The Prayer', a song that made a 17 year old with the golden voice to make his debut by singing a duet with Celine Dion during a Grammy Rehearsal.

Groban started his set with Brave, False Alarms, February Song and Vincent.

Groban later reflected his Acting Break happened when  he was cast on Ally McBeal  where he sang To Where You Are.

Groban read questions submitted by Audience and once was a mother who asked to have a photo of Josh with her 8 year old daughter. Groban goes walking up to where they are seated and grant her the request.

(DAZED) Scattered!

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(Breaking News) CHER ANNOUNCES ‘DRESSED TO KILL’ TOUR BEGINNING MARCH 22nd!

PRESS RELEASE:

It’s now official. The one and only Cher herself revealed that she will kick off her “Dressed To Kill” 49 city North American Tour beginning in Phoenix on March 22nd with stops in NY, LA, Boston, Las Vegas, and other major markets. Cher shared the happy news with her fans following her performance on the Today Show this morning.

A full list of “Dressed to Kill” tour dates and cities follows this release. The national tour promoter is Marshall Arts USA. For ticket information and to sign up for tour updates please go to Cher.com .

Cher’s previous tour “The Farewell Tour” later dubbed “The Never Can Say Goodbye Tour” was one of the most successful tours ever by a solo artist and played for a record-breaking 325 dates and seen by over 5.5 million people.

American Express® Cardmembers can purchase their tickets to select cities before the general public beginning Monday September 30th, 10am through Thursday, October 3rd, 10pm.

For all online tickets purchased (presale and general public), ticketholders will receive a free copy of Cher’s new album “Closer To The Truth”, out September 24th on Warner Bros Records.

Cher is in New York this week celebrating the album’s release with upcoming appearances on David Letterman (Sept. 24th) and Live! with Kelly & Michael (October 1st). Cher will also be appearing as a mentor with Blake Shelton on NBC’s The Voice airing in October.

(Super Funny) DO THESE GUYS 'ROAR' BETTER THAN KATY PERRY?

A last bit of light-hearted summer fun from the Berkshire Boys.

(DAZED) Reboot!

In which I get up, sit down and have a proper talk.

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(OUTscene NW) INTER-view: The Psychedelic Furs: The Feel Is Everything!

                                                               Photo: Maggie Butler

by Trent Moorman

In the '80s, there were jelly shoes, and people were hopping on Pogo balls. Every piece of clothing had shoulder pads. It was a time of awkward, stylized spryness. E.T. and Michael Jackson had a fling. Techno music was born, Pac-Man chomped eight-bit dots, Hungry Hungry Hippos and Prozac were invented. Denise Huxtable ran it ALL. In 1981, a band from London called the Psychedelic Furs released the album Talk Talk Talk on Columbia Records. The single was "Pretty in Pink." In 1985, Molly Ringwald asked director John Hughes to write a movie based on the song. She loved it, and could cry better than anyone at your prom. Singer Richard Butler's voice hinted at David Bowie's, and the Furs' dour, poshy post-punk pop became a defining sound of the decade. They touched on an arty new wave and probably never played Hungry Hungry Hippos. Sprung out of the British punk scene of the late '70s, they would go on to cut austere mega-hits like "Love My Way." It was hot, "white hot," as Ringwald would say. Bassist and founding member Tim Butler spoke—in a beautiful, wafting, cursive English accent—from his home in Liberty, Kentucky. He was sitting in his car outside a grocery store waiting for his wife.

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(DAZED) That Is That (rough idea)!

Here are the lyrics because I mess them up quite a bit because this is just after I wrote it but I liked the general tone of this video so it's still going up. This song is probably still going to evolve a bit but yeah I liked this so here it is.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Original Jersey Boy, Frankie Valli, 79, Rocks Seattle's SNOQUALMIE!

by MK Scott

The Summer of 1978 was a memorable time for Movie Music, coming from the soundtracks of Saturday Night Fever and Grease. The title track, 'Grease', was my first introduction to the talents of Frankie Valli. My Mom, who was a mega Elvis Fan, happened to have one 'Four Seasons' Album. I was an instant fan.

Who could forget the Hit Broadway show in 2005, Jersey Boys, I bought the Cast CD for my Boyfriend, but he wasn't a big fan of Valli or the show. So I kept the CD, and played it over and over to annoy him.

When I heard that Frankie Valli (Now 79) was going to play my favorite Concert venue, Snoqualmie Casino on August 8th, I had to be there.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Season 12's American Idol LIVE was more Ensemble than DIVA!

The Girls back Candace, as she did for them   /MKS

by MK Scott

For the 5th year in a row,  I was there covering the IDOL Live Stop in the Seattle area. (My annual interviews have been postponed until Possible Fall or Winter) Last Friday, I attended the concert, which was the first show on the tour. The Venue selection was downsized from 2 years (2010, 2012) at the Key, 1 Year (2011) at Comcast in Everett, and the 1 Year (2009) at the Tacoma Dome (Adam Lambert's Year). This year was in all places Kent, WA (Season 10's Stefano Langone's Hometown) at the Showare Center. There were plenty of empty seats, and which also happened to be the same night as Paul McCartney at Safeco field. But of course since it have been 2 Months (May 16th was the Finale) since the  Idol Top 10 have been in the limelight. The advertising for the show was pretty minimal, but once again Idol must reinvent itself next season.