(OUTview NW) RE-view: Etheridge Rocks Seattle's Zoo Tunes and Goes Back to her Roots!

Etheridge was happy to be back in Seattle after 3 years

by MK Scott

In continuation of the Double Bill at Woodland Park's ZooTunes during this past week, yesterday I posted my Blondie Review that performed first, and then after a quick Break we hear Lesbians and Gay Men scream for the unstoppable Melissa Etheridge, who struck her first Grammy in 1993 and has battled Coming Out, Cancer, Divorce and ups and downs and just in the last few years has managed to cross over to the sound and style that made her a household name in the early to mid-90's. Her Latest, Monster, has the same sound from the early days.

Melissa, 54,  came out and started with Hit after Hit with If I Wanted To and I Want to Come Over.

Plus her Latest Monster and Chrome Plated Heart, followed by my faves and her best with Come to My Window and I'm the Only One. 

I attended with 3 Lesbians and we were all dancing and having a great time as Melissa went from Guitar to Harmonica.

She closed the show with Bring Me Some Water and the Encore with Like the Way I Do.

(OUTview NW) Still Vibrant, Blondie, ROCKS Seattle's Zootunes!

Harry in Hot Pink at 70!

by MK Scott

In the groups I want to see LIVE before I die, I was able to see the one and only Blondie this past week at the Woodland Park Zoo as part of their annual Zootunes series. Also being billed was Melissa Ethridge so look for that Re-view later in the week.

Most of the audience consisted of middle aged to older gay men (For Blondie) and Lesbians (for Melissa).

Blondie is really the Super Fab and 70 (yes, 70) legend, Ms Debbie Harry and she is Fabstastic. Also joining her from the originals are Chris Stein (Bass) and Clem Burke (Drums). Blondie is also celebrating 40 years in the Business.

Super Hottie, Tommy Kessler (Lead Guitar) ,wearing a sleeveless button up shirt, really caught my eye.

Debbie came out wearing a bright pink jacket over a black top and mini skirt and black laced hose.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: SMC's QUEEN was Bittersweet!

And Now the show Starts!    Photo by John Pai.

by MK Scott

And now it has began, the long goodbye to the man that has been the visionary of the Seattle Men's Chorus for nearly 35 years, Dennis Coleman is retiring in ONE year, but the mood from this past weekend at the annual June Concert felt like the beginning of a bittersweet year. Queen, a band that was in its prime over 35 yrs ago was the appropriate theme. There is no bigger Seattle Queen than Coleman himself.

The Past Saturday, SMC performed a full QUEEN concert at Seattle's McCaw Hall and it was great for the most part thanks to local musical sensation, Frederick Hargreen as a Freddie impersonator. Hargreen just turned heads in 5th avenue's recent Jasper in Deadland and totally has the singing chops. The only drawback was Hargreen appeared during the Last song out of Eight Songs in Act 1. The songs prior especially Killer Queen, Bicycle Race and Play the game, the soloists (some consisted of season pros) struggled with the higher octave and sounded flat. The Highlight of Act 1 was the classic, We will Rock/Champions Medley and Killer Queen, when Queens from the Queen of Hearts to Frozen's Elsa to the ultimate Killer Queen, Divine from Pink Flamingos. Hargreen came out for the Act One finale in Mercury's infamous Black and white body suit singing, Don't Stop me Now.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: SMC celebrates 'Legacy', one of their Most Inspirational Concerts in Years!

Deshon, Lippa and Lasentia in the MILK Finale 

by MK Scott

During this past weekend at Seattle's McCaw Hall, the Seattle Men's Chorus once again came together for 2 One ACT shows, celebrating 2 very different Men. The first ACT was called "Tyler's Suite", the story of a Tux-clad, Tyler Clementi's life set to music. Clementi was the Rugter's music student, who was "Outed" by his roommate and jumped off the the GW Bridge in the Fall of 2010. In Act 2 in "I am Harvey Milk", went from a Jewish, Tux-clad opera lover from NY to starting a new open life as a community leader in San Francisco until his tragic murder in the late-1970's.


On the night of Milk’s death in November 1978, according to a SMC Press Release,  the national gay choral movement was born when a group of men, who would later become the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, performed at Milk’s candlelight vigil. A few months later, in 1979, Seattle Men’s Chorus was formed.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: SMC's 'Our Gay Apparel' is one of their GAYEST in YEARS!

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by MK Scott

The Seattle Holiday Season has started in High Gear and of course one of the biggest traditions is of the Seattle Men's Chorus' Holiday Concert cleverly titled, Our Gay Apparel, and it lives up to the name and makes this the BEST and GAYEST Concert in Years. Not since 2012's Baby, It's Cold Outside concert and 2012's Boy Band concert have I enjoyed it more.

The problems in the past came from the lack of Balance of the 2 acts, but not the case in this one.

Act ONE shined with their traditional and favorite, God Rest ye Merry Gentleman, followed by a hilarious tune about Holiday Sweaters. From traditional, Fum, Fum, Fum to a parody of Sugar Plum Fairies with the Black swan and dancers in pink tutus. The audience loved it. Another the audience loved was Special Guest, Linda Eder (a Bonafide Broadway Star). If you listen to the Broadway Radio on Sirus or pay attention to her CDs, you know her. Most of the audience did not prior, but now will never forget her. Eder's range is similar from Streisand and Idina Menzel to Kristin Chenoweth, a voice you never forget as she belted out Broadway show tunes from Evita's Don't Cry for me Argentina, and title song from Man from La Mancha.

The First Act had everything except for Kevin Gallagher, the ALS interpreter, who has left the chorus after 30 plus years. I did see Kevin during intermission and told him how he will be missed.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: USHER oozes Sex Appeal and a New Audience at Seattle's Key Arena!

SCOTT

by MK Scott

I first saw Usher (Raymond) about 16 years ago, not just music, but as an actor on the CBS Soap, "The Bold and the Beautiful". His Character hooked up with Amber Moore (Adrienne Frantz) as a one night stand and after Amber got pregnant she worried if the Baby was Raymond's or (her white and rich) Boyfriend's by the time the story had wrapped up, Usher had moved on and the character was recast. Usher was too busy with his music career that was skyrocketing fast!

His Album, 'My way' hit the charts and was opening for Janet Jackson's Velvet Rope Tour. You see Usher dance and Perform you instantly go back to Michael Jackson and know he was a Major influence. You also see a little of Elvis and currently the look and sex appeal of Marvin Gaye.

When I saw the Seattle stop of his UR Experience Tour this past Wednesday at Key Arena, I knew ticket sells were low, but I had no idea that his core audience had shifted. A Majority of the audience were Asian and White with a small Minority of Black (mostly women). That isn't that bad, because Usher, like Michael Buble' is carrying on a legacy of musical influences (Sinatra/Como) as mentioned the influences of MJ and Gaye. Those Fans will never go away.

(OUTscene NW) Music RE-view: The Ageless Fleetwood MAC Rocks Tacoma Dome!

Scott

by MK Scott

Some of my best music memories was riding with my mom in the mid to late 1970's hearing a variety of different music genre's from Elvis to Disco to Pop and Classic. When I first heard Fleetwood Mac's 'You Make Loving Fun" the music and Beat reminded be of 'I Dream of Jeannie' and could imagine Barbara Eden in her Jeannie costume singing it. Years later, I realized that was sung by the songstress, Christine McVie, 71, who is now back after being away from Fleetward Mac since 1998. 

Then we have the legendary (and Ageless) Stevie Nicks 66, who I remember singing Gypsy as well several over Hits, plus from her latter solo career that started in the mid-80's for 'Stand Back'. .

Lindsey Buckingham, 65, I remember for his soulful voice, good looks. I had forgotten he is also an incredible Guitarist.

Mick Fleetwood, 67, the creator of those beats and John McVie, 68, is in the background, and who Mick calls the Backbone of the Mac.

Back in the 90's, I remember how excited I was watching one of their concerts on TV, I think it was 1997's The Dance, I remember I even got the CD.

So one of my items on my Bucket List was fulfilled this past Thursday at the Tacoma Dome and that was actually seeing the Full Mac back together Live.

(OUTscene NW) Concert RE-view: Well-Strung is a Well-Hung Revelation!

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by MK Scott

Take this, a String Quartet plus vocal group of Single and Young Gay men, called Well-Strung was at Seattle's Neptune this past weekend and most of the audience didn't know who this group was up until a week earlier.

Are they a Boy band? Are they a Chamber Group or a Singing String quartet? All the above, with a little Il Divo added!  What a Revelation!


If they hadn’t come up with a surefire concept, who knows where Edmund Bagnell (first violin), Christopher Marchant (second violin), Daniel Shevlin (cello) and  Seattle Native, Trevor Wadleigh (viola) would be? All have classical music training and, with the exception of Marchant, who was performing 'Naked Boys Singing' in  PTown.

All Gay and single has they introduce each other and go right into a number.

(OUTscene NW) Concert RE-view: Cher's Dressed to Kill hits Seattle's Key, but is this really the end? Hell, No!

Cher is No Diva, she is an icon!

by MK Scott

It has been 10 years since Cher has performed in the Pacific NW, and after the 3 Year Farewell Tour, and her successful Vegas Show, Cher is Back from she belongs on the Dressed to Kill tour, entertaining the masses. Cher claims this is the last Tour, but can this truly be the end? Hell, No!

This past Saturday at Seattle's Key Arena (which the audience was at least 60 to 80% Gay) Cher returned and put on quite a show, and I discovered that Cher could possibly be a Vegas show in the making and be an actual Age Impersonator (much like the Female impersonators that emulate her). Cher had to remind the audience several times that she is 68, and then can transform herself through wigs and costume changes back to her 20's with 60's Cher, her 30's with 70's Cher, and her 40's and 50's. She is so believable that she takes us on the journey. How can this be the end?

From the moment the curtain was raised and she was singing her new song, Woman's World, perched on the top of a high pedestal with gorgeous gown and peacock head dress.

(OUTscene NW) Concert RE-view: Cyndi Lauper ROCKS Seattle with PASSION and PRIDE!

Photo: Dan Lane

by MK Scott

It was a Double Deal, with 2 Gay Icons on the same night that it needs 2 Re-views. This past Saturday, at Seattle's Key Arena, was the much anticipated  Cher and Cyndi Lauper Double tour. I will post the Cher review tomorrow, but now it is all about Cyndi and how at 61, she brought it all back.

Lauper is celebrating her 30th Anniversary Milestone of her Legendary album, She's So Unusual, and she still is and she loves her Gay audience and we love her.

Cyndi entered the arena through a crowd as if she was entering the wrestling ring, draped in a Rainbow Flag singing, She Bop!

Cyndi acknowledged Pride almost immediately  and the crowd roared, as we sang I'll Kiss You and Witness.

Lauper said she was honored that Cher invited her back to tour with 11 years since Cher's 1st round of her 3 year Farewell Tour. She then sang Cher's Favorite song, 1985's All Through the Night.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Seattle Men's Chorus (W/ Special Guest, Megan Hilty) 'Totally WICKED' was 'Totally FUN'

Jeffery Erickson (NOT Glinda)          /Pai

by MK Scott

Stephen Schwartz is an American Composer who gave us 3 very different Broadway classics as well as a Lyricist for a few Disney Classics. WICKED is his greatest achievement and was the center of last weekend for Seattle Men's chorus's Totally Wicked at Seattle's McCaw Hall.

Seattle bred and Broadway star, Megan Hilty (Smash, Sean Saves the World) returned after appearing in the Holiday Glee Concert in 2010.

The second act was FUN and had one exciting number after another. The first Act not so much. One reason could be that it focused too much on Schwartz' shows that he did after PIPPIN and Before WICKED. Have you heard of his 1986 show, Children of Eden or his 1989 show, The Baker's Wife or 1974's The Magic Show? I didn't think so.

(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.

(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.

(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!

(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.

(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: Kenny Loggins was 'Alright', 'Footloose' in the 'Danger Zone' of Snoqualmie!

Loggins is 'Finally Home'      /MKS

 by MK Scott

The Mid-80's were some the best times of Film and Music, especially when the two went together and the Movie Sound Track King, by far, was Kenny Loggins and nearly 30 (GULP) Years later, the soundtrack of that time is thanks to Loggins contributions to Pop Culture. Kenny Loggins (Looks Great at 65) returned to his home state (He was Born in Everett, WA) and performed this past Sunday at Snoqualmie Casino's Amphitheatre.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Huey Lewis celebrates 30 Years of Sports!

by MK Scott

Back in 1983, My sister brought home a copy of a cassette tape of an Album called 'Sports' by Huey Lewis and band called the News, with big Hits like 'Heart of Rock N' Roll', we waited as Huey shouted our town of 'Portland, Oregon', and his other hit, 'I want a new Drug'. Why was a older looking man sounding so Hip and Square at the same time?

I remember my sister coming back from a 1984 concert, wearing a 'Sports' T-shirt. I really didn't get into Huey Lewis as much as my sister, but I do recall Huey being part of 'We are the World' and singing with our future ally, Cyndi Lauper and Kim Carnes in the music video and loving his hit, "Power of Love" in the Back to the Future. In the 90's Huey and News kind of disappeared until now.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Ageless, Rick Springfield ROCKS Snoqualmie!

by MK Scott

It was 1981, when I first saw the dreamy, Rick Springfield, light up my TV Screen on the Soap, General Hospital at the same time, his music was lighting up MTV with such hits as "Jesse's Girl", and "I've done Everything for you". It was the perfect timing to be on the #1 Daytime Drama, as well being a Top Charter.

With the 50th Anniversary of GH coming up in April and his expected return (playing not one or two, but three characters; Noah, Eli and Himself), I know I needed to see this concert, last night at Snoqualmie Casino (just 30 min. East of Seattle). I brought my colleague, Ben, who had never heard of Springfield until now and walked out of the concert as a fan!

One thing you notice when you walked in, was a wide spread of 'Horny Housewives' and Gay men in the audience. Springfield is still Super Hot at 63! He looks barely 50. He was wearing a Black sleeveless button shirt showing up his massive arms and his tattoo of a cross.