The partying after the newly routed Chicago 43rd Annual Pride Parade will not stop as Scissor Sisters will take to the stage at Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., on Sunday, June 24. The queer New Yorkers recently released their fourth studio album, Magic Hour.
Lead singer Jake Shears opens about issues with trust on "Baby Come Home," which could have been an Elton John hit 40 years ago. The Bee-Gees-inspired "Inevitable" recalls the quartet's breakout hit "Comfortably Numb," as both are delightful midtempo electronic numbers. Magic Hour is complete with the outrageously camp tracks "Let's Have a Kiki" and "Shady Love."
Berlin Nightclub, 954 W. Belmont Ave., is hosting the official pre-party and after-party for the Scissor Sisters concert, with DJ Sammy Jo and Shears.
Be sure not to miss Rye Rye, who is opening for Scissor Sisters at this sold-out concert. Her energetic debut Go! Pop! Bang! is out now. The Baltimore-based rapper has party-ready cuts—like "Holla Holla" and "Boom Boom"—that would make Kid Sister and M.I.A. beam. "DNA" has a thumping beat that formally announces that summer is here. Rye Rye teams with Robyn on a great reworking of the Scandinavian's "Be Mine," which is renamed "Never Be Mine."
Our very own Homer Marrs fuses his talents into humorous music. His EP Prom King features "The Facebook Song." Here, he complains about those who post tirelessly and needlessly on the social network. Marrs jokes about the overtly casual connections, "I don't know you / I don't like you / but we can be friends on Facebook." The accompanying video shows near-accidents as people are focused on their smart phones instead of their surroundings. Part of "The Facebook Song" was performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live in conjunction with National UnFriend Day. The EP also contains the hilarious "Bear411"—a stripped-down remake of "Fame"—and "A Prayer for Julian Sands," referring to the actor from Warlock and Boxing Helena. Sands appeared in an episode of The L Word, too. A release party is going to take place at Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St., on Thursday, June 28. Ben Taylor of J.C. Brooks & The Uptown Sound produced Prom King; see www.homermarrs.bandcamp.com .
Before taking a hiatus from touring, folk duo Nervous but Excited is performing in select cities. The lesbian pair is coming to Uncommon Ground, 1401 W. Devon Ave., on Friday, June 29, with Eli & the No Good and Bridge 19 on the bill. Nervous but Excited's most recent effort, You Are Here, features the stunningly beautiful "Away, Awake." There is no denying the fantastic folk music Nervous but Excited makes upon hearing "Ohio to Michigan," "One Four Three" and "Blank Pages."
Pride Fest boasts an array of dance divas during the two-day street festival. These singers have provided staples to the club community and many coming-out anthems. For a complete schedule, visit www.chicagoevents.com .
Martha Wash landed hits as a solo artist, including "Carry On" and "Give It to You"; as half of Two Tons O' Fun and The Weather Girls, she scored with "Just Us" and the camp evergreen "It's Raining Men." Wash's powerful soprano can be heard on classics by Black Box, C&C Music Factory and Seduction. Not just a dance artist, Wash released the power ballad "I've Got You" on her own label, Purple Rose Records.
Canadian siren Simone Denny sang the hit theme for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy—"All Things (Just Keep Getting Better)"—with Widelife. Her former band Love, Inc. blended Denny's mighty chops with dance-pop ditties like "You're a Superstar," "Here Comes the Sunshine" and "Into the Night." Although its time together was short-lived, Love, Inc. reached the top spot five times on the Canadian dance charts. On its debut, Love, Inc. did a wonderful, soulful rendition of One Dove's "Why Don't You Take Me." Denny is working on follow-up material to her sporadic singles "Cliché," "Luv Sick" and "Drama Queen (Texting U)."
Singer-songwriter Janice Robinson penned Living Joy's "Dreamer," which ignited throughout clubland in the mid-'90s. She reissued her own version of the feel-good anthem a decade later. Robinson wrote material for others, most notably the brilliant-but-overlooked "Let Love Reign" by Kristine W. and "Crash" by Taylor Dayne. I saw her open for Lionel Richie and Tina Turner in 2000, when Robinson was promoting her solo bow, The Color within Me.
Frenchie Davis has been a crowd-pleaser with her previous performances at LBGT-oriented street festivals in the Windy City. A clip of The Voice contestant scolding protesters with signs during Pride Fest has received more than 12,000 views on YouTube. Expect to hear the gorgeous Davis belt out radio hits better than the original singers.
In 1996 Sandy B. had one of the biggest dance hits with "Make the World Go Round," thanks to an unforgettable remix by Deep Dish. The vocal powerhouse returned to the charts with "Ain't No Need to Hide," "Alone" with Sal Dano and "Check It Out" with Karmadelic.
Inaya Day is a regular treat at Pride Fest. Day has released her own take of "Nasty Girl" and sang the hook on a reinterpretation of "Glamorous Life." Her vocals grace the saucy hit "Horny" by Mousse T.
JoJo was the youngest solo artist to have a chart-topping hit with "Leave (Get Out)" at age 13. Now the 21-year-old actress and singer has a new album out, Jumping Trains, which features "Sexy to Me." Also on the line-up is Thea Austin, who is the original vocalist on SNAP!'s monstrous smash "Rhythm Is a Dancer."
Among these veterans, newcomer Guinevere also will be at Pride Fest. The 20-year old Canadian has a scorching hot electro-pop number titled "Crazy Crazy."
Street-fair favorites 16 Candles and Dot Dot Dot also are performing at Pride Fest.
