David Bowie News

It is not easy to interpret what the deeper hidden meaning behind 'Lazarus.' On one hand it feels very much like a theatrical extravaganza, a piece that unfolds in dream logic composed of a series of tableaux of life's many questions, like existentiality, sex, love and death. While other may, understandably, view it as overly pretentious and, minus Bowie's music, not easily accessible.

Well before The Met Gala's kitschy theme for 2019 inspired the likes of Lady Gaga, Jordan Roth and countess celebrities to strut their most outrageous stuff down the pink carpet, Mark Morris has been the reigning King of Camp in choreography, celebrating this gleeful genre in company classics such as The Hard Nut. This spring he elevated the playful style integrated with expressive movement in Pepperland, an exuberant homage to the 1960s counterculture and The Beatles' seminal 1967 concept album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

On June 4-6, 2019 will take off at The Landmark 10850 W. Pico Blvd. LA CA 90064 the 10th Annual New Media Film Festival, presenting 128 New Media Films & Content from 23 countries across 6 Continents. 47 World Premieres, 9 U.S. Premieres, 20 L.A. Premieres. In a world where technology is ever-evolving, it is a story that will satiate the soul of humans. Not just any story, but stories worth telling. New Media Film Festival year after year strives to produce a festival that highlights and honors the hard working and uprising content creators in the New Media Industry. It highlights the best from the USA, UK, Germany, France, Canada, and Australia amongst many others together with VIP soirees, Q&A's and panels are part of the festival program.

Little Steven and the Disciples Of Soul will celebrate Summer of Sorcery, their first new album of original material in 20 years, with a performance at the Beacon Theatre on Wednesday, November 6 at 7:30PM. Tickets are $45, $65, $75, $125 and will be available through Ticketmaster.com 866.858.0008 starting on Friday, May 10 at 12:00PM.   

Artistic Director Mark Yonally and Chicago Tap Theatre (CTT) are proud to present Saving The World, a science fiction tap dance story show set to all-original music composed and performed live by Diana Lawrence, directed by Raphael Schwartzman, written by Slam Poetry Creator Marc Kelly Smith and choreographed by Yonally, June 8 - June 30, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Today, 8 May 2019, London Theatre Company and King's Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP) announce their joint venture for a brand new 600 theatre in King's Cross.

Renowned guitar virtuosos Rodrigo y Gabriela have made a spectacular chart debut with their acclaimed new album, METTAVOLUTION, available nowvia ATO Records for streaming and download. The duo's fifth studio LP and first album in five years, METTAVOLUTION entered Billboard's 'Americana/Folk Albums' chart at #1 with 1st week equivalents in excess of 11,000 -- Rodrigo y Gabriela's second best sales week ever. In addition, the new album arrived at #2 on Billboard's 'Rock Albums,' as well as #10 on 'Top Album Sales' and #71 on the overall SoundScan/Billboard 200. The song 'Mettavolution' is currently top 25 Triple A.

'JENN VIX is making the kind of Electro music you need to hear,' proclaims indie music tome Rock and Roll Fables... and for good reason.  YOU need to hear Rhode-Island based electronic-rock singer Jenn Vix's new EP 6 which was released on Friday, May 3, 2019 via Umbrella Music Co. 

A young woman waits alone in a room for her number to be called. On the other side of the wall, a young man watches her. A choice must be made, one that will disrupt the course of their lives forever. The line between dreams and reality blurs in this multi-media exploration of what it means to wait...to hope...and to remember. In a dangerous, dystopian world, what if love is the most powerful act of resistance?

Next month, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

National and international recording artists abound this month at Blue Note Hawaii, bringing some of entertainment's most recognizable names to Hawaii's premier live music venue. The month kicks off with an exclusive pairing of two of the most innovative artists in the local music scene, Taimane and Tavana, in a Lei Day celebration, that is not to be missed. The incomparable Dionne Warwick is back by popular demand sharing hit after hit from her legendary career. Vocalist Ginai returns to Blue Note Hawaii presenting a showcase of young local talent, Erisan Awaya and Rachel Javier, in a tribute to Whitney Houston. Henry Kapono shares the next installment of his Artist 2 Artist Series with The Songs of C&K, featuring Kalani Pe'a, Josh Tatofi, Alx Kawakami, Blayne Asing, Paula Fuga, Starr Kalahiki, Tavana, Mike Love and Kimié Miner. Jazz saxophonist Dave Koz returns alongside guitarist Adam Hawley and bassist Chris Walker. Bringing everything that New Orleans and Louisiana music stands for, Davell Crawford and Charmaine Neville of the iconic Neville family grace the stage for one night only. A Bowie Celebration features alumni band members Mike Garson, Gerry Leonard, Mark Plati and Carmine Rojas along with vocalist Corey Glover and drummer Lee John, performing a mix of Bowie's hits and deep-cuts. Jazz fusion icons Spyro Gyra are back and local power couple Imua and Tiffa Garza share their unique blend of island music. J-Pop superstar turned jazz pianist Senri Oe performs with his trio featuring Henry Cole and Matt Clohesy live for one night only. Next up is 2018 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award nominees for Most Promising Artists Beat-Lele, followed by Canadian singer-songwriter Gino Vannelli. Hawaiian Music 105 KINE presents Willie K and crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop, Pink Martini triumphantly returns to the Blue Note stage. Be transformed by the amazing vocals of Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton for two shows only and the month rounds out with the very popular local band The Mana'o Company.

The fifth edition of Art New York returns to Pier 94 from Thursday, May 2 through Sunday, May 5, with an invitation-only VIP Preview on Thursday, May 2 at 2pm before opening to the public at 5pm.

The National recently announced their eighth studio album I Am Easy To Find due out May 17th on 4AD, and the companion short film of the same name written by Academy Award-nominated director Mike Mills (20th Century Women, Beginners), and starring Academy Award Winner Alicia Vikander. Today, the band released album track “Hairpin Turns,” featuring Gail Ann Dorsey and Lisa Hannigan, alongside a Mills directed music video with vocal performances from Dorsey, Mina Tindle, Kate Stables and featuring dancer Sharon Eyal, Co-Founder, Co-Artistic director and choreographer of L-E-V Dance Group. Watch the video HERE and full credits below.

Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul have unveiled 'Love Again,' the latest track from their eagerly awaited new album, Summer of Sorcery, arriving this Friday, May 3via Wicked Cool/UMe. The track is accompanied by a psychedelic new visualizer, streaming now via Little Steven's official YouTube channel.

After the successful release of 'No Stranger Thing Ft. Lucy Mason' and a sterling remix of the track by Pages, Canadian recording artist and producer NICOLAAS offers up a new remix by Louis La Roche released on 26th April via Haven Sounds. UK-born nu-disco/ French house/ funk producer, remixer and DJ Louis La Roche has previously provided official remixes for top artists with the likes of Basement Jaxx, Fred Falke, Spiller and Aeroplane as well as featured on popular Youtube channels, MrDeepSense gaining 1.1 million views and Majestic Casual gaining 1.4 million views. Louis La Roche has shared the stage with artists such as Armand Van Helden, A-Trak, Aeroplane, and 2ManyDJs as well as supporting Kylie Minogue on her Kiss Me Once tour.

Dream-pop quartet Amycanbe has released their new EP, 'White Slide' (19th April) via Open Productions. Amycanbe have been creating and releasing music since 2002 on a regular basis. Their 2011 album, 'Mountain Whales' was mixed by Mark Plati (David Bowie, Prince, Robbie Williams, The Cure) who also features on their brand new EP. Amycanbe's music can be heard as part of several film soundtracks such as Acciaio (2012), Savaged (2013), and Strassenkaiser (2016), as well as being featured on television shows like Finding Carter, MTV's Catfish, Web of Lies and Royal Pains including reality television programs like My Giant Life, How To (Not) Kill Your Husband, Top Chef Stars and High Infidelity. With a busy live performance schedule, Amycanbe has graced stages at Santarcangelo Dei Teatri Festival, Disorder Festival, Eboli, Miami Festival in Milan, and Percuotore La Mente Rimini with a sold-out performance at Petrella Longiano, multiple tours in the UK, most notable at 12 Bar Club in London, Jamm Brixton, and Borderline London where they've also supported notable acts like Skin, Sophia, The Devastations and Morcheeba.

Ardent Sons is a rock and roll band from Oakland, California, fronted by Flamin' Groovies drummer Tony T. Sales. Their songs explore classic themes of love and loss, travels between broken homes and shaky relationships, and redemption in life's near-forgotten moments. Sales' musical career started with a lot of listening. By the time his dad and uncle gave him drums for his 10th birthday, he had already internalized their musical legacy, the elder Tony and brother Hunt having made legendary recordings with Iggy Pop, Todd Rundgren and David Bowie, among others. Years later, the jazz, R&B, and rock-and-roll that was drilled into his head would lay the foundation for his own music. After spending years working with several Bay Area groups including Oakland's art-rockers Everyone is Dirty, and late '70s SF punk band Negative Trend, Sales finally picked up a guitar and began writing in earnest. Following a few years of demo recordings, live shows, and line-up changes, Ardent Sons, whose principle members are Sales and Bay Area multi-instrumentalist Dave Flores, is ready to release their debut record, No More Than This. It is a sincere reflection on life unfolding, always looking up, but grounded in the impermanence of the human condition.

On this episode of BroadwayRadio's 'Tell Me More,' Matt Tamanini talks to actress Krystina Alabado currently starring as Gretchen Weiners in 'Mean Girls' on Broadway.

Bridesmaids: A Dance Narrative is set to premiere this August in NY. Directed/Choreographed by Steven Paul Blandino, this production will follow the lives of five Bridesmaids, a Bride, a Groom, as well as an Ensemble on a journey of love, jealousy, and everything in between. Bridesmaids: A Dance Narrative will try out a NY Premiere performance at Dixon Place, additional details to follow.

Your intrepid reviewer headed off last Wednesday night to the Providence Performing arts Center (PPAC) for the Complexions Contemporary Ballet's performance of FROM BACH TO BOWIE, part of the FirstWorks Artistic Icons Series. The first half of the New York dance troupe's performance featured 'Bach 25,' a fusion of contemporary dance and ballet technique performed to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The second part was 'Stardust,' which turns an assortment of Bowie's hits into a rock-inspired ballet to honor him. Songs such as Lazarus,' 'Heroes,' 'Young Americans,' 'Life On Mars' and 'Let's Dance' were featured. So, full disclosure, I am vastly unqualified to write a review about Bach, Bowie or dance. Now that we understand each other, here goes.