BARtab :: Live Music

Spotlight on Pride at Lyon & Swan: four gay performers are featured now through June

Spotlight on Pride at Lyon & Swan: four gay performers are featured now through June

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • May 16, 2023

To celebrate Pride month, the queer-owned Lyon & Swan supper club has booked a remarkable slate of four local gay artists, all worthy of broad attention, to play the intimate room.

Tales of Taylor: Ann Talman's musical memoir at Feinstein's

Tales of Taylor: Ann Talman's musical memoir at Feinstein's

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • May 9, 2023

Ann Talman first met Elizabeth Taylor in January 1981. The writer-performer brings her musical reminiscences of La Liz, "The Shadow of Her Smile," to Feinstein's at the Nikko on Friday, May 12.

Q-Music: rolling in retro

Q-Music: rolling in retro

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • May 9, 2023

Reissues of classic albums by Elton John, A Flock of Seagulls, Little River Band and Stephen Stills include multiple extras.

Q-Music: Say gay playlist

Q-Music: Say gay playlist

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Apr 25, 2023

Singing about LGBT and Q love, musicians in folk, pop, rock and jazz Y La Bamba, Caroline Rose, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Eric Reed, Mathew V and Pigeon Pit should be on your new playlist.

In the Spotlight: singular talents hit local stages

In the Spotlight: singular talents hit local stages

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Apr 11, 2023

A breakout glam rock cabaret star; a character actress who plays a whole cast of characters; Broadway's standby success story of the year; and a show tune interpreter like you've never heard before.

Romeo Void's Debora Iyall: a timeless punk diva

Romeo Void's Debora Iyall: a timeless punk diva

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Apr 11, 2023

Romeo Void's lead singer discusses the band's history and the release of "Live From Mabuhay Gardens, November 14, 1980."

Oakland Gay Men's Chorus celebrates Black history

Oakland Gay Men's Chorus celebrates Black history

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Apr 4, 2023

On April 15 & 16 the Oakland Gay Men's Chorus will perform "True Colors," their Spring concert, including a performance of the song "My Heart Be Brave," which the chorus describes as "an important contribution to music in the Black tradition."

Q-Music: The art of rock

Q-Music: The art of rock

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Mar 28, 2023

You know the old adage: don't judge a book by its cover. But what about an album? What happens when the music on the record is as cool as the cover art? That sounds like a win-win situation for everyone.

Ann Hampton Callaway has the "Fever"

Ann Hampton Callaway has the "Fever"

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Mar 28, 2023

More than 30 years since the release of her debut album, jazz vocalist, songwriter, and Winnetka-native Ann Hampton Callaway shows no sign of slowing down. Her new album pays homage to the late great Peggy Lee.

Q Music: men's men

Q Music: men's men

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Mar 21, 2023

Check new music by men, including Lambchop, Father John Misty, Marlon Williams, Bret McKenzie, The Mountain Goats, and Freedy Johnston.

Wonder women in music, 2023

Wonder women in music, 2023

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Mar 14, 2023

Listen up. Our prolific music reviewer samples new albums from Nessa Barrett, Sunny War, Weyes Blood, KT Tunstall and other women singer-songwriters.

Jake Wesley Rogers: anthems and extravagance at Bimbo's

Jake Wesley Rogers: anthems and extravagance at Bimbo's

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Mar 7, 2023

The exuberantly queer Jake Wesley Rogers' first tour as a headliner stops at Bimbo's 365 Club on March 12. His richly emotional songs bring a sweeping, passionate quality evocative of Billy Joel, David Bowie, and Elton John.

Say gay, or just sing it: new albums from Adam Lambert, P!nk, and more

Say gay, or just sing it: new albums from Adam Lambert, P!nk, and more

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Mar 7, 2023

Our intrepid music columnist shares reviews of new quite queer albums by Adam Lambert, P!nk, Cavetown, H.C. McEntire, Thus Love and the Broadway cast recording of 'A Strange Loop.'

Jake Blount's genre-queer Afrofuturist folk music

Jake Blount's genre-queer Afrofuturist folk music

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Feb 21, 2023

If you ever listened to Jake Blount's music, it defies description, making it unforgettable. He describes his style as "playing fiddle and banjo from Black and Native American musicians, mostly in the Southeastern United States."