Queer Spotlight: Indigo Girls

The Indigo Girls, an American folk-rock lesbian duo consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Sailers, went under the Queer Spotlight this week.

The girls began in 1985 with the release of a seven-inch single "Crazy Game", and an EP and full-length album titled Strange Fire followed. In 1988 they signed a major record deal with Epic Records and released their second, self-titled album. The album reached #22 in the US and was certified platinum. The duo was nominated a Grammy Award for "Best New Artist" (loosing to Milli Vanilli), and won one for "Best Contemporary Folk Album". The album produced their highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 "Closer To Fine", which reached #52.

The studio albums Nomads Indians Saints (1990), Rights Of Passage (1992), Swamp Ophelia (1994), Shaming of the Sun (1997), Come on Now Social (1999), Become You (2002), All That We Let In (2004) all followed until the girls departed with Epic and signed with Hollywood Records.

Their stay with Hollywood was cut short after the release of just one album, 2006's Despite our Differences. The album was highly praised for being "...the most infectious, pop-infused set that the duo ever has managed to concoct...its melodies, harmonies, and arrangements are so ingratiating that the album carries the weight of an instant classic." Since leaving, the girls are now releasing their music independently and in March 2009 released the album Poseidon and the Bitter Bug which reached #29 on the Billboard 200.

The girls are heavily involved in political activism. Their advocating for LGBT rights has made them gay icons. As well as this, they stand for environmental causes and have worked with Greenpeace, the rights of Native Americans, and are part of the National Coatition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Ray and Saliers have also appeared at the annual SOA Watch rallies, the March for Women's Lives, and several other rallies and protests.

In 2006, they featured on Pink's album I'm Not Dead in the song "Dear Mr President", a protest song criticizing George W. Bush about war, poverty, LGBT rights, abortion rights, and the No Child Left Behind Act. During June 2007 the Indigo Girls were part of the multi-artist True Colors Tour 2007, created by fellow gay icon Cyndi Lauper in benefit of the Human Rights Campaign and other organizations that provide support to the LGBT community. The Indigo Girls performed again on the True Colors Tour 2008.

Artist News

Madonna's celebration

Here is the official cover for M-Dolla's (aka Madonna) forthcoming, career-spanning compilation titled Celebration. It was designed by street pop artist “Mr. Brainwash” who is best known for “throwing modern cultural icons into a blender and turning it up to eleven." Songs that are currently confirmed to appear on the compilation: "Everybody", "Express Yourself", "Vogue", "4 Minutes", "Celebration".

The compilation is set for release on September 28 2009 in the following formats: single cd, double cd, digital download and dvd. The single “Celebration” goes to radio August 3 and is produced by Paul Oakenfold who has remixed Madonna in the past.

Other Madonna-related releases around the corner: Filth & Wisdom, Madonna's first effort as a director, will be released in the USA on September 29. Her I Am Because We Are documentary will also get a DVD release by September 22.

Liam Gallagher storms off stage!

OASIS singer Liam Gallagher did not appreciate a free beer he received from a fan. Gallagher stormed off stage last night after fans threw beer at him. The singer disappeared during his band's set at London's Roundhouse venue, leaving his brother Noel and the rest of the group to play without him for half an hour.

Liam blamed "students in stupid pointy shoes", for upsetting him, then fumed: "I hope you feel as uncomfortable as I feel", before walking off. Noel then told the crowd: "I think someone's in a bad mood." The 42-year-old guitarist then took to the microphone and the performance continued until Liam returned later in the set. However, the atmosphere between the two brothers was frosty for the rest of the show, with them both leering at each other from opposite sides of the stage throughout.

Already Halo?

Since the release of Kelly Clarkson’s latest album All I Ever Wanted, many fans have noticed the similarity between her song "Already Gone" and Beyonce’s recent hit "Halo". Kelly collaborated with Ryan Tedder on the track, a dramatic ballad driven by a pounding heartbeat, twinkly piano and swooping strings. Unbeknownst to her, Tedder used suspiciously similar elements when he produced a track for Beyonce.

"Ryan and I met each other at the record label, before he was working with anyone else...He's from Oklahoma, I'm from Texas; we got along really well and had some of the same influences. We wrote about six songs together, four or five of them made the album. It was all fine and dandy. I'd never heard of a song called Halo. Her album came out when my album was already being printed. No-one's gonna be sittin' at home, thinking 'Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyonce and Kelly the same track to write to.' No, they're just gonna be saying I ripped someone off. I called Ryan and said, 'I don't understand. Why would you do that?'"

Kelly claims she "fought and fought" to try and prevent her label from releasing "Already Gone" as her third single, out of respect for Beyonce. "In the end, they're releasing it without my consent," she sighs. "It sucks, but it's one of those things I have no control over. I already made my album. At this point, the record company can do whatever they want with it. It's kind of a s**tty situation, but.… You know, you learn."

In my opinion, while the songs have undeniable similarities, they still both have their own entities and different stories to tell. As Chris said on the show, hit songs follow identical formulas all the time, especially those produced by the same production teams. Just look at Max Martin!

Rob Thomas records INXS classic

Rob Thomas has put down lead vocal on "Never Tear Us Apart" with INXS. The band are in the process of recording a new album with special guest vocalists redoing their greatest hits.

Rob has done INXS before. In fact, Rob’s done "Never Tear Us Apart" before. On the last Matchbox Twenty tour of Australia, INXS drummer Jon Farris joined Matchbox Twenty on drums to perform "Never Tear Us Apart" and "Don’t Change". There is no word when the new INXS album will be released.

Kate goes top 10

Sound Museum favourite Kate Miller-Heidke has scored her first Top 10 hit with the third single from her Curiouser album "The Last Day On Earth". The song received attention during promotional adverts for the Neighbours storyline of Bridgit Parker's tragic death. It instantly climbed the iTunes chart, and this was reflected in the latest ARIA Singles chart when it jumped 28 spots to #7. Kate's previous highest charting entry was with her last single "Caught In The Crowd". It reached #33, but only remained in the top 50 for one week.

Kate has flown back into the country this week after gigging in the US, to promote the song. Here is a breathtaking live acoustic performance.

Releases & Touring

Main source: auspOp




Singles
The All American Rejects – I Wanna
Natalie Bassingthwaighte – Not For You
Beyonce – Sweet Dreams
Paul Dempsey – Ramona Was A Waitress
Keri Hilson – Knock You Down
Kisschasy – Generation Why

Albums
Jon Por Birgisson – Riceboy Sleeps
Michael Jackson – Gold (2CD set)
Pete Yorn – Back And Fourth

Compilations
OST – My Sisters Keeper
OST – Public Enemies
Various – 101 ‘90s Hits (5CD set)
Various – Kickstart My Heart
Various – Ministry Of Sound Presents : Trance Nation
Various – Pasha Classics
Various – popCountry Girls
Various – Skitz Mix 32
Various – Urban Chill

Music DVDs
Andre Rieu – Romantic Moments




Wed 29th July
ADELAIDE – Phrase (Governor Hindmarsh)
JINDABYNE – Downsyde (The Station)
MELBOURNE – Friendly Fires (Prince Bandroom)
MELBOURNE – Pink (Rod Laver Arena)
WOLLONGONG – Eskimo Joe (Wollongong University)

Thurs 30th July
BUNBURY – Something With Numbers (Prince Of Wales)
HOBART – Hilltop Hoods (City Hall)
MELBOURNE – Pink (Rod Laver Arena)
MELBOURNE – The Specials (Palace Theatre)
MELBOURNE – White Lies (HiFi Bar)
MELBOURNE – Yves Klein Blue (Hifi Bar)
SYDNEY – Doves (The Metro)
SYDNEY - Eskimo Joe (Hordern Pavillion)
SYDNEY – Shannon Noll (The Basement)

Fri 31st July
EPPING – Shannon Noll (The Epping Club)
GOLD COAST – Tokenview (Miami Shark Bar)
HEPBURN SPRINGS – Naked In The Woods
MANDURAH – Something With Numbers (Players Bar)
MELBOURNE – Jimmy Barnes (Palais Theatre)
MELBOURNE – Hilltop Hoods (The Palace)
NEWCASTLE - Eskimo Joe (Newcastle Panthers)
NEWCASTLE – Lost Valentinos (The Cambridge)
SYDNEY – Downsyde (Annandale Hotel)

Sat 1st August
ADELAIDE – Hilltop Hoods (Thebarton Theatre)
BLACKTOWN – Shannon Noll (Blacktown Workers)
BRISBANE – Tokenview (The Troubadour)
CANBERRA - Eskimo Joe (ANU)
MELBOURNE – Naked In The Woods
MELBOURNE – Pink (Rod Laver Arena)
MELBOURNE – White Album Concert (Hamer Hall)
PERTH – Jimmy Barnes (Burswood Theatre)
PERTH – Doves (Capitol)
PERTH – Something With Numbers (Amplifier)
SYDNEY – Downsyde (Annandale Hotel)
SYDNEY – Lost Valentinos (Oxford Art Factory)

Sun 2nd August
MELBOURNE – Pink (Rod Laver Arena)
NEWCASTLE – Downsyde (Cambridge Hotel)
PERTH – Jimmy Barnes (Burswood Theatre)




Went on sale Monday 27th July
Jimmy Barnes (Melbourne)
Kate Ceberano (Melbourne)
Paul Dempsey (Nationally)

Go on sale Friday 31st July
Tori Amos (Nationally)
Little Birdy (Nationally)
Short Stack (Nationally)




Beyonce has cancelled two of her forthcoming Australian shows. In addition to the cancellation of the two concerts, one in Sydney and one in Brisbane, the singer is also moving the date of another show (also in Brisbane). The singer's first Australian concert, due to take place in Brisbane on September 12, has now been delayed to September 20. The tour will now kick off in Melbourne on September 15. According to touring agent Michael Coppel, the cancellations are due to an 'unforseen change in Beyonce's international schedule'.

Aussie hip hop artist Snob Scrilla, whose single '.....(The Song With No Name)' has been occupying the ARIA top 100 for the past few weeks, is set to embark on a tour around the nation. He'll be joined on the 16 date journey by fellow Aussies Dash & Will, whose new album Up In Something hits stores late next month. The tour, kicking off in Melbourne on August 14, takes in dates in every state bar the Northern Territory, with tickets now on sale.

August 14 : Melbourne (East Brunswick Club)
August 15 : Geelong (Barwon Club)
August 19 : Byron Bay (Great Northern Hotel)
August 20 : Gold Coast (Coolangatta Hotel)
August 21 : Toowoomba (Bon Amici Cafe)
August 22 : Brisbane (Globe Theatre)
August 26 : Hobart (Republic Bar)
August 27 : Launceston (Hotel New York)
August 28 : Ballarat (Karova Lounge)
August 29 : Adelaide (Edinburgh Castle Hotel)
September 01 : Cronulla (Brass Monkey)
September 02 : Wollongong (Oxford Tavern)
September 04 : Canberra (ANU Union Bar)
September 05 : Sydney (Oxford Arts Factory)
September 10 : Fremantle (Mojo's)
September 11 : Perth (Amplifier Bar)

Tori Amos is set to tour the country in November in support of her latest album Abnormally Attracted To Sin. The singer last visited Australia two years ago. The tour will take in one date each (so far) in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide with a couple of days in between to presumably fill with more shows if there's demand. The 'Sinful Attraction' tour is the singer's fifth to visit Australian shores and tickets go on sale on Friday July 31.

November 12 : Melbourne (Regent Theatre)
November 16 : Sydney (Opera House Concert Hall)
November 19 : Adelaide (Thebarton Theatre)
November 21 : Perth (PCEC Riverside Theatre)
November 24 : Brisbane (QPAC Concert Hall)

Matchbox 20 frontman Rob Thomas is set to tour. The singer, whose new album Cradlesong and single "Her Diamonds" have been occupying the top five in recent weeks, will play a series of concerts in February, including 'A Day On The Green' events in South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Vanessa Amorosi will be supporting. Tickets go on sale on Friday August 07, with tickets for the Sandalford Wines gig on sale Monday August 10.

February 05 : Melbourne (Rod Laver Arena)
February 07 : McLaren Vale (Leconfield Wines) ADOTG
February 11 : Brisbane (Entertainment Centre)
February 13 : Hunter Valley (Hope Estate Winery)
February 14 : Bowral (Centennial Vineyards) ADOTG
February 17 : Sydney (Acer Arena)
February 20 : Yarra Valley (Rochford Wines) ADOTG
February 21 : Swan Valley (Sandalford Wines) ADOTG

Episode 3: 28.07.09 Playlist

1. Metric – Gimme Sympathy
Fantasies, 2009
2. Robyn – Be Mine!
Robyn, 2005
3. Ricki-Lee – Don't Miss You
Hear No, See No, Speak No, 2009
4. Lady Gaga – Paparazzi (Stuart Price Remix)
The Fame, 2008
5. Eminem – Beautiful
Relapse, 2009
6. Indigo Girls – Closest To Fine (Live)
1200 Curfews, 1995
7. Kelly Clarkson – Already Gone (Live on Letterman)
All I Ever Wanted, 2009
8. Mika – We Are Golden
We Are Golden, 2009
9. Gathania – Blame It On You
TBA
10. Mr DYF ft. Shena – Hold On
Freemasons: Shakedown 2, 2009
11. Fleetwood Mac - Seven Wonders
Tango In The Night, 1987
12. Paul Mac ft. Peta Morris - Just The Thing
3000 Feet High, 2001