Music & Concerts
Love and joy come to you
Legendary singer brings Christmas cheer to the Howard
After many years in the background, singer Darlene Love is enjoying her moment in the sun. (Photo courtesy Project Publicity)
Darlene Love
Saturday, Dec. 19
8 p.m.
620 T St., N.W.
VIP tickets: $80
General admission $45 in advance/$50 day of
With Christmas on the horizon, chances are if Christmas music is being played, Darlene Love’s 1963 “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” is in the rotation, as the song has been one of the most popular songs of the season for decades. David Letterman calls it his favorite song and before retiring, would have Love come on his show and kick-off the Christmas season with a live rendition.
“Dave is the one who made it so popular around the world,” Love says. “When it’s this close to Christmas, I think the song means even more to people. I love this time of year. I really enjoy the closeness of family and people are in a giving mood, are happy and jovial. It’s a very special time for me.”
Love rose to prominence in the ’60s as a session vocalist and although she supported all the great singers in Phil Spector’s arsenal of performers with her glorious background vocals—including tunes such as “He’s a Rebel,” “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” “Be My Baby” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”—she was rarely credited on the liner notes of the records.
The performers all knew and adored her, but the public wasn’t privy to just how incredible she was.
“I wasn’t the first one that it happened to; you just never heard about it with a lot of us. Phil Spector was a rising producer who became incredibly successful who started his own empire and knew how to succeed,” she says. “I couldn’t sign work because of him recording my voice as the Crystals and I couldn’t claim ‘He’s A Rebel’ or ‘He’s Sure The Boy I Love’ as my own, because my name wasn’t on there. That kept me from finding work.”
Then Letterman began championing the Christmas tune, she took a role as Murtaugh’s wife in the “Lethal Weapon” movies, and did a turn on Broadway in “Leader of the Pack,” and Love eventually skyrocketed to the fame she deserved.
Love is ranked No. 84 on Rolling Stone’s top 100 singers of all-time; she was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and was one of the subjects of the 2014 Oscar-winning documentary, “20 Feet From Stardom,” which showed an in-depth illustration of Love’s storied musical career as a background singer. Her speech at the Oscars was one of the most memorable of the last decade and the soulful singer has never been in greater demand.
“When I started, I thought I would be done singing by the time I was 50. You don’t think you could keep it up or that people would still love the music, but they do,” the 73-year-old says. “I think the biggest reason they still come out is that I stay true to the songs. I don’t change how I sing them and they are even more powerful today because my voice is more powerful.”
Fans can check that out for themselves when the legendary Love plays the Howard Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 19.
“We’re having so much fun with this show, everywhere we’ve been,” Love says. “My show is very energetic. Many women don’t do these high-energy shows—maybe Tina Turner or Joan Jett—but mine it so high energy. We play some new songs, do some Christmas songs and of course, many of the classics people love.”
Her favorite thing about being on stage is seeing the generations of fans who come out and sing along with her.
“It’s so great to see people are bringing their children and they are bringing their children, it doesn’t get any better than that,” Love says. “I think the younger generation wants to hear great songs, great lyrics and great melodies that they want to sing along with. They do that when they come to my show.”
Last year, the singer released new material with the album, “Introducing Darlene Love,” produced by Love’s longtime friend and advocate Steven Van Zandt.
“It’s been time to do this for a while, but I couldn’t find anyone to do it, that was the problem. Record companies don’t want to record older artists because they think there’s no place for them,” she says. “Steve wanted to record to sound like the music I recorded in the ’60s, and that’s the beauty of it. People may think they have heard these songs before because they sound as if they are from that era.”
Love will be opening her show at the Howard with one of the new tunes and hopes to see many people come out and celebrate Christmas with her.
“I always tell my audiences to come with the sense that they’re going to be entertained and I will life their spirits up. It’s my job to life their spirits up, so they will leave the show saying we had a good time,” Love says. “If I’m having fun, they will have fun. They know just how far to go with me.”
Music & Concerts
Washington chorale kicks off Christmas with vibrant program
‘Thine Own Sweet Light’ concerts planned
The full Washington Master Chorale will return for its annual holiday concert tradition with “Thine Own Sweet Light” on Friday, Dec. 19 and Sunday, Dec. 21 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church (D.C.) and Church of the Epiphany (D.C.).
The concert will feature the rich sounds of the 50-voice, a cappella chorus performing lush, seasonal choral music inspired by the theme of light. Highlights include Edvard Grieg’s “Ave Maris Stella,” Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque,” and Christopher Hoh’s “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts.” The program will also present a new work by Barcelona composer Josep Ollé i Sabaté, along with charming holiday folk songs and seasonal favorites.
For more details, visit the Washington Master Chorale website.
Music & Concerts
Queer mega stars (and allies) ready to take D.C. stages this fall
Watch LGBTQ icons light up stages across the DMV as they sing, dance, and drag their way through spectacular shows.
One of the best ways to welcome fall is by catching LGBTQ performers (and their allies) lighting up some of the D.C. area’s biggest stages. From country and pop to drag and rock, the season is packed with shows you won’t want to miss.
Maren Morris – The country, rock, and pop diva—known for hits like “The Bones” and for standing up against Nashville’s anti-LGBTQ voices—takes the stage at Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, Va.) on Friday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $64.
RuPaul – The mother of modern drag and host of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will spin a DJ set at Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Rd NE) in Northeast D.C. on Sept. 20. Before RuPaul swaps wigs for headphones, Trade and Number 9 owner Ed Bailey will warm up the decks. For tickets and details visit echostage.com.
Conan Gray – The queer pop prince, celebrated for his Gen Z anthems like “Heather” and “Maniac,” brings his Wishbone Pajama Show to EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA, (4500 Patriot Cir) on Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $113. For more info visit shop.conangray.com/pages/tour.
All Things Go Music Festival – With a lineup that includes Noah Kahan, Lucy Dacus, Kesha, Clairo, Doechii, and more, the beloved LGBTQ-friendly festival takes over Merriweather Post Pavilion (10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, Md.) Sept. 26–28. For tickets and details visit allthingsgofestival.com.
BERTHA: Grateful Drag – This unique tribute brings drag artistry and the sounds of the Grateful Dead to The Atlantis (2047 9th St NW) on Sept. 27. Tickets start at $47 at theatlantis.com.
Peach PRC – Rising Australian pop star and out lesbian, whose confessional tracks like “Perfect for You” and “Forever Drunk” have made her a queer TikTok darling, performs at The Atlantis on Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. The show is general admission only. Additional details are on theatlantis.com.
Addison Rae – The TikTok star-turned-pop princess, who’s crossed over into music with glossy hits like “Diet Pepsi” brings her sold out show to The Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.) on Sept. 30. Tickets are sold out, but resale options start around $80. For more info visit theanthemdc.com.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary – Celebrate the cult classic that’s been a queer midnight-movie staple for decades, with Barry Bostwick (a.k.a. Brad Majors) at the Warner Theatre (513 13th St., N.W.) on Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $41 via Ticketmaster.
Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight & Stephanie Mills – Four legends, one stage. Between Khan’s funk, LaBelle’s soul, Knight’s R&B, and Mills’ powerhouse vocals, this concert at Capital One Arena (601 F St NW) on Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. promises pure diva magic. Tickets start at $103. For more details visit capitalonearena.com.
Lorde – Joined by The Japanese House and Chanel Beads, the Grammy-winning New Zealand singer-songwriter behind “Royals” and “Solar Power” returns to The Anthem on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. Lorde has long been embraced by queer fans for her dreamy pop and subversive lyrics. For more info visit theanthemdc.com.
Andy Bell (of Erasure) – The British queer rock icon, best known for synth-pop classics like “A Little Respect” and “Chains of Love,” brings his Ten Crowns Tour to the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $90.45.
Doechii – The self-described queer “Swamp Princess”—and WorldPride 2025 headliner—continues her breakout year with the Live from the Swamp Tour at The Anthem on Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. Known for blending rap, R&B, and avant-garde performance art, Doechii is one to watch. Tickets start at $153.
Neon Trees – The out-and-proud Utah rockers behind “Everybody Talks” and “Animal” perform at the Lincoln Theatre on Friday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. Lead singer Tyler Glenn, who came out publicly in 2014, has become a strong queer voice in alternative rock. For tickets and info visit impconcerts.com.
Sasha Colby – The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 15 winner strips down on the Stripped II Tour at the Warner Theatre on Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets available now on Ticketmaster.
Lola Young – The bisexual indie-pop sensation, whose raw songwriting has earned her millions of TikTok fans and multiple chart soaring hits visits The Anthem on Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are still available.
Opera Lafayette
Featuring Mary Elizabeth Williams as Dido
+ Elijah McCormack, Chelsea Helm
Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Sixth & I
PostClassical Ensemble
The Pale Blue Do: A Musical Voyage Inspired By Nature
Featuring National Geographic’s Enric Sala, Guest Curator
Wednesday, November 19, 7:30 p.m.
Terrace Theater
Washington Concert Opera
Starring Kate Lindsey, Theo Hoffman, John Moore, and Fran Daniel Laucerica
Nov. 23, 6 p.m.
Lisner Auditorium
Washington Master Chorale
An intimate a capella concert taking place in an architectural jewel, featuring cherished choral gems from Anglican and Catholic tradition and early American hymns. The concert will also present the world premiere of Christopher Hoh’s Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts, and hymn singing featuring Robert Church, organist and choirmaster at St David’s.
Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m.
October 19, 5 p.m.
St. David’s Episcopal Church
Music & Concerts
Cyndi Lauper ready to have fun in Virginia
Superstar to bring final leg of farewell tour to Jiffy Lube Live
Superstar Cyndi Lauper will bring the final leg of her farewell tour “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” to Bristow, Va., on Thursday, July 24 at Jiffy Lube Live.
Lauper’s international Farewell Tour – her first major headlining run in a decade – kicked off in North America last October, and included her first time ever headlining (and selling out) Madison Square Garden. Lauper’s performances have earned raves from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and many more, and surprise guests have included Chaka Khan, Sam Smith, and Hayley Williams. The tour just visited the U.K. and Europe, and will head to Australia and Japan in April.
Tickets are available on Live Nation’s website.
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