Music & Concerts
No’Tori’ous debut
’88 Amos vehicle gets long overdue re-release
Long out of print, Tori Amos’ 1988 debut album with the band Y Kant Tori Read has been remastered and digitally re-released. (Photo courtesy Atlantic)
Most casual fans and writers refer to Tori Amos’ classic 1992 release “Little Earthquakes” as her debut album, but that’s not technically correct.
Four years earlier on Atlantic Records, the young piano prodigy was the focus of a band called Y Kant Tori Read, featuring drummer Matt Sorum (the Cult, Guns N’ Roses), guitarist Steve Caton (who would continue working with Amos until their acrimonious romantic breakup following 1994’s “Under the Pink”) and bassist Brad Cobb. The band’s 1988 self-titled debut was a spectacular flop, although in hindsight it’s one of those rare cases when an album’s failure is the best thing that could have happened. Had “Y Kant Tori Read” been successful, then “Little Earthquakes” and the rest of Tori Amos’ three-decade-and-counting career likely would never have happened.
“Y Kant Tori Read” is an oddity in that despite Tori Amos’ status as a major singer-songwriter with a long string of successful and acclaimed albums to her credit, her debut has remained out of print since shortly after its commercial failure. Billboard Magazine famously dubbed the album “bimbo music” in a contemporaneous review and Amos has made it clear she doesn’t quibble with that assessment. Often referred to as “hair metal,” the album is actually more middle of the road, new wave-influenced pop/rock with a bit of an edge. The hair, fashions and production trappings are very much of the ‘80s, and not in a good way. Every imaginable cheesy cliche to emerge from that most garish of musical decades is represented.
Amos has been famously dismissive of the album over the years, yet many die-hard fans have been willing to plunk down serious coin for original CD or vinyl copies. With its 30th anniversary approaching, “Y Kant Tori Read” has finally been made available for fans in remastered form, albeit in digital only. The release was made with no announcement or warning, surprising fans already stoked for “Native Invader,” her new studio album due out today (Friday, Sept. 8).
The sound improvement is significant and although many will view it as merely a novelty, there are plenty of strong hints of the monumental talent that Tori Amos would harness more adeptly on “Little Earthquakes” and other future classics. Although she’s refused to reissue the album until now, Amos has performed several tracks from “Y Kant Tori Read” in concert over the years and she surprisingly added several previously untouched tracks from the era to her set on her last major tour in support of her stellar 2014 album “Unrepentant Geraldines.”
“The Big Picture” was the lead single and it’s a boisterous synth-rocker much in the vein of something you might hear from an ‘80s movie soundtrack. The video is particularly cringeworthy, or amusing, depending on your point of view. Much better is the second single, “Cool On Your Island,” which shows Amos’ burgeoning gifts as a melodist and vocalist of the highest degree, even if the lyrics are a bit shallow compared to her future works.
It’s the song from the album that she’s performed most frequently over the years, in a stunning solo rendition that gets to the core of song’s true beauty and heart. “Fire On The Side” is a searing power ballad, while the lovely “Floating City” foreshadows the more esoteric imagery Amos would employ as she honed her skills as a songwriter. The suite-like “Etienne” closes the album with an elaborate romantic fantasy that works thanks to the conviction in Amos’ voice.
There are indeed several tracks that justifies Amos’ long-held disdain for the project. Particularly vapid are “Fayth” (featuring half-spoken vocals that sound like an ill-advised attempt at rapping the verses), “Pirates” and the manic “Heart Attack at 23.”
Yeah, the production is overblown and dated and Amos had yet to find her direction as an artist, but if nothing else “Y Kant Tori Read” is a fascinating listen that offers more casual fans who might not have heard it a deeper insight into the progression of one of the most important singer-songwriters of our generation.
Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her acclaimed “Tension” world tour to D.C. next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.
The show features songs spanning her long career, from 1987 debut single, “The Loco-Motion,” to “Padam, Padam” from her album, “Tension.”
Music & Concerts
Busy season for live music in D.C.
Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring
One sure sign of spring’s arrival is the fresh wave of live music coming to Washington. With more than 10 venues and a diverse lineup of artists, the city offers no shortage of live performances for the new season.
In addition to this impressive list, don’t forget the many artists coming to town for WorldPride, May 17-June 8. In addition to headliner Cynthia Erivo performing on Saturday, June 7 at the two-day street festival and concert, many other performers will be in town. Jennifer Lopez, Troye Sivan, and RuPaul are among the featured performers at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds, June 6-7. Visit WorldPrideDC.org for a list of other performers.
MARCH
Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Mary J. Blige will take the stage at Capital One Arena on March 26 for her For My Fans tour. Two days later, on March 28, J Balvin will also perform at Capital One Arena for his Back to the Rayo tour.
The Lincoln Theatre will host the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for three performances—one on March 15 and two on March 16.
If dance parties are more your vibe, you’re in luck. DC9 is hosting a series of themed dance parties this month, starting with Poker Face: 2000s + Dance Party on March 14, the ever-popular Peach Pit ’90s dance party on March 15, H.O.T.S.: A Sapphic Dance Party on March 22, and RageRiot!—a burlesque and drag revue featuring a lineup of local drag kings, queens, and everything in between on March 29.
APRIL
Australian queen of pop Kylie Minogue will bring her Tension tour to Capital One Arena on April 8, with British dance artist Romy as her special guest.
Indie singer-songwriter mxmtoon will stop in D.C. for their Liminal Space tour on April 4 at the 9:30 club, followed by indie rock band Gossip on April 5. The 9:30 club will also host two dance parties in April: Gimme Gimme Disco – a dance party inspired by ABBA on April 11 and Broadway Rave on April 18.
The Atlantis will feature Brooklyn-based indie rock band Pom Pom Squad on April 2.
Comedy duo Two Dykes and a Mic will bring their Going Hog Wild tour to the Howard Theatre on April 19.
DC9 has two dance parties lined up this month: Bimbo Night on April 4, hosted by Baltimore’s “premier red-tattooed Filipina diva” Beth Amphetamine, and Aqua Girls: A QTBIPOC Dance Party on April 5, celebrating “queer transcendence through music, movement, and community.”
The Anthem will welcome a lineup of big names in April, starting with Alessia Cara on April 8. Lucy Dacus will take the stage on April 18 and 19 for her Forever Is a Feeling tour, while funky pop artist Remi Wolf will headline on April 27, joined by special guests Dana and Alden.
MAY
Indie-pop artist Miya Folick will bring her Erotica Veronica tour to The Atlantis on May 1, followed by multi-genre musician SASAMI on May 2. Pop artist Snow Wife will close out the month at The Atlantis on May 31 as part of an official WorldPride 2025 event.
Queer rock band Lambrini Girls will perform at the Howard Theatre on May 4, while rock trio L.A. Witch will take the stage at DC9 on May 12.
Union Stage will feature Rachel Platten on May 3 for her Set Me Free tour, followed by Femme Fatale: A Queer Dance Party later that night.
The popular DJ festival Project Glow will return to RFK Stadium grounds on May 31 and June 1.
JUNE
Pride month kicks off with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Trixie Mattel, who will perform at Echostage on June 3 as part of a series of official WorldPride 2025 events.
Queer icons Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe will take over The Anthem on June 5 for a WorldPride 2025 event performance.
Perfume Genius will bring his signature sound to the 9:30 club on June 7 as part of WorldPride 2025 festivities. Later in the month, Blondshell will hit the 9:30 club for her If You Asked for a Tour on June 24.
Music & Concerts
Pride concert to take place at Strathmore after Kennedy Center rescinds invitation
International Pride Orchestra ‘heartbroken’ event ‘would no longer be welcome’ at DC venue
The International Pride Orchestra has announced its Pride concert will take place at the Strathmore Music Center on June 5 after the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts disinvited the group.
Since President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center during his first month in office, LGBTQ events and performances have been banned with community allies withdrawing in solidarity.
The Kennedy Center has cancelled “A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,” a May 21 concert that was to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. The International Pride Orchestra on Monday said its concert will now take place at the Strathmore.
“We were heartbroken when we learned that our concert would no longer be welcome at the Kennedy Center,” said International Pride Orchestra Founding Artistic Director Michael Roest in a statement released by the orchestra’s media page. “The Kennedy Center has long been a symbol of artistic excellence, inclusivity, and freedom of expression. However, we are profoundly grateful to the Strathmore Music Center for opening their doors to us. Their willingness to host our Pride Celebration Concert ensures that our message of love, pride, and resilience will be heard on the doorstep of the nation’s capital.”
The Pride concert is among the events that have faced uncertainty since the Trump-Vance administration took office on Jan. 20. Many, however, are fighting back and looking for ways to push back against the bans and cancellations.
“We aim to create a powerful and positive representation of the queer community through music,” said Roest. “We want to show the world who we are, celebrate our queer identities, and amplify the work of organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.”
WorldPride is scheduled to take place in D.C. from May 17-June 8.
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