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‘Wonderful’ return

‘Wonderful, Wonderful’ is tight and potent retro pop/rock brew

Published

8 years ago

on

The Killers, gay news, washington blade

Brandon Flowers, front, opens up on personal topics with his band the Killers’ eclectic new album. (Photo courtesy Island)

It’s hard to credit that 13 years have passed since the Killers emerged with their electrifying blend of new wave influences, a heavy dose of David Bowie and the arena-rock muscle of U2 on their smash debut “Hot Fuss.” They were hard to resist from the very beginning, blasting off with high-energy hits like “Somebody Told Me,” “Mr. Brightside,” “Smile Like You Mean It” and “All These Things That I’ve Done.” Despite the band’s decidedly retro tendencies, the Killers have always infused a slick modern sheen that has kept their music fresh and relevant.

While they’ve never quite been able to equal the commercial success of “Hot Fuss,”the Killers have managed to keep plugging away with one solid album after another. Despite being dismissed by some critics as too derivative of their influences and too eager to embrace the mainstream, the Killers still sell consistently well when many of their new wave-revivalist contemporaries of the early 2000s have fallen by the wayside. Their latest album, “Wonderful Wonderful,” is their first in five years, and their continued relevance is confirmed not only in the quality of the album but by the fact that it debuts at no. 1 on the Billboard album chart, their first ever to reach that mark. The album’s success is not surprising — “Wonderful Wonderful” is the tightest and most potent collection of the Killers’ exciting retro pop/rock brew since their debut.

Lead single “The Man” is a tight dance/funk jam that somehow manages to merge elements of ‘70s disco, ‘80s new wave and ‘90s electronica into a groove that’s immediate and engaging. Flowers’ taut falsetto lands somewhere between Barry Gibb and David Byrne, a wildly eccentric performance that’s a refreshing change from the overly perfect autotuned soullessness to which pop music fans are typically subjected these days. “The Man” sounds a bit like Maroon 5 but with an edgier kick and infinitely more personality. Also excellent is the second single “Run For Cover,” a jittery rocker with a rapid-fire vocal during the verse that gives way to the type of anthemic chorus that Brandon Flowers performs so well and with such obvious heart.

The title track opens the album with a stripped-down electronic rhythm, swoops of quavery keyboard and a slow-building intensity that eventually boils over as Flowers builds plenty of drama for the cinematic climax. In keeping with the more personal nature of this album, Flowers bares his heart in “Rut,” opening up about his wife’s experiences with PTSD. The Killers typically operate in a world of storytelling and character development, so the more intimate nature of “Wonderful Wonderful” translates to a piercing emotional immediacy that feels completely genuine.

“Some Kind of Love” is a gauzy ballad, with Flowers’ gentle multi-tracked vocals floating atop a lovely bed of swaying synths. “Out of My Mind” is reminiscent of the electronic-tinged pop that saturated Top 40 airwaves in the late ‘80s. It boasts one of the album’s simpler yet most irresistible melodic hooks and seems an obvious choice as a future single. “Life to Come” once again is built mostly on synths — the guitars take a back seat on “Wonderful Wonderful” as the band relies more heavily on electronic textures. The album’s closer is the contemplative “Have All The Songs Been Written?,” which starts as a slowly simmering ballad before rising to the point where you think it’s gonna really take off but then sorta sputters unexpectedly mid-ascent. It’s an odd ending that feels unfinished, but perhaps that’s the point. Maybe it’s meant to be a harbinger of things to come.

“Wonderful Wonderful” is the Killers at their most focused and engaging. While still unabashedly mining the past for inspiration, they also look unerringly forward with an album that is immaculately crafted, fiercely performed and brimming with solid hooks and fiery grooves. If you’re a fan, you’ll like it. If you tend to view the Killers as style over substance, as many critics do, “Wonderful Wonderful” is at least worth an open-minded listen. The Killers will probably never be critical darlings, but it hardly matters. They know their niche and they operate within its flashing neon glow with all the vitality and spirit of a band just getting started.

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Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

2 weeks ago

on

April 5, 2025

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Kylie Minogue visits D.C. on Tuesday.

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.”

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Music & Concerts

Busy season for live music in D.C.

Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring

Published

1 month ago

on

March 14, 2025

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Cynthia Erivo plays WorldPride in D.C. on June 7. (Photo courtesy of World Pride)

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

Kylie Minogue brings her ‘Tension Tour’ to D.C. in 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.

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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

Published

2 months ago

on

February 27, 2025

By

The Kennedy Center (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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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