Music & Concerts

Years & Years frontman Olly charms with strong vocals, charisma at D.C. show

Band touring behind July concept album ‘Palo Santo’

Published

7 years ago

October 19, 2018

Years & Years, Olly Alexander, gay news, Washington Blade

Years & Years split its Oct. 11 D.C. concert almost evenly with selections from its two records ‘Communion’ and ‘Palo Santo.’ (Washington Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

Touring a concept record can be tricky — interspersing thematically connected material with earlier songs and coming up with a set list that makes sense takes care. For Brit pop band Years & Years, however, the somewhat half-baked concepts of its current album “Palo Santo,” released in early July, actually worked to its advantage at its D.C. concert Oct. 11 — there was no overarching message to get, it was simply a great evening of top-shelf current gay pop music. It was the band’s fifth show of the fall leg (19 dates) of the “Palo Santo Tour,” which wraps Oct. 30 in Seattle before moving on to Europe in November.

The “Palo Santo” concepts are pushed more through a 15-minute promo video in which the band depicts a future where gender and sexuality norms are gone and androids yearn for human emotion. The album, however, just plays like easy-on-the-ear dance/pop and you kinda forget there’s supposed to be an overarching story attached.

That’s how the concert felt too. No scenes from the videos were shown or reenacted. Out frontman Olly Alexander — tight abs on display all evening in a crop top — seemed more interested in selling the songs on their own sonic merits. He shimmied and improvised choreography — sometimes sexy, sometimes goofy — and kept it all going with solid vocals. His voice is a little Michael Jackson-ish, but thinner. The 28-year-old, possessing an undeniable “it” factor bolstered by his accent, sounded just as good live as he does on the band’s two albums, “Palo Santo” and “Communion,” which were represented almost equally.

The band was tight, the light show was impressive (much more elaborate than their previous D.C. appearances) and the set was spare but effective. A set of stairs gave Alexander a nice prop on which to dance and pose. Three symbols from the album artwork were recreated on stage and changed hue throughout the evening. His banter was friendly but minimal.

Standouts included “If You’re Over Me,” their no. 6 UK hit from the new record, “King,” a no. 1 UK hit from the first album and “Karma,” a particularly catchy “Palo Santo” earworm. The almost full house — which was odd because for weeks the Lincoln had been billing the show as sold out — was fully invested. Even though the band hasn’t broken big in the U.S. (they’ve never cracked the Hot 100 but have had decent success on the dance charts), by gay standards, they’re a huge band stateside. Much like the Troye Sivan concert at the Anthem the previous week, this felt like gay millennial night out. Nobody sat down the whole night, even in the balcony, even for the lone ballad, “Eyes Shut,” on which Alexander played keyboard.

Years & Years is a bit of a mystery band. It’s hard to quite figure out the relationship between Alexander and bandmates Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Turkmen (both straight). They’ve taken more of a backseat as the band has taken off but unlike, say, the Supremes, you don’t get the feeling they seem to mind. They’re joined by one other player and two background singers on the current tour. The playing was tight all night with arrangements pretty faithfully recreated from studio versions.

My only slight quibble is that it was a bit heavy on opening acts. Gender-bender Tunde Olaniran and singer/songwriter CYN were both good, but Years & Years only ended up playing a 65-minute set, not even coming on ’til 9:45 p.m. (the show started at 8). I know you don’t expect something of Springsteen proportions from a band that’s only on its second album, but a few more songs from the headliners and one opening act would have made for a better overall night.

— The Blade’s Mariah Cooper contributed to this article.

SET LIST:
Years & Years
Lincoln Theatre
Washington, DC
Oct. 11, 2018

9:45 p.m.

1. Sanctify

2. Take Shelter

3. Shine

4. Eyes Shut

5. Karma

6. Ties

7. Desire

8. Palo Santo

9. Rendezvous

10. Worship

11. Hallelujah

12. Gold

13. If You’re Over Me

ENCORE

* band intros

14. All for You

15. King

10:50 p.m.

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Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

2 weeks ago

April 5, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

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.”

Music & Concerts

Busy season for live music in D.C.

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

Published

1 month ago

March 14, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

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

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

Published

2 months ago

February 27, 2025

Jaylon Curry-Hagler

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.