In case you missed Sir Elton John and Billy Joel at Wrigley Field last month, fear not—the British superstar issued the live DVD The Red Piano straight from Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. This concert shows why the flamboyant piano man has endured for decades. All of the songs are career-spanning favorites, including “Rocket Man,” “Believe,” “Tiny Dancer” and “I’m Still Standing.” John is making a cameo on the title track of the new Alice in Chains album Black Gives Way to the Blue, due out Tuesday, Sept. 29. This album will be dedicated to Alice in Chains’ late lead singer, Layne Staley.
Pearl Jam’s genre-defining debut Ten has been reissued with the original material remastered, as well as a disc containing alternate production by Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC) and a DVD of the grunge gods’ 1992 MTV Unplugged performance. But are remixes to classics like “Even Flow” and “Alive” really necessary? Bonus tracks “Brother” and “Just a Girl” justify it. In her best-seller How to Make Love Like a Porn Star, Jenna Jameson reveals that one of the first songs she danced to was “Black.” I agree with her: “Black” is a great track, although it’s not ideal for a strip club. Eddie Vedder and friends are scheduled to perform at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison, on Sunday-Monday, Aug. 23-24. The Seattle songsmiths will release their ninth studio album, Backspacer, independently on Sunday, Sept. 20, featuring the hit lead single “The Fixer.”
After a lively songwriting process, U2 returns with No Line on the Horizon. Bono continues to act as if he sings through divine intervention (“Get on Your Boots”). Even the standout “Magnificent” falls short of U2’s prime. The Irish quartet will be at Soldier Field, 1400 S. Museum Campus, on Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 12-13. But with concert tickets reaching as high as $250, is the material intended for the affluent fanatics or the struggling souls who could use the “elevation?” Luckily, Soldier Field does not have a dome, so Bono’s ego should be able to squeeze inside, even if only for a two- or three-hour show.
Love & Rockets have influenced many, including Orgy, Gliss and the partially queer band The Balloons. Last year, the trio headlined at Lollapalooza. Now the next generation of alternative artists comes forth with the homage New Tell to Tale. Better than Ezra has the honor of redoing the crossover hit “So Alive.” Lossy Coils with Ian Moore provides the soundtrack should a UFO descend upon a campfire in upstate New York with the otherworldly “Sweet F.A.” “Holiday on the Moon” is transformed into a stripped electronic masterpiece by Puscifier. On “Life in Laralay,” Sweethead recalls a fiery P.J. Harvey. The Flaming Lips remain avant garde with its abstract reworking of “Kundalini Express.” New Tale to Tell is available now on iTunes and will have a physical release Tuesday, Aug. 25. This is the best tribute compilation since Madonna’s praises were sung on the 2-CD set The Virgin Voices 10 years ago.
Holly Williams’ 2004 debut, The Ones We Never Knew, is now followed by Here with Me. On her sophomore outing, the granddaughter of Hank Williams captures the soul of timeless country music on the aching numbers “He’s Making a Fool of You” and “Alone.” “Keep the Change” serves as an announcement of the young Williams’ arrival, while the nearly a cappella “Three Days in Bed” evokes Dusty Springfield. Her near fatal car accident is revisited on “Without Jesus Here with Me.” It is just her singing alongside a piano on her cover of Neil Young’s “Birds.” Here with Me is out now on Mercury Records.
On Sunday, Aug. 30, the Chicago LGBT Youth Show Choir will host a benefit concert and silent auction at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. Accompanying the choir for this event are the energetic Chicago Spirit Brigade Cheerleaders, Ian Wilson, Evan Trad and the hysterical, yet madly talented Ethel Bourbon. The Chicago LGBT Youth Show Choir was founded by Perry Simmons and Paul Blievernicht, members of the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus. Tickets can be purchased at www.centeronhalsted.org.
The label Warrior Girl Music has put together the tremendous series Females on Fire, supporting independent women in the music industry. Founder Gilli Moon is no longer keeping the boys on the side. In the same vein, The Art of Men focuses on male singer-songwriters. On “Nevertheless,” James Keen comes across as Tracy Chapman’s counterpart. JoJo Styles delivers “Cry of Freedom” in a mesmerizing androgynous voice. Gene Strandquist gives the set a caffeinated jolt with “Rangeland Rider.” The double-disc Art of Men will be available via iTunes Aug. 26 and other outlets Aug. 31. This 35-song set benefits the nonprofit organization Songsalive.
“Gay days” are here again. Centaur’s Party Groove: GayDays Volume 6 is mixed by Randy Bettis. Disco favorites are given a modern club twist, as “Got to be Real” is updated by Groovesplitters with Shena and “Knock on Wood” by Boyz with Toyz featuring Angie Brown. Mike Candys and Jack Holiday steal the show with a remake of Robin S.’s worldwide smash “Show Me Love.” Robbyne Kaamil may not be the only diva here, but she makes her vocal presence known on “Free to Be.” GayDays Volume 6 is out now.