Seattle Gay News headed to free Blitzen Trapper show - tonight, Seattle Center

What's better than a cool band playing under a hot sun right smack in the city? Not having to pay to see them.

Local radio station KEXP has partnered with Seattle Center to bring several great concerts free of charge throughout the summer to residents of this music-appreciate city. Tonight, Blitzen Trapper who're signed to Seattle-based Sub Pop Records (Fleet Foxes, The Shins, Flight of the Conchords) will perform to a crowd already assembling at the Mural Amphitheatre.

Concert begins at 6pm with an opening act, followed by Portland-based Blitzen Trapper going onstage around 7'sh - you still have time to dart there. In the crowd, Seattle Gay News - of course! Killer rock bands, we're all over it.

Jazz newbie Spencer Day interviews with Seattle Gay News

He's the freshest face of America's most vintage genre, and the opportunity to meet him is a newstand or mouse click away.

Spencer Day, a Utah-born singer-songwriter brought up in rural Arizona by a single mom who still teaches music, is being compared to Michael Buble and Harry Connick Jr. His vocals are smooth and seductive, his arrangements are sophisticated and dreamy, and his looks...well, you can arrive at your opinion.

Day gives his first headlining appearance in Seattle with back-to-back performances at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley (www.jazzalley.com) on July 28 and 29. Visit the venue's website for admission price and show details. This is your chance to see a young star at a very early point in his career, and we should point out that film scripts are already being sent his way. Interesting sidenote: Peter Cincotti gave his first headlining performance at the Jazz Alley.

Pick up a copy of Seattle Gay News at your favorite bar or coffeeshop or visit www.sgn.org and look for "The Music Lounge" column for an interview with Spencer Day. You can also ear-sample his songs at www.spencerday.com.

Cupcake Royale giving free cupcakes at new Capitol Hill store today

It's raining cupcakes on Capitol Hill, specifically at 1111 Pike Street (between 11th and 12th avenues)!

Local favorite Cupcake Royale is celebrating the opening of its new store by offering free Strawberry 66 cupcakes all day long (July 22 only), while supplies last. Simply go inside the store and say the magic words "Legalize Frostitution" and voila, a cupcake lands in your hands!

While you're at the shop, grab a cupcake or two from the many other flavors to take back to your partner, colleagues, or friends. They make wonderful little birthday treats, or if heading down to Portland to visit friends or relatives, surprise them with a dozen - a unique taste of Seattle.

Help welcome Cupcake Royale to Capitol Hill by dropping by today!

Kelly Clarkson coming to Seattle, in November!

Don't make those Thanksgiving plans too early, as you might want to stay in the Jet City for the return of Grammy winner and American Idol champ Kelly Clarkson.

Seattle Gay News is happy to report that the pop diva will perform November 24 at WaMu Theater, adjacent to Qwest Field and now accessible by Seattle's new light rail service.

More on Clarkson's upcoming visit coming soon in the Seattle Gay News.

Seattle Gay News picks hottest musician: Followill, Kravitz, Shimabukuro, Roth make list

You want some heat with that pop?

Seattle Gay News unveiled its picks for the "Hottest Guys in Music" in a special Pride feature on June 26. Among the hunks and hotties selected, Kings of Leon's bassist Jared Followill, Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz, openly gay dance artist Sam Sparro, country star Billy Currington, and newbies Jake Shimabukuro and Asher Roth.

For a full list of these striking, talented men click here: http://sgn.org/sgnnews37_26/page33.cfm.

Seattle's own Fleet Foxes on Mojo magazine cover

Congrats to Seattle-based folk geniuses Fleet Foxes, on scoring the cover story in the August issue of Mojo magazine!

The group's stunning debut was selected as the "Best Album/CD of 2008" by Seattle Gay News, and it be can't be recommended any higher for those who love organic Americana/folk music.

Read more about Fleet Foxes in "The Music Lounge", in the July 17 issue of the SGN.

Arctic Monkeys and Grizzly Bear announce Seattle concerts

The best shows keep coming to Seattle, and we're not complaining.

Two incredible noisemakers have announced upcoming concerts this fall, Arctic Monkeys and Grizzly Bear.

The Grammy-nominated Arctic Monkeys will perform September 19 @ The Showbox Market, while Grammy hopefuls (pay attention NARAS voters) Grizzly Bear play October 16 @ the Moore Theatre. Veckatamist, the new release by Grizzly Bear, landed on the "Best of 2009 1/2" in Seattle Gay News' mid-year music section (June 26 issue).

Look for details on the Arctic Monkeys and Grizzly Bear concerts in "The Music Lounge" column inside the July 17 edition of Seattle Gay News.

Tori Amos tour launch tonight, Seattle Gay News is there

This is it, this is the night Tori Amos launches her newest tour in Seattle!

Exactly a week after Green Day opened their 2009 road schedule in the Emerald City, Amos will do the same - but at WaMu Theater, located in the SoDo district next to Qwest Field and across the street from Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners.

Seattle Gay News will be there for Amos' initial date of her anticipated big tour, but first we're heading to Hotel 1000 (1000 1st Avenue) for a pre-show "Tweetup" to mingle with fellow fans. The event runs from 5 to 8pm with special cocktails, starters, and cool giveaways (study up on that Tori Amos bio!).

You can walk to WaMu Theater, or take an inexpensive cab ride over. One Eskimo will open the concert, so Amos isn't expected to go onstage until 8:45pm at the earliest, giving you PLENTY of time for pre-show cocktails - at Hotel 1000, of course!

Look for a full review of the concert in the July 17 issue of Seattle Gay News.

Tori Amos launching tour in Seattle tomorrow, pre-show Tweetup at Hotel 1000

It's Albert from Seattle Gay News, on a bright and sunny afternoon in the Emerald City.

Tomorrow night is the official kickoff of Tori Amos' "Sinful Attraction Tour" at WaMu Theater, located adjacent to Qwest Field in the SoDo district of Seattle (SoDo = South Downtown, next to Pioneer Square).

If you're heading to the concert, stop by Hotel 1000 (www.hotel1000seattle.com) for a special Tori Amos "Tweetup" to enjoy special apps and cocktails en route to the show - in fact, it's about a 10-minute walk to WaMu Theater from Hotel 1000 or an inexpensive cab ride, so it's a perfect spot to mingle with fellow fans and get your drink on before going to the venue. When you arrive at Hotel 1000, pegged by Seattle Gay News as the city's "Best Luxury Hotel", go to "Studio 1000" from the lobby/foyer.

I'm planning to be at both Hotel 1000 and the Tori Amos concert, hope to see you there!

Green Day awesome in first show, Billie Joe kisses male fan on lips

Happy 4th of July, it's Albert Rodriguez from Seattle Gay News slightly recovered from a booming performance by Green Day at Key Arena last night.

It was the start of the rock trio's world tour, and it was a blast - literally! You can't imagine the amount of pyrotechnics in this show - one bang after another, flames everywhere, and a really colorful display of lights mixed with indoor fireworks.

I can't give away too much because a full review of Green Day's concert will be in Friday's issue of Seattle Gay News, and I don't want to spoil any surprises for fans awaiting the punk threesome in their own hometowns - BUT, what I can say is that Billie Joe Armstrong kissed a male fan on the lips. It was hot, entertaining, and lent itself to the spontaneity of a Green Day performance. The fan was pulled onstage to sing along with the group, and immediately went for Billie Joe's mouth - and Seattleites being the very open-minded, laid back folks that they are just cheered, laughed, and hooted.

I can also share with you that the Bay Area unit is playing music representing their entire catalog - so you'll not only hear songs from the new album, 21st Century Breakdown, but also selections from American Idiot, Dookie, and Nimrod.

My favorite part of the show was when Green Day did "21 Guns", which I think is the best cut from the newest CD - in concert, the piano at the end was brilliant and Billie Joe's vocals were absolutely stunning on it.

The crowd was restless, especially on some of the band's well-known hits. The main floor was jam-packed, and they just kept bouncing up and down throughout. I've been in a Green Day pit twice during the American Idiot tour, even suffered bruised ribs on both occasions, so I was pretty stoked to have an actual seat this time around in the section just to the left of the stage.

I have no rants about last night's concert whatsoever, but I was hoping for an image switcheroo from Green Day - maybe a mohawk, a change of attire, something. But, it was as if they walked from the American Idiot tour to this one without even looking in a mirror - they not only look the same, they pretty much wear the identical clothes from their previous road outing. I really was hoping to see Billie Joe in a pair of super skinny purple Levi's instead of his usual choice, the somewhat roomy black ones.

Anyway, overall it was a killer show and if they're coming to your city I suggest definitely checking them out. They play for a solid two hours, and then some, and it's high energy all the way, plus a really good set list. Also, bring a pair of ear plugs if you don't like the sound of loud bangs because there are plenty of them during the whole performance.

Bottom line: I was very entertained last night, and glad to see that Green Day brought their A game to the start of their new tour in Seattle!

Green Day launching world tour in Seattle tonight, Seattle Gay News is there

Hey, it's Albert from Seattle Gay News on a very hot afternoon in Seattle. Watching an intense battle o' the Andy's (Roddick vs. Murray, Wimbledon). I'm cheering for both, as one is American and the other is tall, sexy, and has a British accent (and, thank you Andy Murray for wearing tight shorts).

More importantly, today is GREEN DAY. I'm impatiently awaiting my ticket to be delivered via UPS from the record label - as soon as it's here, I'm jetting to Seattle Center to take advantage of the clear blue skies and Seattle International Beer Festival.

I know nothing about tonight's show, as the label and tour promoter have kept mum on details - all I've been told is that Green Day chose to rehearse for it in California leading up to the moment they headed to Seattle. But, tonight's performance marks the world tour launch of Green Day's newest live production. I'm hoping and expecting to be wowed, especially after seeing the dazzling American Idiot concert twice at two separate venues.

Scattered tickets remain for the concert this evening, and it appears you can still purchase them online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com). Though, at a certain point very soon all remaining tickets will be transferred and available only at the venue.

If you're heading to Seattle Center, the massive complex housing Key Arena, Space Needle, Experience Music Project, as well as several other performance halls, take note that the popular Beer Festival is also taking place on the grounds right now. Add to this: the many tourists zipping up the Space Needle or sundrenched locals cooling off at the International Fountain.

So, my best recommendation is to take Metro or a combination of Metro/Monorail to the show. From downtown, take the #1, #2, #4 or #13 to Seattle Center, or from Capitol Hill take the #8 (on John Street). The monorail is a quicker trip to/from downtown, and you board it at the top level of Westlake Center (3rd and Pine) - it will drop you off inside Seattle Center. If you must drive, parking is limited. If you arrive early and don't wanna get your drink on right away, then make a pit stop at Easy Street Records (on Mercer).

I'll have a brief wrap-up of the concert here tomorrow morning, and a full review of the band's performance in next week's issue (July 10) in the Seattle Gay News.

Besides the gorgeous holiday weekend in Seattle, let's also celebrate the return of GREEN DAY!

Seattle Gay News attending Green Day's tour launch on Friday

Grammy-winning rock trio Green Day chose Seattle as the starting point for its newest tour, set to perform Friday night at Key Arena.

Seattle Gay News will be among those in the audience, listening to live versions of the band's fresh material from 2009's highly-praised 21st Century Breakdown, as well as songs from previous releases. The album, certified gold (500,000 copies sold) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), has sprouted two hit singles already, "Know Your Enemy" and "21 Guns" (SGN's Top Ten Recordings, 2009 1/2).

We'll be at Key Arena on Friday to catch Billie Joe, Mike and Tre in action as they launch their big tour, circling North America and possibly extending overseas in the months ahead. Look for a mini review of the concert at this blog site on Saturday morning, with a full review in the July 10 issue of Seattle Gay News. Also, we'll update you on the traffic situation getting to Seattle Center on Friday afternoon, as the grounds will be packed to host both the Green Day concert and Seattle International Beerfest.

Green Day + Seattle = It's on!