Bob Mould interviews with Seattle Gay News

You might know him from Husker Du.  Or, from his days with the band Sugar.  Or, as an independent singer-songwriter whose released a string of solo albums dating back to 1989.  Or, perhaps you caught him performing "Dear Rosemary" live with the Foo Fighters, a song he collaborated on with the group on their Grammy-winning album Wasting Light.

All of this points to one man, Bob Mould.

The rock musician, who is openly gay and proudly associates himself with the bear community, is well respected in his field by fellow musicians, some of whom he inspired early in their careers - Dave Grohl among them.

Mould is currently touring his latest solo recording, Silver Age, that includes a stop at The Showbox Market in Seattle on September 18.  Visit http://showboxonline.com/ for ticket information.  He speaks with Seattle Gay News in this week's edition (out today, September 14) about the new album, his tour, Nirvana, and lists some of his favorite female musicians.

Grab a copy of the SGN this weekend at any number of bars or coffeeshops in Seattle, or read it online tomorrow morning at http://www.sgn.org/, and get familiar with Bob Mould.

Photo credit: Merge Records

Green Day picks Seattle for tour launch

Multiple Grammy-winning band Green Day, one of rock music's strongest LGBT community supporters, will open their upcoming North American tour in Seattle.

The band - vocalist/guitarist Billy Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, drummer Tre Cool - are hitting the road in support of their album trilogy, Green Day Uno!, Green Day Dos! and Green Day Tres!, set to be released between September 2012 and January 2013.

Green Day will perform November 26 at the more intimate Paramount Theatre, in comparison to Key Arena, where they opened 2009's "21st Century Breakdown Tour".  Tickets go on sale Friday, September 14 (noon), although fan club members can purchase them two days prior by registering at http://splash.greenday.com.  Fans who buy tickets online will receive one free digital download of Green Day Uno!

Grab a copy of this Friday's Seattle Gay News, or "like" us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/seattlegaynews), for more updates on Green Day.  

Seattle Gay News confirms Lady GaGa concert date in January

Mama Monster is coming back.

Pop icon Lady GaGa has announced plans to bring "The Born This Way Ball" stateside early in 2013, which includes a January 14 date at the Tacoma Dome.

This will be the Grammy winner's second appearance at the Tacoma Dome, the concert site of 2010's "The Monster Ball Tour".  Seattle Gay News reviewed both that performance and Lady GaGa's earlier appearance at The Showbox Market.

Lady GaGa, who has interviewed twice with Seattle Gay News, opened her latest tour in Asia and Australia this spring.  Her show in Jakarta, Indonesia was canceled due to religious protests.

SGN is awaiting ticket information for the January 14 event. 

Minus the Bear to play intimate show tonight, proceeds to benefit gay marriage campaign

Indie pop-rock band Minus the Bear will introduce fans tonight to songs from their new album, Infinity Overhead, which releases tomorrow.

The Seattle-based group, known nationally and overseas, will perform at Comet Tavern (922 East Pike), a small rock bar in our city's Capitol Hill district.  Proceeds from tonight's performance will be matched and donated to Washington United for Marriage, a campaign to have gay marriage legalized in the Evergreen State in November.

Doors open at 9pm.  No advance tickets will be available, so arrive early.  $10 admission is payable at the door.  Helms Alee is scheduled to open the concert.

Minus the Bear also plays a free in-store gig at Easy Street Records (20 Mercer Street) in Seattle tomorrow, August 28, starting at 7pm. 

Cheyenne Jackson interviews with Seattle Gay News

He acts in films, he acts on television, he acts on Broadway, he sings, and he writes songs for himself and other artists.  There isn't much Cheyenne Jackson doesn't do.

The openly gay performer is currently filming Steven Soderbergh's Liberace movie (Behind the Candelabra), which also includes Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Rob Lowe and Dan Ackroyd.  This follows an NBC pilot he recently completed and a pair of indie films he starred in this year, Price Check and Lola Versus.

Jackson, a former Seattle resident, also released two music singles, "Drive" and "Before You" that will appear on an as-yet-titled EP or full-length album. 

In the midst of a very busy schedule, Jackson spoke to Seattle Gay News from his New York City home.  The interview is part of our newest weekly issue, August 3.  Grab a print copy in the metro Seattle area or look for it online at http://www.sgn.org/ as early as August 4.

Here is the link to Cheyenne Jackson's video for his single "Before You": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trJgt_xjSaI

ANA kicks off daily Seattle-Tokyo service

Konichiwa, Seattle!

ANA (All Nippon Airways) launched its daily Seattle-Tokyo service on July 25 with an afternoon reception at Sea-Tac International Airport that included a welcoming speech by Governor Christine Gregoire.  The hour-long event also featured a performance by Kaze Daiko, a traditional Japanese drum ensemble based in Seattle.  Authentic sushi and sake were served to guests, who ranged from local politicians to media representatives to inaugural flight passengers.

The new ANA service increases the number of non-stop flights to four from Sea-Tac to Japan.  Delta flies to both Tokyo and Osaka, while United has one daily offering to the Japanese capital.  Governor Gregoire called it a "vital link between Japan and Washington", acknowledging a strong trade/export relationship between the Asian country and our state, such as wine, apples and coffee (Tully's and Zoka coffee shops are now located within Japan).

Seattle becomes the 7th US gateway city for ANA, which also flies out of Los Angeles, Washington DC, Honolulu, New York City, San Francisco and Chicago.  In 2013, San Jose will be added.  Company Senior Executive Vice President Keisuke Okada stated that the idea to make ANA an international airline competitor was initially planted here in Seattle when he attended a small conference hosted by Boeing many years ago.

ANA will operate a two-cabin 777-300ER to Tokyo until October, when it then switches to the heavily buzzed (and delayed) 787 Dreamliner.  Currently, the departure flight leaves Sea-Tac at 1:15pm with arrival time at Narita International Airport at 3:45pm the following day.  The return flight departs Japan at 5:25pm and lands in Seattle at 10:55am the same day.  Total flight time to/from each city is about 10.5 hours.

Tokyo is an amazing destination with an up and coming gay scene that already thrives with dozens of bars in the Shinjuku Ni-chome and Shinbashi districts, and a few others scattered in nearby areas.  Seattle Gay News' special Pride travel section, in the June 15 issue (online at http://www.sgn.org/), featured a cover piece on Tokyo.  A separate travel feature on Osaka will print in September, followed by one on Kyoto soon thereafter. 

For those business and leisure travelers planning trips to Japan and/or Asia, know that ANA is a Star Alliance member and your earned miles can be credited to your United or US Airways accounts.  For more information, go to www.ana.co.jp. 

Jay Brannan interviews with Seattle Gay News

You know him from Shortbus.  He played the adorable Ceth.  You might also recognize him from another indie film, the gay-themed Holding Trevor.

Balancing an acting and music career, openly gay artist Jay Brannan is featured in an upcoming interview with Seattle Gay News.  The Texas-born performer is currently touring the US in support of his newest album Rob Me Blind, which delivers him to Seattle next weekend.  He's already played a series of dates this year in the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Israel and Australia.

Brannan talks about his experience working on the cult movie Shortbus, his songwriting process, and tells us which song by a big female pop star he recently downloaded onto his MP3 player. 

If interested in seeing Brannan live in Seattle, scheduled at The Crocodile on August 2, go to http://thecrocodile.com/.   For a complete list of remaining tour dates through the month of August and other news, visit http://jaybrannan.com/. 

Jay Brannan's interview with Seattle Gay News prints on Friday, July 27.  Grab a copy at any number of businesses in the metro Seattle area this weekend, or view it online at http://www.sgn.org/ when the new edition is uploaded Saturday morning.