Broadway & TV Star Jeremy Jordan’s New Concert ‘Carry On’

Broadway & TV star Jeremy Jordan

Broadway & TV star Jeremy Jordan
Broadway & TV star Jeremy Jordan
Broadway’s Jeremy Jordan, known for his powerful voice and provocative storytelling, returns to the stage with his new concert, Carry On. Equal parts humor and heartache, Carry On journeys into Jeremy’s new life as a father. Unpacking and attempting to reconcile his own complicated childhood, Jeremy soon discovers there is more to being a parent than he could have ever imagined. Featuring an array of musical styles (musical direction by Benjamin Rauhala), as well as some never-before-heard songs, Carry On has been thoughtfully reimagined for the virtual stage after winning multiple awards for its premiere at Feinstein’s/54 Below just over a year ago. Jeremy Jordan is best known for his Tony and Grammy-nominated portrayal of Jack Kelly in Newsies on Broadway, as well as his many roles on television including series regulars on CW’s “Supergirl”, NBC’s “Smash” and Disney Channel’s “Tangled.” Recently, he starred on Broadway opposite Kerry Washington in the provocative new play, American Son, and then reprised his role in the Netflix film adaptation. Additional Broadway credits include starring as Clyde in Bonnie & Clyde (Theatre World Award), Tony in West Side Story, and lead roles in Waitress and Rock of Ages. Following the initial premiere date, the concert will be made available on demand for three weeks and accessible to fans across the world. Click here for ticket info.

(via press release)

News Round-Up: May 5, 2021

LGBTQ streaming platform is launching a new queer-centric news show Culture Q

LGBTQ streaming platform is launching a new queer-centric news show Culture Q
LGBTQ streaming platform Revry is launching a queer-centric news show ‘Culture Q’
Some news items you might have missed: • Revry: On May 6th, global LGBTQ TV network, Revry, will premiere it’s first original weekly news program CULTURE Q, an innovative entertainment, pop culture, lifestyle and politics news series. Emphasizing the queer milieu, CULTURE Q stands to be the leading, weekly forum for boundary-pushing LGBTQ discussions and commentary. • OUT: A gay man in Latvia was reportedly set on fire by a homophobic neighbor and died from the burn wounds that covered over 85% of his body. The man and his roommate had reported the numerous threats they received from their neighbor to police, but to no avail. • Pink News: Patrick O’Connell, a venerable AIDS activist who sought to smash stigma by creating awareness campaigns including the iconic red ribbon, has died. According to his brother, Barry, O’Connell passed away at age 67 of AIDS-related causes. RIP Patrick O’Connell.

Billboard Music Awards: P!nk will be honored with Billboard’s ICON Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards on May 23. The pop star will join the pantheon of previous honorees Garth Brooks, Cher, Neil Diamond, Céline Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey. • New York Daily News: Baseball fans can get free tickets to a Yankees or Mets game if they get vaccinated against COVID at either of the team’s facilities, Gov. Cuomo announced on Wednesday. The doses available outside Citi Field and Yankee Stadium will be the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. • Fox News: After months of being banned from social media services like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, ‘former guy’ Donald Trump has launched a “communications platform,” which will eventually give him the ability to communicate directly with his followers. The platform, “From the Desk of Donald J. Trump” is part of Trump’s official website. Folks, it’s a blog.

NY Gov Says Broadway Can ‘Effectively’ Re-Open May 19, But…

A photo of Broadway marquees in Times Square
(photo: Ludovic Bertron/Flickr)
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has given the green light for Broadway shows to reopen as of May 19, although getting productions up and running on the Great White Way is actually going to take a bit longer. From The Hollywood Reporter:

Though Broadway can effectively reopen on that date “from a capacity point of view,” Cuomo said, the governor noted that it will take time to remount productions and sell tickets.

“They may make their own economic decision as to when they reopen,” Cuomo said during a Monday press briefing. “We’re talking about Broadway.”

For their part, Broadway leaders — including The Broadway League — had previously said a September reopening is more likely. This came after Mayor Bill de Blasio said he expects New York City to reopen in July.

And, following Cuomo’s Monday remarks, the League remains committed to reopening at full capacity in the fall.

Included in Cuomo’s announcement was an emphasis on social distancing measures which would have to remain in effect per the CDC unless theatergoers provide proof of vaccination or recent negative test results. Read the full article here.

Out Music: Greyson Chance, Bryce Bowyn, ÖZLEM, Matt Palmer

Greyson Chance drops his new single 'Hellboy'
Greyson Chance drops his new single, ‘Hellboy’
As we jump into May – just weeks away from Pride Month – this is a good time to explore new bops from some of our favorite queer artists. Here’s my roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists. Out artist Greyson Chance throws down some 80s and 90s flashback flavors with his latest single,”Hellboy.” Opening with dark synths, we follow a hooded Chance to a suspicious nighttime meeting where a mystery dancer sporting a flashy, red tracksuit appears grooving to the dance inspired pop hooks of “Hellboy.” Eventually, Greyson becomes the dancer in red, riding the synth wave into the night. The dance-heavy new track is the latest tease from Chance’s long-awaited forthcoming EP, TROPHIES, set for a June 25th release. Over the past year, Chance has kept a very healthy release schedule  the well-received singles “Boots,” “Dancing Next To Me,” the revealing “Bad to Myself,” in which Chance opened up about his battle with an eating disorder, and this past January’s “Holy Feeling.” Hit play below. You can follow Chance on Instagram here.


Bryce Bowyn - Mirror Mirror by Clarissa Villondo
Bryce Bowyn (photo: Clarissa Villondo)
Queer dance-pop artist Bryce Bowyn pulls listeners into the story of a bad breakup with his infectious and anthemic new single “Ruthless.” Bryce Bowyn is a Washington, D.C.-based singer-songwriter and innovative audiovisual artist whose dynamic, story-focused songs and electric performances have captivated the attention of audiences around the nation. An empowering track with a dark edge, “Ruthless” follows the end of a relationship, where, sick of being the one to always get his heart broken, Bowyn turns the tables and becomes the one to shatter his partner’s heart first. You can watch the music video for “Ruthless” below and follow on Instagram here.


ÖZLEM (pronounced “Uss-lem”), the project conceptualized by queer, non-binary singer-songwriter and producer Liam Lyons-Shields, explores themes of identity, culture, and longing through enigmatic-tinged dark pop. Inspired by everyone from Lady Gaga, to SOPHIE, to Avril Lavigne and Hannah Montana, ÖZLEM is ready to continue pushing boundaries in music with its first official release, Fagpop. A 7-track audiovisual project, Fagpop is a journey through a night out in New York City – getting ready, arriving at the function, taking in the party, having a smoke break, and coming down from the high of the night. All its glamour, all its glory, all its heartbreak. Nostalgic pop sounds reminiscent of eras past find new life through clever, tongue-in-cheek lyrics and atypical themes. Fagpop is due out June 4th, 2021 on all platforms. You can follow ÖZLEM on Instagram here. Take a listen to lead single, “Marlboro Man,” below.


Matt Palmer (courtesy pic)
Los Angeles-based pop singer, songwriter and producer Matt Palmer has released his new single “I Don’t Want It,” a sexy and confident single off of his upcoming EP, The Good Parts. The Good Parts – which drops May 28 – features sleek and modern pop/R&B production alongside singable melodies, confessional lyrics, and dynamic vocal arrangements. “When I started working on The Good Parts, I was going through a break up and planned on it being 100% a break up record but it really evolved into something else as things evolved in my personal life,” says Palmer. “I hope it’s a good soundtrack for us as we figure out what life is like post-lockdown!” “‘I’ve written so many broken-hearted boy songs up to this point that writing a song from the perspective of someone who’s afraid of commitment and, in turn, doing the heart breaking was really fun,” Palmer says about the new single. Hit play below and follow Palmer on Instagram here.

Marvel Studios Drops Mega Teaser For Upcoming Films

Scarlett Johannsen

Scarlett Johannsen
Scarlett Johansson as ‘Black Widow’
Marvel Studios wants to remind folks that while the pandemic set their release schedule for super-hero flicks back a bit, they plan to drop several new cinematic adventures soon. From GMA:

A title card reads, “We go to escape, to get lost in a story, to feel connected, to share moments we will remember forever” before the Marvel montage shows an opening night movie audience going bonkers during the climactic final battle from 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” to prove the point.

The video then switches to Marvel Studios’ opening fanfare and snippets of its pandemic-delayed releases — “Black Widow,” opening July 9, and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” opening Sept. 3 — and then to a never-before-seen peek of “Eternals,” opening Nov. 5, from Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao.

The fast-paced video teaser also shares these release dates further in the future: • “Spider-Man: No Way Home” on Dec. 17 • “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness” on March 25, 2022 • “Thor: Love and Thunder” on May 6, 2022 • “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” on July 8, 2022 • “The Marvels” on Nov. 11, 2022 • “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” on Feb. 17, 2023 • “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3” on May 5, 2023

InstaHunk Round-Up: Weekend Edition

Duncan James laments his 'thicc-ness' but we're totally good with it

Duncan James laments his 'thicc-ness' but we're totally good with it
Duncan James (image via Instagram)
Checking in on what the hunks of Insta were up to this past weekend. Former UK boy bander Duncan James lamented getting “thicker” thanks to the pandemic – but we think he looks just fine… https://www.instagram.com/p/COPrBl_HjTV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Recording artist Melieck summons the power of the sun – “Summer glow in full effect.” https://www.instagram.com/p/COYe7SzMH0t/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link HawaiiMuscleBear is living the Waikiki out of Sunday: https://www.instagram.com/p/COYJHhwjs2n/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Fitness guy Bremen Menelli gets cute and creative as he tosses in some shirtless eye-candy: https://www.instagram.com/p/COTA2i3B1Qk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Beefy bear Moe embraced his inner dork: https://www.instagram.com/p/COWAqiPjbmi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Hunter Harden is giving you full-on furball for the weekend: https://www.instagram.com/p/COWMOGBD6gH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link What happens when folks call Curtis Fitzgerald late at night: https://www.instagram.com/p/COW_ylUAzVx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Ashley Parker Angel, formerly of the boy band O-Town, seriously grew up for reals. https://www.instagram.com/p/COOhE2YHZ4Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Former ‘Bachelor’ star Colton Underwood dropped his first thirst trap since coming out: https://www.instagram.com/p/COO5ik6nvXr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link CrossFit athlete Nick Dompierre was living his beast best life working out on the beach: https://www.instagram.com/p/COX-RsWBylI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Out Music: Wrabel ‘good’

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Wrabel

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Wrabel
Acclaimed singer/songwriter Wrabel
Out singer/songwriter Wrabel drops his latest single, ‘Good,’ which urges the listener to let go of past disappointments and be present in the here and now.

Let a good thing be good… Don’t you let a good thing go bad

The piano-driven track serves up soaring, soulful vocals by Wrabel accompanied by a rich and earthy gospel chorus. And it’s impossible to miss the artful songwriting skills at hand as he deftly crafts the storytelling through not just the lyrics but the emotional musical build and release of the song. As with his previous hits ‘The Village‘ and ‘11 Blocks,’ Wrabel journeys through an earnest exploration of those personal aspects of life that can be scary and unsure.

A tender moment from the music video for Wrabel's "Good"
A moment from Wrabel’s new music video, ‘Good’
“I feel so lucky to have worked with (video director) Carlos Asse on this video,” Wrabel says. “We wanted to build off of one of my favorite lyrics in the song – ‘I know you still see him in your apartment , let me in i’ll paint the walls’ – following a couple as they move into a new space – like a fresh start.” “Whether it’s anger, resentment or hurt, sometimes it’s the smallest disagreement that can send those feelings from the deep – down to the surface,” adds the artist. “The smallest thing can turn a good thing bad. But leaning in and trusting can keep a good thing good.” American Songwriter hailed Wrabel as “one of Hollywood’s finest songwriters for a decade” as the extensive list of his collaborations include artists like Kesha, Pink, Backstreet Boys, Louis Tomlinson and many more. ‘good’ prefaces Wrabel’s upcoming debut album scheduled for release later this year. Hit play below, and you can follow the artist on Instagram here. I really like this.

News Round-Up: April 30, 2021

NIKO releases his latest single, "Dance Again"

NIKO releases his latest single, "Dance Again"
NIKO releases his latest single “Dance Again” (photo: Billie Black)
Some news items you might have missed: • LA Magazine: Former N’SYNC member Lance Bass is about to open “the biggest gay nightclub in the USA” in West Hollywood. The new club will land at the same location of the long-running, but now-defunct, RAGE. • NBC News: Amid a slew of anti-transgender bills working their way through state legislatures, the American Medical Association has written an open letter asking governors to veto legislation that would prohibit physicians from providing transition-related care. • BosGuy: It’s Furry Friday over at the longtime Boston-based gay blog. Click here for previous installments of furry goodness at BosGuy.
(image via BosGuy)
Washington Post: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is an apparent ‘no’ vote on statehood for the District of Columbia. Manchin says there should be a constitutional amendment to move DC up to statehood, but there were no such amendments in making Alaska or Hawaii states. • Fox5 Atlanta: The family of Ashli Babbitt, the insurrectionist who was shot by Capitol Police while illegally climbing through a window in the Capitol building, is apparently planning on suing the officer and police department for $10 million.

New Music: Dance into the weekend with the latest from Randy Report favorite, NIKO (top photo) who wants us all to “Dance Again.” Inspired by classic 90s trance tracks, the LA-based Euro Pop artist takes us on an uplifting sonic journey featuring effortless shimmering vocals, switching with equal ease between Italian and English, as that groovy bass line bops like a boss. NIKO says the track was written during the pandemic when he was “missing my loved ones who were thousands of miles away.” “The track can be interpreted very literally (wishing we could go out dancing like we used to), however, for me, the song’s message goes beyond that,” explains NIKO. “It’s about leaving your home to pursue your dreams, feeling homesick, and looking back on a time when life seemed a little more carefree. “

News Round-Up: April 29, 2021

Ewan McGregor as Halston

Ewan McGregor as Halston
Ewan McGregor as Halston (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • LGBTQ Nation: 17-year-old Jace King has become the first out transgender Eagle Scout in his small town of Splendora, Texas, and may be one of the first in the country. King had always dreamed of becoming an Eagle Scout like his brother, but due to the scouts’ ban on transgender boys, he was not allowed to join until 2019. • The Daily Beast: Podcast host Joe Rogan walked back a statement he made on his podcast last week that young, healthy people shouldn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine. Rogan conceded, “I’m not a doctor, I’m a fucking moron. There’s some legitimate science behind this…I believe [the vaccines] are safe.” • Instinct Magazine: Actor Ewan McGregor (above) is defending his decision to take on the role of gay fashion design icon Halston in the upcoming Netflix mini-series. https://www.instagram.com/p/COAu9YLnrhd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link • New York Times: Three Georgia men were indicted on federal hate crime and attempted kidnapping charges in connection with the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was shot to death while jogging through a South Georgia neighborhood last year • American Greatness: Conservative author Peter D’Abrosca is refusing to get a COVID vaccine in an effort to ‘own the libs.’ “It makes them mad when they hear about my refusal. That, in turn, makes me happy.” • Out: The Tennessee CEO of a telehealth technology firm was fired after he was captured on video harassing a teen who was wearing a dress for prom. Sam Johnson, 46, was fired from his position at VisuWell after video of his exchange with Dalton Stevens, 18, at the Harpeth Hotel last Saturday went viral.