Bright Light & Ana Matronic - Good Luck

Welsh cutie Bright Light (Rod Thomas) teams up with former Scissor Sisters vocalist Ana Matronic with this track from the coming Life Is Easy remix album. The pair recently covered the Pet Shop Boys classic West End Girls in a charity single for NYC's Hetrick-Martin Institute, which serves at-risk LGBT youth.

(Tipped by JMG reader Chris)

Free Download: Scissor Sisters' Ana Matronic & Bright Light Cover PSB

Get it here. (Tipped by JMG reader Dwight)

The 23rd Annual Night Of 1000 Stevies

A tambourine-waving crowd packed the Chelsea's Highline Ballroom for the 23rd annual Night Of 1000 Stevies, which bills itself as "the largest and most beloved Stevie Nicks fan event in the world." The performers included former Scissor Sisters guitarist Del Marquis & Xavier, the Ho Hos, and Jenna Torres.

At The GLAAD Media Awards

Loyal JMG photographer Dr. Jeff snapped over 650 photos on the GLAAD Media Awards red carpet and afterwards and he's edited that down to a more user-friendly 130 shots. Click through for lots of heroes to the movement like Chris Kluwe, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Peter Staley, and many others. Kitchen Cousins!

Slow Knights - Shame

Here's another cut from the coming album by Scissor Sisters guitarist Del Marquis and his collaborators. From the press materials:

Slow Knights is a collective that steps away from glamour shots and imagery that pushes the personality of anyone within, instead inviting the listener to get lost in the lyrics, in the melodies, and most importantly the rhythm of the record. Musicians interchange roles as lead and backup singer, as writer and performer, all brought to life by the golden touch of former members of The New Power Generation who perform the tracks with the slickness and prowess you would expect from a band of their stature.

You'll definitely feel an 80s pop/funk vibe.

Del & Xavier - Let Me Tickle Your Fancy

Alex Erickson writes at Paper Magazine:

Since the Scissor Sisters announced their indefinite hiatus at a London show last October the "Let's Have a Kiki" band members have been off working on projects of their own. Guitarist Del Marquis teamed up with Boys Choir of Harlem alumnus Xavier to record a new mixtape, Tickle, available for free download on Del's website. We've got the world premiere of the video for the über-sexy lead track, a cover of Jermaine Jackson's 1982 ditty "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy." The duo chose director Robin Comisar for his gritty, unpolished reel, and he delivered one sexy, '80s-inspired fantasy scene involving a disrobing tennis pro (whom you may recognize as a go-go boy from Daniel Nardicio's underwear parties) and an unlikely voyeur. Enjoy!

Xavier is a pal of mine!

Jake Shears Vs Azealia Banks

 

 

Yesterday former Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears took on his one-time collaborator Azealia Banks over her "faggot" attack on Perez Hilton.  GLAAD also responded yesterday on their blog:

Our society knows that "fa**ot" is a derogatory word for gay men, and in this case it was used to attack someone in a very public altercation with hundreds of thousands of fans and young people following. It is an ugly, archaic word that was used to stigmatize a population of people who suffer high rates of violence both here in the U.S. and abroad. As far as we’ve come in this society, seeing it used by an artist many young people may look up to is painful, but even more so for those young fans, many of whom GLAAD has heard from. GLAAD has reached out to Banks’ representatives, and is working to compile stories of fans and teens who wanted to respond to the word and let others know what it feels like when they hear it.

JMG Top Ten Tracks For 2012

Here's my annual roundup of the tracks that got the most play at Casa JMG. A few of them appeared here on the blog over the year, but most did not.  A couple of them aren't even originally from this year, but became unexpected 2012 hits due to remix treatments.  Clickety on the unfamiliar ones and tell us what you think.

1. Scissor Sisters - Let's Have A Kiki
(Tired of it now, but the song of the summer)
2. Pet Shop Boys - Leaving
(Plus the Side-By-Side Remix)
3. Hot Chip - How Do You Do?
(The Todd Terje Remix)
4. Crystal Ark - We Came To
(Groovy retro deep house)
5. Gardens & Villa - Gypsy
(Yes, the Fleetwood Mac classic)
6. Frankie Knuckles - You Make Feel (Mighty Real)
(Yes, the Sylvester classic)
7. Asaf Avidan - One Day/Reckoning Song
(2012 smash remix of 2008 release)
8. SOHN - The Wheel
 (Gorgeous and hard to categorize)
9. Luke Potter - We're Alive
(Lenny B Extended Remix)
10. The Rapture - Sail Away
(Digitalism 2012 Remix)

MORE FAVORITES:
Kolombo - Don't Be Shy 
Poolside - Why You Wanna
Slowdance - Boyfriend

Here's the radio mix of Luke Potter track, the extended version of which I can only find on Spotify. It was the song of Key West this week.

Glee Has A Kiki

With help from Sarah Jessica Parker and Shangela.

(Via Towleroad)

Scissor Sisters Announce Breakup

Last night in London, Scissor Sisters announced that the band is going on an indefinite hiatus.

The New York band performed their second of two nights at the North London venue, playing an extended set as a thank you to fans - announcing their separation towards the end of the show. Frontman Jake Shears told the audience "This will be the last time we will play in London for quite some time," after Ana Matronic thanked London fans, saying the UK audience was "The ones who got us first - and always get us best." Following the show, band members confirmed to Gigwise that there were currently no plans for the band to return to the studio to record a follow up to their 2012 album, Magic Hour. Guitarist Del Marquis reveals he has solo work in the pipeline and Ana Matronic is close to completing work on a comic book project. The flamboyant singer reassured fans that this was not the end of Scissor Sisters, telling Gigwise "Don't you worry - this isn't the last you've heard of us," at the official after party, held at Camden's Lock Tavern.

Scissor Sisters formed in 2001. Since then they've released four albums, scoring three #1 US dance chart singles and landing ten tracks in the British Top 20.  I Don't Feel Like Dancin', their monster hit from 2006, reached #1 in more than a dozen countries.

UDPATE: Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears is telling fans on Twitter that this is not a permanent breakup. "It's just a break!"

Sydney Mardi Gras Has A Kiki

Scissor Sisters Score Third US #1

This is their third dance chart #1, following Filthy/Gorgeous (2005) and Fire With Fire (2010).

Scissor Sisters At The DNC

After the conclusion of the convention last night, NYC council candidate Corey Johnson and I cabbed to Charlotte's boisterous club district for an unadvertised private concert by the Scissor Sisters, who opened by advising the mostly straight audience: "If you've never heard of us, it's because you aren't British or gay."

Track list from their abbreviated set: Shady Love, Let's Have A Kiki, Take Your Mama Out, I Don't Feel Like Dancing, and Comfortably Numb. The Sisters were the first act on the bill and we took off as the place got jammed and rap/dance artist Pitbull took the stage.

Outside the club, I overheard some attendees puzzling over what they'd just seen. One girl said, "I don't know what a kiki is, but now I totally want to have one." (Big thanks to Zach Wahls for tipping me about the show.)

Scissor Sisters: This Is How You Kiki

Today the Scissor Sisters released an "instructional video" to support their unexpected smash album track, which is outselling the official single. Look at Jake strut in that mesh tank top!

Scissor Sisters: Kiki Remixes

As an album cut from the latest Scissor Sisters release is blowing up huge in the clubs, Universal has rushed out five remixes of Let's Have A Kiki. Below is the Danny Verde Remix, which is very much in the style we once called "the big room mix." Other mixes here.

Scissor Sisters Have A REAL Kiki

Last night the Scissor Sisters played Terminal 5 in Hell's Kitchen where an already ecstatic (and virtually all-male) audience went nuts when during their current club smash, Let's Have A Kiki, the band brought out Justin Bond of the legendary cabaret act Kiki & Herb. We literally screamed in delight and later at the XL after party I got to chat with Justin who was thrilled with the reception she got. We didn't stay long at the after party, but my loyal companion Aaron and I left marveling at the Limelight Disco 2000-esque crowd of club kids, dragoons, and general wildness. We both had thought that scene was long gone and we simultaneously felt very old and very pleased.

RELATED: Terminal 5 is my favorite Manhattan concert venue in part because they usually manage to keep the place fairly cool no matter how jammed the room may be. But not last night, where it was murderously hot in the balconies. To put it in terms San Franciscans may relate to, it was 4am at Real Bad hot. It was holiday weekend Pleasuredome rear disco hot. That's how hot it was.

Let's Have A Video Kiki

Dan Avery tips us to a brilliant video take on my favorite track of the summer.

We thought we loved Scissor Sisters’ “Lets Have a Kiki,” when we first heard it last month. But we didn’t know love until we saw this inspired video remix by Boston party people Craig MacNeil and Blythe Russo, the folks behind Videodrome Discothèque. As Stefan would say, it’s got everything—drag queens, Lilly Tomlin, Cher’s fitness videos, John Travolta in a wig. It’s epic.

Naughty language warning.

Scissor Sisters - Baby Come Home

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of Fly Life, today's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to any stop on the Scissor Sisters tour in support of their brand new album, Magic Hour. Included in your prize is backstage access for a meet-and-greet session with the artists themselves. The North American tour launches in Las Vegas on June 15th and concludes in New York City. Get tickets here.Enter to win tickets to one of the concerts by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to include an often-checked email address in the text of your comment. Entries close at midnight on Thursday, west coast time. If you win but cannot attend a concert near you, your winning entry can be re-gifted to your favorite Scissor Sisters fan.

SPECIAL JMG EXCLUSIVE: Here is DJ Rich Morel's smoking remix of Only The Horses, the first break out track from Magic Hour!

Scissor Sisters: Jake Shears & Babydaddy Appear On Gay Times Magaz- fap fap fap

Via Towleroad.