It's worth your time to watch the faces of the America's Got Talent judges as they a) ponder the name of contestant Storm Large ("that's my real name," she says, good-naturedly to these folks who, honestly if they knew anything about music would already know who she is); b) realize that the chick can actually sing and not just sing — belt and wail and wrestle a tune to the floor like her life depends on it; and c) Storm reveals she's 51 years old and Sofia Vergara says, "You look great!" Yes, she does. She is great. Period.
Storm Large Sings an Unbelievable Cover of "I've Got You Under My Skin" - America's Got Talent 2021 youtu.be
Storm Large shouldn't need any introduction at all, but please take your time getting acquainted with this omnisexual goddess-songstress because she is headed to Chandler Center For the Arts. If you don't live in Arizona, don't despair. Storm tours widely and frequently and you'd be doing yourself a huge favor to see her play live either with Pink Martini or one of her own shows. Here is my conversation with her:
America's Got Talent 'wildcard'! Did that bring you a whole new audience?
Storm: Yeah, that was very, very interesting. Strange, strange crook in the road.
I see a lot of people in the comments on YouTube saying 'I never knew about this woman. Where has she been all this time?'
Storm: I know. Actually, it wasn't the massive [exposure] you would think, I mean, I definitely got — in that first audition they aired — a massive thrust ... I was on Good Morning America and people were like, 'Who is this woman? Blah blah blah blah.' But I've been a professional musician for 30 years, so I have tens of thousands of fans who are just like, 'We've known about her for a long time.' It was funny. They're very protective and defensive. And then America's Got Talent kept saying, 'She's been waiting for her big break for 30 years,' and my fans are just like, 'No she's not! I saw her at Carnegie Hall twice! She's fine!' I got a lot more attention 16, I think 17 years ago when I was on Rockstar Supernova because I was on television nonstop for three months.
But I mean, America's Got Talent is a massive, massive machine. And so when they called me and were really keen on having you on the show, I was like, Oh, I don't need to be on TV. I'm fine. It seems awfully greedy, actually of me.
The look on Heidi Klum's face when you cracked open "Under My Skin" was priceless.
Storm: It was really fun. And I honestly didn't expect to go much further than the audition because there's so many incredibly talented, beautiful, beautiful souls and wonderful people I hung out with backstage. One of my dearest friends, Jimmy Harrell, who went all the way to the finals, where the best singers I've ever heard in my entire life. ... And then thankfully I got released back into the wild where I'm more comfortable. [Laughs]
Storm Large Sings a STUNNING Rendition of "Take On Me" by A-Ha - America's Got Talent 2021 youtu.be
I've seen you perform live and you do roam free and it's special, and it's not just your singing. It's the way you tell stories. It's the strength of what you're saying, and your connection with the audience. Tell me how you've gotten by during this rough pandemic.
Storm: It's been very existential for all artists, especially performers, and as a musician, especially when you're just beginning, you are trying to cobble together any gig, trying to get any audience to come and and trying to get the word out. And you're working three service jobs, all of which disappeared for the first complete year. And so I can't imagine the desperation of young artists starting out. I, fortunately, have been working a long time, and I'm always saving catastrophically for an injury or illness. And so I was all right. I mean, I'm broke but I'm not on the street. I'm working again. But for me, it was very existential. It was: If I can't do what I do, I mean, I'm not an artist in some altruistic sense of [femme voice] 'Oh, how do I express myself or else I'll just fade away!' No.
I have a big, lonely heart and art and music and performing live has always been my salvation. It's my service, it's my connection. It's how I make others feel connected and thus myself connected and purpose-driven. Because I can make people feel better. I can make people remember, forget, heal, forgive—and it's universal.
I did a little bit of virtual stuff, online stuff. Thank God, we have the technology to at least do that. The first year, my best friend growing up, her father passed from COVID and she was like my sister. She was surrogate family and so I just got in my car and drove cross-country from Portland to Massachusetts and helped her that whole summer with with the details and just support.
And she supported me and it was, you know, a tough time for everyone. And so to be useful in any way was a great gift. And then the second year started to lighten up a bit. We started to get our fingers around it and more vaccinations and more understanding. And so I started playing live again a little tiny bit in dribs and drabs. And now we're back to the races. And the thing that I hope most people get out of [the pandemic] is how connected we really are. How the best way to get through it is to remember it's not just happening to you. It happened to all of us, which sucks. But it's also good because it hopefully will encourage a little bit of empathy between warring factions, typically disagreeing people, that we're all human and we're all frail, and none of us do well with uncertainty.
You're born in the year of Woodstock. You've been a survivor your whole life. You wrote a great memoir about dealing with your mother's mental illness and how that affected you. I think you were better equipped than many to deal with this pandemic. What's your ultimate psychological and philosophical takeaway?
Storm: All the bullshit layers have been peeled away and the frailty and the corruption in all government on all sides, no matter how you've ever voted; a lot of people are white knuckling around their own beliefs. Thank goodness there's a humongous younger generation. They're like, 'Yeah, no. It's all crap. It's all bullshit. And we have to hold them accountable.' And now we can because there is no hiding. There is no lying. I mean, there's a lot of lying, but there is no kind of denying the truth anymore. And that's that's what is adding to the panicked power grabs that we're seeing. But I do hope it's the death of the old guard. But yeah, I can't go back. There is no, 'go back to normal.' No. You know, normal got all those young, unarmed Black people killed. Normal is people dying in emergency rooms because they don't have insurance, losing their homes because they don't have proper insurance. And, you know, fuck normal. Normal is absolutely unjust and imbalanced, and normal is what got us here. So I don't want that anymore.
Can I ask you a little bit about mental health? Because that's one of the other things you've always been completely unflinchingly honest about. And yet it's only now trending as a real concern.
Storm: I know people whose lives have been absolutely saved by medication. I have considered it. I have not taken that step. I'm doing everything to avoid it just because I have distrust in Western medicine because it's absolutely destroyed my mother. But my mother was a very special case. But mental health, when I first wrote Crazy Enough, 10 years ago, people were starting to be open about it. But it really is such a life-changing, life-saving trend and it's a point of pride to be transparent. And when I did the first Crazy Enough performance I was worried it was going to seem to be navel-gazing, why would anyone want to hear a stupid, sad story, they just wanna see boobs and hear rock 'n' roll... and then what ended up happening was so many people to this day come up to me and say 'I feel less alone, it saved my life...'
Another thing you've been honest about is your sexual orientation. Wikipedia says you are bisexual but I have heard you dislike that label for you. Tell me more.
Storm: I had a big argument one time with a gay publication and they said, 'So you say your sexuality is omnivorous?' And I said, yes, my technical term for my sexuality is 'opportunistically omnivorous.' And he said, 'What does that mean?' And I said, Well, it means I'm lazy, and if it tastes good, I'll eat it. And he said, 'So you're bi.' And I said, No, I am what I have told you that I am because that, my friend, is equality. That's what we're all fighting for: I get to say, I get to be. I am a consenting adult and I can receive affection and attention and love and sex. I was like, You know, this morning, I jerked off. So today I'm I-sexual so you can write that down. And he wrote down — in parentheses — 'she's bisexual.' Because he was just just snippy and he wanted me to be filed in a container...
My physical yearnings are very emotionally based and very sensually based. I can get sexual gratification from any type of body, any type of person. I am stimulated in certain ways, and that is private and that is personal. And many lesbians find bisexuals completely annoying because women fall in love really fast and ... you're a risk. You're an emotional risk. So I understand the emotional hesitancy to totally embrace someone who may break your fucking heart. I get that. And maybe super-gay-identifying people won't totally admit that that's where it's coming from. I had a woman get really angry at me because she thought I was queer and saw me making out with a guy and called me a breeder and then said she didn't like my band anymore. And so I said, So how is that any different from a frat boy finding out that you don't like dick and calling you a disgusting dyke and he can kick your ass? ... I will always fight for sexual freedoms as long as it's consenting adults, victimless, and it fucking feels good because, my God, life is hard. And if you can fucking feel good, God bless you!
And have you found love?
Storm: I have a lot of love in my life. I don't have a partner, a singular partner, but I have fun where I can. I would love to be in a love relationship with a singular person. I'm kind of wired to be monogamous. But my job is not really conducive to that at the moment. But I've never ruled anything out. Really, the trick is to just really love and honor yourself, and whatever comes is wonderful.
Tell us about the tour. Which Storm Large are audiences going to get?
Storm: They're going to get the pie-eyed optimist. They're going to get the hopeful heart. They're going to get the cheerleader for your higher self. The reminder that better times are ahead. Just as we've been through dark times, the light is coming and we're on our way.
And are you going to be rocking it out or being a lounge goddess?
Storm: [Laughs] Oh, I always kick some ass. I can't not.
STORM LARGE
February 18, 2022 at 7:30 pm
The sublime, subversive Storm Large returns to Chandler for a truly unforgettable night. Weaving together songs born of French cabaret, jazz standards and a handful of originals, she creates her own singular interpretations. * This show is recommended for mature audiences.
Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue. Tickets and info: chandlerarts.org
Storm Large Sings a STUNNING Rendition of "Take On Me" by A-Ha - America's Got Talent 2021 youtu.be
Michael Feinstein
Michael Feinstein has become an iconic singer of the modern era. He has entertained audiences and world leaders alike with his jazz standards. Recently he began working with Liza Minnelli to produce a unique stage show that celebrates her mother, Judy Garland's, 100th birthday.
Mr. Feinstein took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions and give us some insight into his creative process, the future of jazz, and the production of this one-of-a-kind show.
Why do you feel the classics still resonate today?
One of the things I love about the music that I primarily sing is that the songs transcend the time in which they were created. They truly are timeless in the sense that they still have incredible power and energy in what they convey to audiences. I always compare them to the timelessness of William Shakespeare or Beethoven or Michelangelo in that people don't experience any of those things and say they're old.
They still resonate with the heart and they have a contemporary sensibility because certain fundamental emotions are forever. The songs that I sing are so amazingly crafted that they're malleable and they can be performed and sung and may any different ways. And that's one of the reasons they survive because they're just adaptable.
And that's one of the fun things about it. Every time I sing one of these songs, it feels fresh to me. And I also know that there are maybe people in the audience who've never heard these songs before. So I'm mindful of trying to present them in their best suit. If you will.
Did Judy Garland influence you more when you were a kid or as an adult?
Judy Garland, what an amazing person; incredible performer. As a child, like most of my generation, anyway, I first became aware of Judy Garland in connection with the 'Wizard of Oz.' That movie was shown every year as an annual event on television. And we would always go to my aunt and uncle's house and watch it there because they had a color television. But the true art of Judy Garland was introduced to me later in my life, when I became aware of her many recordings and other films that she made at MGM, and she had two distinct careers. One was the 28 feature films she made at MGM from 1937 until she was unceremoniously fired by them in 1950.
Then there was her adult concert career from 1951 to 1969. In that period, she performed over 1100 concerts and made classic record albums. And that's such a rich period of American culture and also music. And so the show that I'm doing is a true celebration of the extraordinary joy she brought to her and the pathos and the sadness that's conveyed through the way she sang ballots. It's a multimedia celebration with home movies supplied by the family, a rare recording of hers singing acapella. And I accompany her on the piano that I actually discovered of a song no one had ever heard her sing before. So it's a, a rich program."
In your opinion, has jazz fallen by the wayside in contemporary music, or is it just reserved for a more distinguished crowd?
I think jazz falls into the same category as American popular song, the classic American popular song in that it will always survive, it will always have an audience and perhaps it's more specialized today, but it's the kind of music that people discover when they're a little bit older and then it becomes a permanent part of what they listen to.
Are there any modern songwriters who you feel could be as prolific as Mr. Gershwin?
Well, uh, I believe that Bob Dylan is incredibly prolific. There are many other songwriters who have a work ethic that produces a lot of material. Diane Warren, I'm told, writes every single day, The songwriter Michel Legrand composed, well over 200 film scores as he composed every day. So there are probably songwriters who wrote more than Gerwin, but will their songs be heard in a hundred years as widely as George Gershwins? That I don't know the answer to.
Do you think the best songs are written when the world is in turmoil or when it's more at peace?
Music always reflects the time in which it is created. Uh, if you look at the songs of world war II, the were lots of songs of patriotism that were very, um, what's the word --- jingoistic. Things like, 'Johnny get your gun, get your gun, get your gun.' All these songs about fighting for what's right. And those songs have not lived as long as the love songs that were written in that time.
For example, 'White Christmas' was written at a time when the world was just entering the second world war and that song has lived, and the patriotic songs, uh, have not worn well, even though the sentiment is there. They were very much of their time. I think that there is a certain kind of inspiration that comes out of turmoil. A lot of songs written during the American depression have become lasting standards.
Things like "As Time Goes By.' That was later featured in the movie 'Casablanca' and that sort of thing. So I think that good songs can be written in any time, but perhaps there's more, uh, passion conveyed when there are problems in the world,
Does music constantly play in my subconscious?
Absolutely. Yes. Music is always playing in my brain and that doesn't bother me because sometimes it's music. I know, and sometimes it's new music. That's how I, I come up with the idea for a tune. My friend, George Firth, who died a number of years ago was a brilliant librettist. He wrote the book for the Sondheim shows 'Merrily, We Roll Along,' and company. And he once said that anything that you're whistling or humming in your brain is a subconscious window to what one is really thinking about or what they're really feeling.
So if he ever heard anybody humming or whistling, he would say, what are you singing? What are you humming? He wanted to know the title of the song, because that was his armchair psychoanalysis of what that person was, was going through.
What will the audiences be treated to at the Scottsdale show?
Well, it's a centennial tribute to Judy Garland. And as I mentioned previously, it's multimedia with photographs that have never been seen before, this incredible home recording of Judy Garland, which I found in a house that she once lived in behind a fake wall.
It's just a weird story. Uh, so I'll be accompanying her in this song. So it's a world premiere of Judy Garland singing something that nobody's ever heard before. And I also sing a couple of things that were written for her that never saw the light of day.
And then a lot of familiar things. It's a celebration of the best of her MGM years, and then the concert years, the iconic Carnegie Hall show, and it's a very immersive experience, both, visually and emotionally. The audience reaction has been, spectacular, and I'm very grateful. The enormity of trying to pay tribute to someone with a career, as large as Judy Garland's certainly was not easy, but I feel like we've nailed it.
I had a team of people who helped to put it together, notably, Judy Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli, who executive produced the show and was very much influential in helping to shape what it's about. It celebrates the incredible art that she gave all of us. It doesn't delve into the tragedy because that's the tabloid stuff. But the reason people remember her at all is because of the talent. And so that's what I celebrate.
Thank you.
Show & Venue details:
Valley audience members can join Feinstein for this celebration of Judy Garland at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale, Arizona. There will be two concerts at 3 pm and 7 pm on Sunday, March 20, 2022. Tickets start at $79. For information click here or visit or call 480-499-TKTS (8587).
All guests age 12 and older must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test, taken within 72 hours of the performance date, along with photo ID, to attend performances. As an alternative, guests may provide proof of full vaccination. Masks are highly encouraged to protect artists, staff and patrons. For full health and safety protocols click here.
- Michael Feinstein to Share Gershwins' Legacy in Song - OutVoices ›
- Michael Feinstein to celebrate Judy Garland at Scottsdale Arts ... ›
Michael Feinstein will commemorate Judy Garland’s life on March 20 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.
Musical icon Michael Feinstein is coming to Scottsdale, Arizona on Sunday, March 20, 2022. His smooth voice and playlist of American standards will soothe audiences of all ages in this special live performance. Feinstein is known for having worked with George and Ira Gershwin, two of the most prolific songwriters in history.
His appearance in Scottsdale will pay tribute to another of entertainment's most iconic voices: Judy Garland. The actress and singer would have celebrated her 100th birthday this year. Her music still lives on in the hearts of millions.
Concert is Executive Produced by Liza Minnelli
Audiences are invited to join a nostalgic and spectacular musical exploration of Garland’s illustrious career. Executive produced by Liza Minnelli, this performance will be packed with special surprise moments as Feinstein honors Garland’s unparalleled talent and charisma.
This brand-new multimedia show features big screen film clips, never-before-seen photos, rare audio recordings, great music and good humor. Feinstein will lead you on a historical journey through Garland’s amazing life, telling stories he learned from Minnelli — Garland’s daughter — and from the legend’s close friends.
Audiences will be treated to recently discovered and previously unheard musical arrangements while gaining rare insight into the enduring Garland mystique.
“We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to celebrate the iconic Judy Garland on her 100th birthday, especially knowing the authenticity and love that went into this project with her daughter Liza Minnelli as the executive producer,” said Abbey Messmer, programming director at the center. “With the Ambassador of the American Songbook leading this journey, it’s certain that we’ll feel Judy’s spirit when we hear songs like ‘Get Happy’ and ‘Come Rain or Come Shine.’”
Photo courtesy of Michael Feinstein.
The Great American Songbook
Feinstein has built a dazzling career over the last three decades, bringing the music of the Great American Songbook to the world. From his multi-platinum-selling recordings that have earned him five Grammy nominations to his Emmy-nominated PBS television specials, his acclaimed NPR series and concerts spanning the globe.
Feinstein's New Album to Feature Music Icons
His live performances, film and television appearances, and 35 albums — including the upcoming release of “Gershwin Country,” featuring duets with country superstars like Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss and more — have made Feinstein an all-star force in American music.
Valley audience members can join Feinstein for this celebration of Judy Garland at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale, Arizona. There will be two concerts at 3 pm and 7 pm on Sunday, March 20, 2022. Tickets start at $79. For information click here or visit or call 480-499-TKTS (8587).
All guests age 12 and older must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test, taken within 72 hours of the performance date, along with photo ID, to attend performances. As an alternative, guests may provide proof of full vaccination. Masks are highly encouraged to protect artists, staff and patrons. For full health and safety protocols click here.
I think it’s fair to say we all want that #fitlife, especially with Spring around the corner — as well as Gaypril on the way. Whether it’s pool season yet or not, everyone would choose to look fit over not looking fit, if they could have it with a snap of their fingers. OK, the vast majority of us would.
If you’ve met me, or have been reading my articles, you know that I live, sleep, eat and breathe fitness; it’s my heart and soul. That being said, I’m here to tell you that the concept of “fitness” is oftentimes tragically misunderstood.
Before you get too aggressive with your goal for pool season, let’s dive a bit deeper into what fitness means on the inside versus what it looks like on the outside, and common misconceptions around this concept.
1. Beware of the cultural pitfalls and misleading information around fitness.
Most of the bodies you see in the media are probably not real, they just look very convincing. As a trainer who also moonlights as a photographer and Photoshop wizard, I’m telling you that it is incredibly easy to alter pictures in materially misleading ways. Once you know the tricks of the trade, the imposters are easily spotted. But that’s not what this is about.
The point is: to the untrained eye, it can be devastatingly defeating to see such impossible standards. It seems as though the cultural pressure to look a certain way, to look perfect, has spread all the way from runway models to fitness novices with the help of smartphone apps.
The truth is that we fitness models look that cut, and that lean for only a couple days at a time. That’s it! In many cases, months or even close to a year of training, dieting and programming all go into looking like that for ONE day. Let that sink in for a second. Day to day, I am less cut, less tan and much flatter muscularly than what you see in some of my pictures. That’s just the nature of the beast. So, when you have a bad day on the scale, in the mirror or in any other scenario, remember that we’re all human and that the most legitimate photos you’re comparing yourself against were from someone’s very best day. That should help to keep things in perspective.
2. Most people want the results, without actually doing the work.
Fitness is not six pack abs, it’s not superficial, it is not temporary and it’s not an isolated phase in your life. Further, fitness is not something you do for someone else, do to spite someone else or even to impress someone else.
Fitness is confidence, toughness, dedication, coordination, power, balance, speed, strength (both literally and figuratively) and persistence in the face of all obstacles. This includes control over your attitude, your mood, your sleep, your schedule, your diet and other aspects of your life. This means getting that workout in when you least feel like it.
It’s not easy, and it’s definitely a grind that has good and bad days. You must show up and keep working on the days you’re tired, stressed, rushed, defeated, doubtful, afraid and so on. The days you actually have to overcome something instead of just checking your workout off your to-do list are the days you have the greatest opportunity to really make progress, push your body and see the most improvement.
3. Fitness is really an internal mindset. The external physique is the fringe benefit.
I’ve said this time and time again, and it might sound strange coming from such an aesthetic-focused trainer, but you are not your body. Your body is a tool, it’s a means to an end, to express your internal mindset, belief system, discipline and dedication to your workout program. Your physique will come and go. Your strength will come and go. Your abilities will wax and wane depending on what you’re training for at the time.
The outside will, and should, be always changing, but the inside is what we’re really after here. Good trainers want to train you to believe in yourself when sh*t gets hard. We want to train you to be resilient in the face of injury, obstacles and other setbacks. We want you to set ambitious goals and shoot for the moon because you can get there with smart programming and relentless will (do yourself a favor and ditch the crash diets and the photo editing software).
So, as you make your spring preparations for swimsuit season, try focusing on developing a sterling, unshakeable internal character and the muscles will come along the way, this I promise you.