Vintage Q: The Singing Bois
June 7, 2017
Vintage Q
Queer retro musicians sing about the future of gender
East Side Arts Alliance 2277 International Blvd Oakland 94606
wheelchair accessible
7:30pm
$12, no one turned away for lack of funds
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vintage-q-the-singing-bois-dena-underwood-in-concert-tickets-33952306262
Performing Arts (Music)
The Singing Bois and Dena Underwood present an evening-length concert of queer retro music, performing sounds of the past with a look toward the futures of gender expressions. Through powerhouse vocals, masterful instrumentals, and a healthy dose of sexy swagger, the artists share stories reflecting a range of queer masculinities.
The Singing Bois will debut original songs exploring contemporary questions about gender, sexuality, and desire voiced through genres such as soul, rock, country, and old-school pop. They will also showcase inventive covers of classic songs, queering their original narratives by interpreting them through gendered, sexual, and racial bodies that are often ignored in mainstream media. The Singing Bois will be backed by a full band of guest artists, making Vintage Q a high-energy showcase not to be missed.
Philadelphia-based Dena Underwood will open the show with a solo set of jazz covers and originals. Performing a combination of covers and originals, Underwood’s set will highlight her distinctive voice and virtuosic keyboard skills. This is a rare chance for Bay Area audiences to experience Underwood’s work.
Biographies
Photo: Catrina Marchetti
THE SINGING BOIS is a queer retro quartet based in Oakland. Part boy band and part Rat Pack, they create spaces for masculine-of-center and POC musicians within new and classic styles such as R&B, soul, rock, jazz, and Latin genres. Twisting gender expectations, the band blends musical precision, playful staging and sexy swagger. Known for their unique interpretations of songs by artists ranging from Sam Cooke to Selena, The Singing Bois tell queer, butch, and trans stories through song. They have performed at a variety of Bay Area venues including El Rio, SOMArts, Studio Grand, Galería de la Raza, MAPP, UC Santa Cruz, The Women’s Building, the National Queer Arts Festival, and the Fresh Meat Festival. www.thesingingbois.com.
DENA UNDERWOOD is a vocalist and pianist from Philadelphia. Dena hones her craft under the coaching of Andy Kahn. Hailing from a family of gifted vocalists and instrumentalists, Dena’s passion for music began at an early age. Since graduating from the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, and studying Jazz Voice Performance at Temple University, Dena has performed at several venues, including The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Academy of Music and The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, World Café Live, Plays and Players Theatre, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and New York City’s Lincoln Center. Dena performs regularly as vocalist/pianist in the Philadelphia area.
