Music
He sang, she sang: many shows with stars of both genders

By Patrick MacDonald
Seattle Times music critic

Jessica Simpson

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Ladies first.

Jessica Simpson is everywhere these days, so it's no surprise that the sunny pop singer, star of MTV's smash reality show "Newlyweds," is coming to White River Amphitheatre tomorrow. And it seems right that one of her opening acts, Kimberly Locke, is a singer from another TV phenom, "American Idol."

Simpson is the impossibly beautiful, perky blonde who's easily flummoxed by such simple concepts as Chicken of the Sea tuna ("Is it chicken or tuna?") and buffalo wings ("Buffaloes have wings?"). Her hunk of a husband, singer Nick Lachey, mostly just rolls his eyes.

But while Simpson is the definition of ditzy, she does have a credible singing voice and a winning stage personality. Although her current "In This Skin" CD has sold 2 million, mostly on the strength of her cover of "Take My Breath Away," she doesn't have enough hits to mount a major tour, but you've got to strike while the iron's hot. Expect lots of stage business to cover up her lack of material.

Also on the bill is Ryan Cabrera, a new young singer who is managed by Simpson's father and is dating her younger sister, Ashlee Simpson, who's also now pursuing a singing career.

	DANIEL MAURER / AP Alanis Morissette, who co-headlines with Barenaked Ladies Sunday at the White River Amphitheatre, has a new album, "So-Called Chaos."

Alanis Morissette, who co-headlines with Barenaked Ladies Sunday at White River, had a taste of Jessica Simpson-like fame back in 1995, when her man-eating single, "You Oughta Know," became a sensation, especially the uncensored version.

But she wasn't able to sustain the momentum. Her career has gotten a boost, however, with a role in the film "De-Lovely" and her latest album, "So-Called Chaos," in which she does a complete turnaround and sings about love with the opposite sex. The album reached No. 5 on the Billboard chart and yielded a couple of hits, including the current "Everything."

Linda Ronstadt has the talent to sustain a career — she's been at it since 1967, when, as lead singer of the Stone Poneys, she had a big hit with "Different Drum." She's had a flourishing solo career since '68.

One of the finest singers ever in American popular music, she's been concentrating on Spanish-language albums in recent years. But she has gone back to pop on her current tour, which comes to Summer Nights at the Pier on Tuesday. Backed by an orchestra, she will feature standards and show tunes, and also sing her pop hits, with her band.

With the Indigo Girls, who play tonight and tomorrow night at the Pier, you get duet harmonies at their finest, and great solo singing, too. Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have been together for more than 20 years and developed a kind of musical communication that results in finely crafted harmonies and bracing lyrics. Their rapport with fans is magical. Opening for them is singer-songwriter Kim Richey.

	KATHY WILLENS / AP Guitarist Eric Clapton at Madison Square Garden in June. He'll be at KeyArena Tuesday, performing his rock and pop hits, and songs from his latest album, "Me and Mr. Johnson."

On the male side, you've got the old, the new, the loud and the blues.

Eric Clapton fits the first and last categories, as the legendary British singer-guitarist emphasizes the blues Tuesday at KeyArena.

As he approaches 60, Clapton fits ever more comfortably into the mold of the old bluesmen he idolized as a kid, most notably Robert Johnson. The very first recording he sang on was Johnson's "Rambling on My Mind" in 1966, when he was in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. In his long career, he's played Johnson's "Cross Road Blues" so often it's become his signature song.

On his latest album, "Me and Mr. Johnson," he goes all the way. Its 14 cuts are drawn from the 29 songs Johnson recorded back in the 1930s. It's an amazing CD, full of passion and fire.

Clapton, backed by an eight-piece band, will feature songs from it in the first half of his set, then play his more familiar rock and pop hits.

Opening is Robert Randolph & the Family Band, which will also sit in with Clapton on the encores. Randolph plays pedal steel guitar, creating a unique R&B sound.

	Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne, who brings his Ozzfest 2004 to White River on Tuesday, is a few years younger than Clapton but hasn't mellowed a bit. Ozzfest is still a wild ride, starring Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Slayer and other loud and crazy metal bands. With 14 acts on the bill, including such promising new ones as Lacuna Coil and Lamb of God, the show starts at the un-rock 'n' roll hour of 9 a.m.

Hoobastank, a relatively new band that's on its first headlining tour, plays tomorrow at the Paramount, with Phantom Planet opening. The melodic hard-rock band has a big hit with "The Reason," the title tune of its second CD. It's been in the Top 20 for 31 weeks.

The theater will be in its "flat floor" configuration, which means plenty of room for dancing, with most of the seating tucked under the floor.

More soothing music is promised in a couple of ZooTunes concerts: John Hiatt and Jon Dee Graham on Sunday and Bela Fleck & the Flecktones on Wednesday.

Hiatt is one of the most covered songwriters in pop. Inspired by his fine albums, artists of all kinds have recorded his songs. Many of the best were collected last year on Vanguard Records' "It'll Come to You: The Songs of John Hiatt," with contributions from Linda Ronstadt, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson.

Opening for Hiatt is Jon Dee Graham, a former punk rocker from Austin turned singer-songwriter.

Fleck is one of the finest musicians in folk. He has single-handedly transformed the banjo into a versatile instrument through his innovative playing and the use of electronics. His band members are equally versatile and talented. You can't go wrong with Bela Fleck.

And finally there's Hootie & the Blowfish, getting all mellow Thursday at Marymoor Park, with fellow mellow musician John Eddie as opening act.

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312 or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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