Folk-rock favorite and reigning Best Original Song Oscar winner Melissa Etheridge’s new CD The Awakening comes out tomorrow, but her Houston fans can get a preview at 9 p.m. tonight at the Hard Rock Café, 502 Texas Avenue in Bayou Place. The Awakening is Etheridge’s first LP since 2004’s Lucky, and first since recovering from breast cancer – her comeback began in memorable fashion at the 2006 Grammy Awards when, shaved head and all, she stole the show with a passionate rendition of Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart.” Tonight’s listening party is free (doors at 8 p.m.), but donations for various breast-cancer charities will be accepted, copies of The Awakening will be given away, and a guitar signed by Etheridge will be raffled off. – Chris Gray
This article appears in Sep 20-26, 2007.
