Need and Bangs reunion benefit – I know a lot of you will be here earlier in the night, but you can still dance it up after right?
No Shade – Yes, just keep going. No drama-rama party with a great mix of fabulous peeps. And I really love that they include some mixes to get you in the spirit. I’d totally play it at the pre-funk. Oh yeah, and in case you didn’t have enough Nolita already, she’ll be here too. And you can never get enough.
SOUL REVOLUTION:
A video document of Riot Grrrl’s ongoing legacy
*New, extended deadline: July 31!
Did Riot Grrrl (or any variety of DIY/punk feminism) change your life?
Whatever gender you are, whether you’re in your 40s or in your teens, whatever punk rock feminism means to you—we want to hear from you.
We (Cat Tyc and Sara Marcus) are making an interactive video installation at girlstothefront.com, in conjunction with Sara Marcus’s book about Riot Grrrl, Girls to the Front, that’s coming out this fall. The point isn’t to wax nostalgic—or, at least, not to dwell in nostalgia; it’s to acknowledge and celebrate the countless ways that the legacy of Riot Grrrl is still very much alive in all of our lives. And we need your contribution to make this happen.
The Need's Rachel Carns with bandmate Radio Sloan in the background in an old school Oly alleyway
It has already been a summer of reunions, but Kaia Wilson doesn’t have the market cornered on dyke rock revival. Avant garde/metal/punk/hardrock scrappers The Need and fellow OlyWa queercore riot grrls Bangs are back in the saddle for a special 3 day benefit in the Seattle, Olympia and Portland this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We get the weekend night, at Berbati’s Pan (231 SW Ankeny St), so expect it to be packed.
Comprised of the energetic and wide eyed drummer Rachel Carns, and the more introverted sound producer dude and guitar god Radio Sloan, The Need were always a little out there, even within the lesbian music community. Their first release featured the vocal stylings and frenetic spoken word of independent filmmaker and performance artist Miranda July and Carns kept up the wild vocals and strange lyrics on their two album releases. They also collaborated in Olympia’s masterful summer 2000 rock opera The Transfused about a misfit band of animal people that were enslaved to the human corporate machine.
The crowd held up fingers to signify which contestant's booty they thought bounced the best.
I used to live a few blocks away from Porky’s and remember happening across the awesomeness that was Booty. Stars aligned last night as the old crew (now geographically scattered) hosted a fabulous reunion party complete with a booty-bouncing contest and double dutch jump roping! Check out pics here.
Just some of the super hot go go dancers, Chase Bender, Chance McKinsey, & Storm Titley, appearing at Queer Cornucopia
Looks like we are all finally recovered from Pride, because the weekends are back. There’s more than enough to keep you busy but the most exciting reunion of this week (cuz, yeah, there’s more comin’ up) is the return of Puppet and Stormy‘s Booty: Queer as Ye Be. But the past ain’t all the weekend, or Friday for that matter, have to offer. There’s foam, punchy go go dancers, and bar hopping unicorns.
Friday
Queer Cornucopia – The trannies and chasers are out in full force to hock their sexy wares in benefit of Tuff Luck andOriginal Plumbing and yet the best part is that it’s low pressure donation. Savory Pink‘s Sophia St Jameswanted the community to be able to “support TL and OP in a matter that they are comfortable [with]…” But you’ll want to contribute to these hotties as they dole out either kisses or punches. That’s right, it’s a very naughty “kissing” booth they’ve got goin’ on here and I have got to figure out a way to get back and forth from the south to the north.
In honor of San Francisco Pride, summer, and the 4th of July, I simply must share the latest, gayest internet meme (even if we did only here it about 1o times on our Cali road trip…I really expected about 100 but I could have been too drunk to remember). Oh yeah, and they kick some gay NYC ass…
Go go boys at the Red Cap Block Party. Photo by Mike Burt
Mike was shooting with such fancy equipment that it took awhile for him to really get all the galleries up, but they finally are! That also means that if you spot yourself in a shot we can most likely make a really nice print for you. If you’re interested just email me at alley@qpdx.com.
Wow – what a weekend. I don’t know about you, but I’m still recovering, and finding glitter in unexpected places. This year’s Pride was an amazing experience for me. Five nights, ten parties, two marches, and zero gay bashings or homophobic incidents (as far as we know). A vibrant, powerful and peaceful pride despite a lot of changes this year – to the Pride route, to step-off times…and weather that wasn’t quite what we’ve been hoping for. This also marked a change for us here @ QPDX.com as we slowly grow from a little website that could into the bigger, badder, and more powerful queer community media hub that we want to become.
We do what we do for you, our community, and we want to thank everyone who has supported us over the past year and a half in so many ways: Holding banners, running errands, making connections, t-shirts, costumes, stealing copies, blogging/photographing…all of it. Thank you for inspiring us to do more and do better, every day. Thank you for giving us hella gay stuff to write about.
Alright, enuff wishywashing. Let’s get down to the dirt!
Why are we constantly plagued with camera issues? A curse on both our houses? qPDX needs an equipment sugar daddy y’all…But for reals, I did at least get a few crappy shots from last night’s Gender Bender and Do the Dark. Even if I am more excited to see the portraits from Wednesday’s Gay Pizza, taken by the lovely Deya Card. Put ’em up girl!
The Dyke(ish?) March – Despite all the confusion and disorganization the Dyke March will trudge on in 2010. But be careful because it’s an hour earlier this year! Gathering at 5pm with a 6pm step off this parade of “dykes” is really more about celebrating Portland’s appreciation for and power of otherly gendered peoples, women, dykes, transpeople and other non-conformers. So what if it’s run into your ex-girlfriend march. You live in Portland. Get over it.
SMYRC’s Gayest Day of the Year Bike Ride – We get so wrapped up in our alcohol-fueled debauchery that we sometimes forget that wholesome activities that include youngsters can be just as amazing and Prideful. Not that I’m always so innocent when astride my trust lavender Bridgestone roadie Lola, but at least I can pretend.
Pride Pet parade – I’ve never been a good lesbian, as I have never owned by own dog or cat, (I mean, I’ve walked a dog so that cute girls will talk to me) but a queer lubba puppy and a cuddly kitteh so you know the folks will be out. Even if my favorite happen to be the Prideful goats, one of whom won the Just Out Pet’s category that I helped judge (oops! Is the cat out of the bag?)
*New, extended deadline: July 31!
