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  Brownstein belting it out at Wild Flag's record release party at the Doug Fir Wednesday Nov 9th. Photo by Taylor Hatmaker Local super group sensations Wild Flag have just released their self-titled debut album and are still in the process of celebrating it will a string of 3 shows. Yesterday saw an all ages in store at Jackpot Records as well as the first of two shows at the Doug Fir.
Tonight sees the second that the bands and audience are gearing up for as we speak. So to get excited for those of you who are going, to relive for those of you there last night, or to catch a glimpse for those of you not able to attend at all (i.e. me) fellow blogger Taylor Hatmaker was able to catch some really great snapshots of last night’s show the she was willing to share here below the break.
I’m finding their Freshman release to be good, though not as earth-shattering as what I may have hoped from a lineup that includes some of my most treasured high school band crushes. Then again, I’m much more cynical and discerning than I was in high school so maybe the album is every bit as good as I thought Sleater-Kinney was in the 90s. Judge for yourself. You can stream the whole Wild Flag album at on their Merge record label website.
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  Brendan Scott aka DJ Pocket Rock-it. Photo by Dan Ostergren Every week we introduce you to a local LGBTQ party DJ and ask them about their experiences in the scene and feature an audio mix they’ve made. If you’re interested in being featured contact alley@qpdx.com.
DJ Pocket Rock-it may have taken a break from residencies at clubs such as Red Cap but he’s certainly been popping up all over the place as a guest at queer parties, club nights and fundraisers. This weekend you can catch him at Bent, North Portland’s biggest queer/dyke night. This Friday’s edition features all kinds of interesting guests on the decks in addition to the Rock-it such as Mr. Charming (Gaycation), Kasio Smashio (Deep Cuts), DJ Bender (Crave/Sluts N’ Squares) and, of course the lady killers Roy-G-Biv and Jodi Bon Jodi.
When and how did you get started DJing?
I was interested in the concept and decided to buy a book on the subject. Later, I bought some turntables and started practicing. After a couple of months of practicing, I made a mix and took it to different venues trying to get a night. The rest is history.
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 Glitterfruit working their magic. Max Voltage and Riley Ciara La Roux dusted the audience at In Other Words Saturday evening with their Glitterfruit as the duo dug into a handful of instruments during their debut full length show, Fruitillion.
Opening with “Nirvaga,” a mash-up of Nirvana’s “Come as you are” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” Glitterfruit did get into a little bit of everything – with numbers induced with camp, cabaret and circus style. Their set included the electric violin, bass, accordion, mandolin and ukulele with each taking turns at vocals. La Roux at one point quipped, “We’re a five person band with two people.”
The music varied – for “Girl on the Side,” a song that came from a friend named Willis in Brooklyn, it was all about well, being a girl on the side. La Roux playfully croons, “You are busy as a honeybee, sweet as syrup from the maple tree and all I want to know is want to kick it on the side with me?”
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  Patty Schemel's 'Hit so Hard' screens Thursday This 5th edition of Siren Nation, a celebration of women in music, art, and film and takes over many venues throughout this weekend. They’ve had some great music acts over the years, including a Team Dresch reunion that was not to be missed. This year the fun begins with an epic looking art show at the Albina Press opening Thursday. It features over 40 local artists including the fabulous Alicia Rose and occasional qPDX photo contributor Anna Campbell. Tunes from DJ Safi will set the stage for the weekend at this all ages event.
This year also has a much more robust film portion in comparison to former years, kicking off with Hit So Hard: The Life and Near Death of Patty Schemel. It’s the perfect combo to exemplify the fest encompassing both music and film. When it premiered in Portland at QDOC last June we not only reviewed the film but interviewed the former Hole drummer. So go ahead and read or even listen to audio of Patty Schemel talking Hit So Hard to get excited because Schemel herself, along with producer Christina Soletti will be live and in person to for a special Q&A after the Thursday screening. And visit the SN site for previews and trailers of the rest of the incredible lineup including animation from local Laika studios and several films premiering in PDX for the first time.
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  Wayne Bund's photo series 'The Bathers' opens Saturday at East End Check back for our preview of Siren Nation festival, which will encompass the entirety of the weekend. As if you didn’t have enough to work with below.
Thursday
Thursday may not see a whole bunch of new nights but there’s always the stellar, incredibly danceable and Smiths-loving Dirtbag! at the Know (with special guest DJ Ill Camino) and the mellower Bobby Jo Valentine just down Alberta street making his Portland debut and the popular St Johns Thursday night gay hangout Sweet Tea where you can drink in southern style for only 4 bucks.
Friday
Deep Cuts – Only in its second iteration, DP has already become a music conisseurs good time. Good music without pretentiousness this party is hip and fun without being the kind of hip and fun that makes you uncomfortable, nervous and…no fun. I think that’s proved well enough by this week’s DJ of the Week, which profiles Cuts’ special guest DJ L-Train.
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  L Train concentrating hard in the DJ booth Every week we introduce you to a local LGBTQ party DJ and ask them about their experiences in the scene and feature an audio mix they’ve made. If you’re interested in being featured contact alley@qpdx.com.
DJ L Train has an irreverent outlook to getting behind the decks, as you can tell from both her name and her pictures. This laid back and fun attitude serves her well as regular nights at the gayish venues of the P Club and Aalto Lounge. But the Train likes to make some scheduled stops at other party stations such as this Friday’s Deep Cuts, which stars two former DJs of the Week, Bruce LaBruiser and Kasio Smashio.
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  Zombie cheerleaders are a perfect outfit for 'Haunted Cafeteria' and more proof that Halloween is the gayest holiday Thursday
Haunted Cafeteria – School daze goes spooky so have your dead cheerleader costumes and Carrie style pigs blood ready for this party that has it’s little neighborhood venue bursting at the seems every month. And the man behind it all? Well, that would be our DJ of the Week, your adorable LunchLady.
Friday
Wicked Awesome cover bands party – This half dance party half cover band show is truly going to be epic. You can read all about it in yesterday’s interview with creator Freddie Fagula.
Q Center & Crush present Mas-Q-Rade – Perhaps more of a gentile or at least community feel to Halloween in the oh-so-swanky-dark tomb of Crush. They always have interesting drink specials so it will be interesting to see what they come up with for Halloween. I’m expecting smoke.
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  Wicked Awesome's Freddie Fagula There’s plenty of gay Halloween happenings this weekend but one of the most different and fun is Friday’s Wicked Awesome. This 2 level party features costumed dancing upstairs and a host of amazing cover bands downstairs. Even the music is in the spirit of dressing in disguise! But it’s still awesome, wicked awesome, because it mixes the skills of our local talent with the fun of past pop songs, and brings together those who like to dance with those who just like to listen. So basically, it’s the Halloween party for everybody. I had an amazing time last year as well as at it’s similar predecessor All Homo’s Eve. So read the interview with organizer Freddie Fagula below to find out what all the fuss is about and I’ll see you Friday. Because you’ll regret it if you don’t go.
qPDX: What gave you the idea of a Halloween party centered around cover bands?
Freddie Fagula: Olympia! Halloween cover bands show every year at the Capital Theater. So fun. All the punks and the queers and hipsters together. I moved here and had some lack-luster Halloweens in Portland and decided that was what was missing. Wicked Awesome is gay-er, but has a lot of the same spirit.
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  Another release from Portlandia darling Carrie Brownstein‘s new band Wild Flag, the video for “Electric Band” is another fun and Stumptowny exercise in hipster comedy. The concert on the softball/baseball diamond is pretty gay, and reminds us all of the recently lost summer. All the ladies are visions in their (modified or not) vintage tees and Brownstein is especially hot behind home base as the catcher of a bursting water balloon.
Timony also takes a bigger vocal role in this song, which is a nice change of pace, and a lovely reminder of her lilting Helium voice.
A little insight into the video from Brownstein comes via NPR:
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  DJ Action Slacks. Photo by Annie Maribona qPDX is starting a new feature! Every week we will introduce you to a local LGBTQ party DJ and ask them about their experiences in the scene and feature an audio mix they’ve made. If you’re interested in being featured contact alley@qpdx.com.
This week’s DJ of the Week is something like a repeat. This is for two reasons. Firstly, I’ve had a busy week and a bit under the weather. More importantly, however, DJ Action Slacks‘ profile was one of the most popular so far and definitely the most shared when it was originally published. This weekend she’s at the helm of a bigger night. Only in its third incarnation, SugarTown queer soul party is the best new queer night with a distinctly non-pop music focus.
As I said previously the Slacks distinct music and fashion sense is pretty much my favorite right now and I have a sneaking suspicion that this party might turn out to be 2011?s best new night.
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