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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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  Former Sleater-Kinney frontwoman Corin Tucker (center) now leads her own band at MFNW this Wednesday night Portland’s big music festival, MusicFest NW, begins tomorrow spewing hip PDX-approved music of many genres over multiple days. And though the conglomeration of music love and music snobbery come in all flavors, they are gleefully mixed. So I’d like to shed some light on the performers dear to a gay audience you won’t want to miss as you delve into the fray.
Wednesday
Corin Tucker Band at Mississippi Studios
Well loved as a founding member of seminal OlyWa grrl punk band Sleater–Kinney, Corin Tucker‘s new project takes stage the first night of the fest at Mississippi Studios. Softer and with more poise and maturity Tucker still infuses her singer/songwriter new work with her signature vibrato and sass.
Friday
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  Poison Waters The Stark Street triangle may not wholly belong to us gays anymore, but we’re at least invited to the grand opening celebration of the newest gentrification venture, the new McMenamins Crystal Hotel.
The three days of celebration, starting today, features musical performances by the Corin Tucker Band tonight and ends daily with headliner M. Ward at the Crystal Ballroom.
Local drag legend Poison Waters also hosts a daily free performance at 5:30 at Al’s Den in the basement of the new hotel.
Check out the full schedule below:
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  Aubree Bernier-Clarke Local filmmaker and musician Aubree Bernier-Clarke (who you might recognize from her former band Swan Island, or more recently her cameo in Portlandia‘s “Dream of the 90s“) has been churning out the videos for queer muscians. She recently teamed up with Toronto based queer folk chanteuse Emma McKenna to direct the music video for “Run With It” and the Corin Tucker Band (Sleater-Kinney) for their song “Riley.”
Filmed partially in a tiny and quaint practice space the CTB vid also shows of some of Portland’s best features, including a nice segment on the Skidmore Bluffs. Their new album, 1000 Years, didn’t initially excite me very much, at least not in comparison to Tucker’s rockin’ roots, but it’s grown on me enough that I named it as one of 2010’s top ten queer albums.
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  Bloc Party's Kele Okereke released his own album this year which landed at number 6 on the qPDX list There was a lot of good music this year and better yet lots of it was local. I may be a little biased, then, in this list, but we’re the queer Northwest…That’s the point. So I don’t apologize for that the musicians in charge of 4 of the top 10 best queer albums call Portland home.
10 – Logan Lynn – I Killed Tomorrow Yesterday
Occasionally a little too retro gay dance party local Logan Lynn’s newest album still commands a danceable pop beat. He puts on a great show with perfectly placed live vocals for an electro show focused on audience excitement. I’m suprised he’s not more internationally known. Maybe he just needs to tour Europe. Oh, and I did I mention proceeds of the album go to charity? Yeah, I appreciate a feel good album for the music and the cause.
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