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Best of stage 2011

This year we introduce a best of stage category running down some of our favs in theater, dance, drag and performance art. […]


GenderFantasy: A live review

GenderFantasy rehearsal photo by Wayne Bund.

My first thought upon leaving Kaj-Anne Pepper‘s first full length dance and performance art piece GenderFantasy was: “How in the hell do you clean that much glitter from beneath a foreskin?”

And though that question may be 70% joke, it actually says a lot about the absurd vs. mundane that GenderFantasy embodies so well. The piece, featuring 3 dancers in addition to Pepper, Lillian Rosetti, Michael Zero Reed, and Keyon Gaskin, begins with dancing you might recognize as current and, though I hesitate to say familiar, at least recognizable. But  the movements go beyond what we would generally call contemporary dance. Mostly this technique works, although occasionally I did wish for some longer stretches of repetition and synchronicity. And yet somehow, though you might not enjoy or be be comfortable with every dance, it does make a beautiful and interesting whole.  

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Interview with GenderFantasy’s Kaj-Anne Pepper

Kaj-Anne Pepper has been a performer, dancer, drag star and multi-modal artist in Portland for several years. We have come to expect great things and Pepper’s upcoming full length show, GenderFantasy, is highly anticipated. It opens this Thursday for a 4 day run at the Headwaters Studio (55 NE Farragut) and amidst the madness Pepper took a moment to talk with qPDX about his process, the show, and those involved in collaborative art. […]


‘Homomentum’ is back so grab your ‘Cub’ and get ready to ‘Do the Dark’

Riley and Flo sport matching denim onsies at Dirtbag

Thursday

Weekly or monthly, neighborhood or downtown Thursday is a night for favorites Dirtbag! and Drop Shop. I’ll be swillin’ at the perfect little party that could in one of my favorite just big enough locations on Alberta St. Of course, don’t forget the first night of artsy schmoozing at the exciting and all ages Siren Nation festival, which continues all weekend.

Friday

Homomentum: Rebels & OutlawsThe monthly variety show of thematic queer fabulousness is back from summer break with more mayhem and a new location. Downtown’s Fez Ballroom (SW 13th and Stark) should be a much better venue with more room for watching than last year’s now defunct E Room. I have been especially devoid of Catitude in my life lately and I can’t wait to see what they do with such a rebellious theme. Little Tommy Bang Bang & Slim Pickins, Swagger and the long missed All of the Above, should also have some hilarity mixed with hotness that I just can’t wait for.

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A weekend of ‘Candy’, ‘Culture’ and ‘Gaycation’

Little Tommy Bang Bang host Mrs Sloppy Seconds

Thursday

Culture Machine @ Disjecta – That oh-so-hip warehouse art space by the Dancin’ Bare and the Paul Bunyon actually is as cool as it seems. It certainly doesn’t hurt that one of our head homos, Kaj-Anne Pepper, will be part of the invading troupe. Culture Machine is a dance performance (and research tank) that is performed and created by Tahni Holt along with Kaj-Anne Pepper, Robert Tyree, Sallie Garrido-Spencer, Thomas Thorson, Suzanne Chi, and Dicky Dahl. It’s like a big queer DJ combined with a Reed thesis expressed through dance.

Drop ShopSultry new queer/stripper love hip hop night goes around for its second week. Was there any booty bouncing last week? Cuz I’m in the mood to shake my laffy taffy.

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Butch Voices comes to Portland

Ivan Coyote, Anna Camilleri and Lyndell Montgomery perform Swell
Ivan Coyote, Anna Camilleri and Lyndell Montgomery perform Swell

Ivan Coyote, Anna Camilleri and Lyndell Montgomery perform Swell

Bringing together a grand spectrum of masculinities Butch Voices Regional Conference comes to P-Town this weekend as part of its four state tour. The gathering butchies celebrate a vast array of identities.

We are woman-identified Butches. We are trans-masculine Studs. We are faggot-identified Aggressives. We are noun Butches, adjective Studs and pronoun-shunning Aggressives. We are she, he, hy, ze, zie and hir. We are you, and we are me. The point is, we don’t decide who is Butch, Stud or Aggressive. You get to decide for yourself.

This convention is part party, learning experience, performance and part art. It opens tonight with a A Taste of Butch Flavor art exhibition at the Q Center (4115 N Mississippi) with live music featuring a reunion of Portland’s all-womyn percussion troupe, The Rhythm Givers, with special guests. The exhibit will be up throughout the month.

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Homomentum returns for a second and wants your audition

Your gay heroes have returned for Season 2. Photo by Ally Picard/BloodHound Photography

Back from a summer hiatus, Homomentum returns this November to a new night and a new home at the Fez Ballroom!  Homomentum: a queer cabaret showcases queer dance, burlesque & performance-art, with tons of glitter and ridiculousness at every turn! The Homomentum series will begin Friday, November 5th with “Rebels & Outlaws” and continue […]


Brand spankin' new and old 'Pony' favorites, a 'JunKtion' of stuff to do this weekend

Sword and Fern's Mt. Saint Helen's Necklace and Same Dream Necklace

Um, so gee, we’re late this week. I hope that doesn’t mean you missed the 2nd installment of the new queer night Cafeteria at my local Vendetta last night. I sure didn’t. While I didn’t see any lunch trays (get on it boys! Atmosphere!) I saw plenty of crunk gays getting down on that tiny dancefloor. The music was a great mix of oldies, 90s, and today…but mixed way more elegantly than an adult contemporary radio station.

But hey neighbors…can we please keep the patio open just one more hour? As soon as everyone arrives just before 11 the doors shut and it becomes a familiar oven. Someone really needs to develop the technology to harness the energy greated from the body heat of club kids. It’ll be cleaner than coal. I promise.

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New music video from drumcore mavens STLS

STLS

Check out the drumazingness put forth by local queerions STLS. Their genre-making drumcore duo, comprised of Lisa Schonberg (Explode Into Colors) and sts (The Haggard, Cadallaca) will blow your mind away with their dueling kits.

The pair are going on tour on the west coast this September to celebrate the upcoming release of their 7″ (I didn’t even know anyone still did that…) on Sept 7th on Kill Rock Stars.

For just a taste check out the video below, complete with amazing dance moves by Janet Pants.

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The weekend picks include homeSICK, queerbait!, and 'One Night Stand'...all for your dirty dirty desires

Jimme Jamma brings down the haus with homeSICK, Saturday. Photo by Peter Sorfa.

Thursday

A-Wol Dance Collective presents Art in the DarkFit, beautiful amazing women dancing and flying through the air. And I hear that background looks like a giant fabric vagina.

Whip Cream Olympics at Red Cap – Yet another Red Cap party that some will be titillate some and disgust others, this is a week long championship of feats of athleticism involving that sweet, fluffy treat.

Friday

Pre-funk with DJ Lunch Lady – Low key Killingsworth coffee shop red e (1006 North Killingsworth) is one of my new favs, (even though I also love the nearby CoffeeHouse 5) and DJ Lunch Lady will be at the helm for an early evening art opening. I heard that his inaugural Cafeteria party at Vendetta was off the chain, so combine that with free alcohol and it’s the perfect start to your weekend.

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