To see some truly great bands you’ve got to be willing to party mid-week. And for the likes of electro-politico-indie-dance-rockers MEN it’s work any Thursday morning hangover. Headed by frontqueer JD Samson (Le Tigre), the trio are touring with their triumphant freshman album release Talk About Body, bringing it to Rotture (315 SE 3rd) tomorrow night.
As the DJ and the MC spice up the beginning, Lovers will begin the show’s upward surge to climax but eerily tugging on your heartstrings, though you may not even know why. Intertwining in a way that makes you feel both ecstatic and sad, I compared their newest album to doing drugs with your lover when I named it album of the year.
The new video from electro-indie trio MENis minimalistic, even simplistic, but it is awesome. Off their newly released debut album Talk About Bodythe video for Who Am I to Feel So Free? features frontwoman JD Samson (of Le Tigrefame) in a very calm and commanding stance atop a cliff. The climax is epically gay and I have little doubt that Body will make next year’s list of Best Queer Albums.
Originally titled with the much preferred Le Tigre: Who Took the Bomp, the video diary for the last Le Tigre tour is a bit of self-indulgent nostalgic fluff. But it’s good nostalgic fluff. And you should all know how much I adore both of those things.
Beginning with a random home rocket kit test flight Le Tigre: On Tour takes an irreverent look at the comraderie and adventures of the team, and spends a lot of time fawning over the most masculine of the trio JD Samson. Dykes will appreciate the attention paid to this mustachioed butch dreamboat who comes across as genuine, humble and sexy, even when she’s accepting champagne from adoring fans.
The excitement was palpable when Southerners turned Portlanders The Gossip started to really make it big with their last release Standing in the Way of Control. It’s hard to believe that was three years ago. In the interim frontwoman Beth Dittohas become a spokeswoman for chub love and queer rights and culture, appeared naked on the cover of two magazines, started her own plus-size clothing line, and in general burst onto the international stage as a powerful, innovative and inspirational rock goddess.
With this year’s release of Music for Men there is no doubt that the world is has heard the bold and beautiful voice of Ditto and is responding in a big way. Saturday they bring the sound home for those of us who have been appreciating the no-nonsense flamboyancy for a decade.
After attending a video release party in NYC in early May, I eagerly awaited the online arrival of Athens Boys Choir‘s “EZ Heeb” directed by former Portlander Ali Cotterill. It took many months but the rollerskating, Atlantic City fantasy date is funny on the inter-tubes.
I can’t believe I almost forgot about tonight’s Men show at the Doug Fir (830 E Burnside). Le Tigre fans will recognize the electronic artsy dance fun spearheaded by JD Samson.
Here’s a little snippet from the current J/O Diversion:
Men: Ginger Brooks, Takahashi, JD Samson and Michael O’Neill
MEN, a project largely piloted by Le Tigre’s JD Samson, now includes Michael O’Neill (Princess, Ladybug Transistor) and Ginger Brooks Takahashi (LTTR, The Ballet) with Johanna and artist Emily Roysdon contributing as writers, consultants, and producers. And the new NYC queer band of the dance scene has a brand spankin’ new video for “Off Our Backs” produced by the weird and wonderful K8 Hardy.
