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Best gay albums of 2011

Just our yearly take on the best albums and EPs by queer artists this year. We don’t hold back our local bias but it is an international list, and I think Canada might be kicking our asses a li’l this year. […]


Photos from last night’s Wild Flag show

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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A weekend to go on a Space Odyssey to a deluded Donovan, a Communi-T Trans Resource Fair and more…just don’t forget your awkward poetry

Corrina Bain performs Friday as part of Q Poetry's Award Open Mic.

Thursday

Hot Mess Grand Finale – Whether you’ve been attending religiously for the past 12 weeks or just want to see how it all turns out, tonight’s final contest is sure to be a knock down drag out fight to the hot mess death. With 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prize packages starting at $700 you know these queens are going to be giving their all and putting on a good show. But who will win? Jackie Daniels? Jam N Toast? Allie McQueen? One of the other 6 contestants with or without an odd drag/stage name?

Wild Flag record release show – This one’s a bit of a non-starter. Not only is it the second night of a 2 night set, but it’s already sold out. However, I’m sure there’s a scalper or two out there and with regular tickets a reasonable $12-14 they shouldn’t command too much of a premium. But if you’re not willing to risk it these locals are sure to play again soon. In the meantime check out Wild Flag videos and news in earlier posts.

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New Wild Flag video for ‘Electric Band’

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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Wild Flag and Carrie Brownstein talks with Minnesota public radio and perform in studio

From left: Rebecca Cole, Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony and Janet Weiss from Wild Flag
From left: Rebecca Cole, Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony and Janet Weiss from Wild Flag

From left: Rebecca Cole, Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony and Janet Weiss from Wild Flag

Carrie Brownstein, Janet Weiss, Rebecca Cole and Mary Timony, all members or the “indie-supergroup” Wild Flag go on Minnesota public radio talk about their first album and their current tour, not being a supergroup and the 20th anniversary of the seminal Nirvana grunge album “Nevermind.” This last is my favorite, with Weiss admitting she paid $1.99 to watch the video when 2 days later it was all over MTV.

You can listen to the spot in its entirety below and see video from one of the songs performed, “Short Version.”

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New music video for Wild Flag’s ‘Romance’

Wild Flag's Carrie Brownstein: "It says it's a pie chart. This is a square...If any of you guy don't want to work here let me know."

Acting as if music videos still played on MTV and record stores still stocked vinyl local indie darlings Wild Flag, featuring former SleaterKinney members Janet Weiss and Carrie Brownstein, have just released the first video from their debut self-titled album, due out next Tuesday September 13th. Romance puts forth a love for the art of rock vid featuring neon Volvos, creepy animal masks, office space antics and hot dice.

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Listen to Wild Flag’s first release “Golden Tambourine” online

From left: Rebecca Cole, Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony and Janet Weiss from Wild Flag

From left: Rebecca Cole, Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony and Janet Weiss from Wild Flag

Lots of excitement has been accompanying new Portland supergroup Wild Flag since their formation last Summer. The quartet featuring Janet Weiss and Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney, Helium’s Mary Timony and The Minders Rebecca Cole been playing sold out shows locally and outside of the area sporadically in the precious few months of their existence. They are also slated to play at SXSW on March 18th.

Now, they’ve made their first single, “Glass Tambourine” available for online listening. A combination of 70s jam rock and 90s indie pop with a healthy dose of grownup 2011 revamping, “Tambourine” is a full and nuanced aural pleasure which you experience for yourself right here below.

Glass Tambourine by Wild Flag by Timedoor

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Wild Flag plays tonight

From left: Mary Timony, Janet Weiss, Rebecca Cole, Carrie Brownstein

Amidst all the hype surrounding former Sleater-Kinney band member Carrie Brownstein‘s comedic project Portlandia, I hope you all haven’t forgotten that the funny lady still makes music. And her new band, Wild Flag, plays tonight at Bunk Bar (1028 SE Water St). With a tour in March, recording in April, and an album out in fall in the Flag is already flying.

To learn more about the super group, which also includes Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Quasi) and Mary Timony (Helium) and Rebecca Cole (Minders) check out an introduction to Wild Flag penned back in September. And to check out some of their angsty anthems check out videos from Portland live shows below.

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Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss introduce new musical project Wild Flag

Wild Flag

Although many of us that came of age in the ’90s and early 2000s can point to several riot grrl and dyke punk influences, few bands that celebrated queer women’s music made it to the mainstream. Sleater-Kinney was one band that was able to cross that divide. So when they played their last shows in August of 2006, we all mourned their indefinite hiatus.

The three ladies have not been idle of the past four years, either concentrating on family or non-musical projects, but finally two-thirds have reemerged with a new band with former Helium member Mary Timony. Out singer/guitarist Carrie Brownstein and drummer Janet Weiss are members of the new supergroup Wild Flag, which also features the Minders’ Rebecca Cole.

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