Archive for August, 2008
TPR #4
August 28, 2008
Janelle Monae
For this edition, we have songs by the Faint and new pop star Janelle Monae. Respectively, “The Geeks Were Right,” and “Many Moons” are the latest favorite songs. We also have a a phone call with Erik and Ruth where a first try goes wrong and then for the rest, Ruth’s audio gets clipped (that’s the distorted sound). Finally, we have encounters with two people from UR Chicago Magazine while at the Raven Fest and an interview with playwright Sharon Greene. The interview was very fun, with Sharon being very open and smart. We sat at Winnemac Park and talked about her new full length “Fake Lake,” the Neo-Futurists and being out, as well as “post-queer.” Erik’s still wondering about this term–if it is a new era in the queer rights movement, TPR needs to know!
New Final Fantasy Songs
August 28, 2008
Stereogum has the new Final Fantasy songs from the forth coming EP’s “Spectrum, 14th Century” and “Plays To Please” out on 9/30 and 10/21, respectively. They feature the band Beirut and a slew of Owen Pallett’s many musical friends. Catch the new songs below!
Ssion Covers Young Marble Giants
August 24, 2008Lot’s of people raving about this new video by Ssion. Cody Critcheloe’s writing and directing has really taken sharp turns, making unexpected but senseful decisions. I know when TPR interviewed them earlier this year, Cody seemed very comfortable among his extra-bohemian bandmates, speaking eloquently about his current incarnation and his vision for the band. Make no mistake, Ssion is his baby, and it’s growing up to be quite the queer heavyweight. ANYWAY, the big news for me was not the above music video, but his new cover of Young Marble Giants by-way-of Hole’s “Credit in The Straight World.” Be on the look out for the new Street Jizz 12″ out on September 1st (on Chicago’s very own Sleazetone) with remixes by Norrit, Nick Zinner (of Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Hawnay Troof.
Biden? An Old White Guy? Ok, Fine.
August 24, 2008
On the Issues has Joe Biden’s track record on votes across his career and on all queer issues. TPR isn’t unhappy about that Barack text.
DC Comics Bringing Back Queer Femme Heroes
August 23, 2008
Lesbian star-crossed lovers are back in the spotlight with Final Crisis: Revelations!
Gotham City’s lesbian detective Renee Montoya (aka The Question) continues her adventures in DC Comics’ big 2008 company comic crossover: Final Crisis. DC is also finally bringing Batwoman back to assist her ex…Renee! Seeing as we haven’t seen Batwoman prominently portrayed since 2006′s groundbreaking “52″ series (which also happened to reveal Batwoman’s queer sexual preferences ), lets hope Renee and Batwoman are finally allowed to share in some Gotham City loving!
–Colossus Matos
Top Model Trans Girl
August 23, 2008I’m not too surprised about Isis, the transgendered contestant on the upcoming season of America’s Next Top Model. With Miss Jay having broken most gender boundaries on the show already, the only thing program viewers will be shocked by is how the others girls treat Isis. I want to watch, but I’m anticipating straight-street-ignorance, and that is always hard to follow. The new season starts September 3rd, ABC News has a lengthy article about it here.
Check out Isis’ fierce runway walk:
TPR #3
August 21, 2008
*OMG Michelle at Bodega
For this 3rd show, Ruth gets her first interview with Poppy, the leader of the Queer Queens of Qomedy, and Erik talks to DJ and producer Kingdom along with OMG Michelle outside of their show at the Bodega in Brooklyn. Learn about the correct uses of the terms “homothug,” “banji,” and “AG” and “post-queer.” So fun!
The Knife–Pass This On
August 20, 2008This video is really old, but it’s charm has not lost any impact. It features Sweden’s Rickard Engfors, a drag artist on lip synch. The director for the video, Johan Renck, also has done vids for Madonna, Kylie and Beyonce, so this 2003 queer, grainy effort is pretty cool.
Fake Lake: Real Deal
August 19, 2008
Leave it to the Neo-Futurists to kick off their 20th anniversary season with a play about a man-made lake set in a Chicago Park District swimming pool. Making clever use of space (as always) and building an educational lesson in environmentalism and conservation, Fake Lake was written by out-ensemble member Sharon Greene. With the cast swimming and jumping out to deliver sharply timed lines, the audience is entertained throughout an emotional, college-aged drama all the while an important message is taught. Fake Lake runs through September 19th, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Wells Park Swimming Pool, 2333 W. Sunnyside in Lincoln Square. Listen for an interview with Sharon Greene next week on the TPR podcast!
