Neighbors
continued from page 7
during this portion of the show. I
could barely hear many of the
jokes that those closer to the stage
obviously enjoyed. And many
times, I had to crane my neck to
get an idea of what she was up to
with someone up front.
From here on out, the show gave
equal solo performance time to the
performers between games offering
audience members a chance to do
a little performing of their own.
One spectator even received his
own personal exotic dance from
the performer known as Karress
Ann Slaughter.
I caught up with Karress outside
during a break and found out the per
former was at one time a regular
member of the Neighbors drag
troupe, but because of scheduling
conflicts, now performs “on a whim.”
In addition to appearing at ven
ues throughout the Northwest,
the Neighbors performers’ main
function is to raise funds for such
organizations as Kids First and
HIV Alliance; the performers rep
resented HIV Alliance on Satur
day at Alton Baker Park’s 2003
River Walk.
Karress, who has performed in
drag everywhere from the Univer
sity campus to the WOW Hall to Di
ablo’s Downtown Lounge, was actu
ally married with children before
the itch to perform took over. After
the divorce, friends encouraged
Karress to go for it.
“It sounds funny, but friends
would always tell me I had beautiful
eyes and ask if I’d ever thought
about doing it,” Karress said. “Even
tually, everything just kind of meld
ed together and I went for it.”
For Karress, the excitement of be
ing on-stage in drag comes less from
the outfits and more from the per
formance itself.
“I just love to entertain people,”
Karress said. “And the rush is unlike
anything you can describe.”
Nearby, one of Karress’ biggest
fans quickly stepped in to relay
his admiration.
“This is the best dancer in
Jessica Waters Emerald
Neighbors host Francesca tucks in a tip du ring a vocal performance on Friday.
the place,” Eugene resident Lee
Tackett said.
Tackett said he is not a regular
at Neighbors, but likes the shows
and is drawn to the mood of the es
tablishment.
“I just enjoy the whole crowd,”
Tackett said. “It’s not a meat mar
ket. You go to any bar Downtown,
chances are the cops will be there
at some point. That’s never an is
sue here. People come to hang out
and be with friends, not just
get trashed.”
Marketing major Ami Fricia de
cided to take her girlfriend to
Neighbors for her birthday. Fricia
said she has seen the show a few
times and enjoys the contests and
drink specials, which include
mixed drinks named for the per
formers and an unbeatable deal on
dollar pints of Miller Lite.
Neighbors’ status as the only gay
bar in Eugene might scare off the
uninitiated, but this is unfortu
nate. I spent the prior evening
slamming a pitcher of IPA with
friends at local sports bar, dying to
escape the sight of slobbering guys
ogling Britney wannabes while J.
Lo crooned in the background.
Suddenly, my usual haunts
seemed painfully uninspired. After
witnessing the uninhibited, harm
less fun at Neighbors, dollar pints
of Miller Lite might just be my new
favorite drink of choice.
Contact the senior Pulse reporter
atryanbornheimer@dailyemerald.com.
Tympanic
continued from page 10
a benefit concert for B.A.R.G., or
Bands Align to Rally for the Com
munity, at John Henry’s on June
15. Tympanic will also appear at
The Rainbow in Seattle on June 19,
the Backstage Lounge in Vancou
ver, B.C., on June 27 and the Roxy
Theatre on July 25.
Between tour stops, the band
will collectively move from Eu
gene to Portland, where they are
currently building a recording
studio in Rogers’ home. Experi
enced Portland music promoter
Craig Howard will also join forces
with the band. The group mem
bers said their immediate goal is
to record a solid demo album of
fresh material and pump out all
the enthusiasm they can muster
for their summer shows.
As the band’s manager, Ryan Mes
sick, put it, “Let’s take this to the
next level.”
Tom Adams is a freelance writer
for the Emerald.
Courtesy
Eugene-based band Tympanic plans to tour and work on a demo album this summer.
Bechard
continued from page 7
lobbied institution in the federal
government next to Congress.
Apparently, the lobbying pays off.
The CPI found that FCC officials
met with industry lobbyists and ex
ecutives in more than 70 closed
door meetings in the months prior
to Monday’s decision.
A couple of these groups did advo
cate for the retention of current
ownership rules, but most of the “ex
parte” meetings were with industry
hotshots. FGG administrators only
met with public interest advocates
five times and held one measly offi
cial public hearing.
Powell said on Monday on the
Charlie Rose Show that he cares
“very passionately about diversity of
viewpoints,” but that his biggest fear
is not a lack of media voices, it’s an
overabundance of them.
Sure, Mr. Powell, there are a lot of
media out there to consume, but
aren’t you worried that all they de
liver is crap?
Contact the Pulse columnist
atjosephbechard@dailyemerald.com.
His views do not necessarily represent
those of the Emerald.
Today's crossword solution
Summer 2003
tsrss™”"
12 00-14-50 U
2ist~fluai5+K
SatisfMmcl^sch*id
littfZ f afHs
Ic -'•quir™^tt.iC“Uur*li
An in-depth analysis of
various facets of German
Cinema, drawing on classic
films from Fritz Lang to
Wim Wenders. We'll look at
8 movies and see what, as
cultural documents, they
reveal of German history,
society and "Zeitgeist"
from the 1920s till today.
Conducted in English.
"What I fear most is an overdose of image.
I fear losing the ability to discriminate
between the good and the ugly. "
Wim Wenders
Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures
1250 University of Oregon, Eugene, 97403
Telephone (541)346 4051 Fax (541) 346-4126
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/ gerscart
Directly deposit your
Financial Aid
Refunds!!
Avoid standing
in those long
lines...
Come
by the
Student
Loan
counter
in Oregon
Hall and
ask for
details.
#CLHB
life
Wer-N-MLt?
wetwertvw
tSsdy, IjsJbuA^C
Hua $u, TV
* $*&*• f'*/*y*
lC**A<>4U'l4U44*y+
COM 6 ON t?OWN
AWCBTV/ILP
444 jRP AV6 • 4M-2.92.7
(fa/UHUoly- $ChOO- foofit)
■vmvi mu.
Conmunity
Center tor the
Pertoni**j Arts
8th &
Lincoln
■ Tonight ■
PAX217
Number One Cun, Falling Up
Paul Wright
Christian Rock
7:00 pm $8 advance, $10 door
■Friday ■
Pocket Face
Basic Assumption
Alpha Charlie. The Rhythm Pimps
Rock
8:00 pm $5 door
■ Saturday ■
Damien Jurado
Rocky Votolato, Adam Voith
Mike Barnhill
Singer-Songwriters/Spoken 'Word,
8:00 pm *7 advance. $8 door
•Wednesday, Tune 11 ■
An Evening of Flamenco
Dance and Music with
Sonidos Gitanos
Spanish Flamenco
8:00 pm $14 advance, $16 door
All Ages Welcome • 687-2746
MCDONALD THEATRE
WWW. m c cJ o n «a I d theatre, com
BUCK EYED PUS ROBERT CRAY
SATURDAY JUNE 7 THURSDAY JULY 3
THE NEVILLE BROTHERS BRUCE COCKBURN
TUESDAY JULY 8 THURSDAY JULY 31
BARK STAR ORCHESTRA TOWER OF POWER
MONDAY AUGUST 4 MONDAY AUGUST 11
Tickets a! all TicketsWest outlets (800) 992-flXX Service chatties may apply
WILD DUCK MUSIC HAII
TONIGHT: mgSgAYJm 5
SWITCHFOOT
SUNDAY JUNE N
CaLlENTE
MARCIA BALLITHEVISIBLE MEN
EJif&Ay JUNE 6
DANIEL LANOIS
TUESDAY JUNE tO
SATURDAY JUNE /^SATURDAY JUNE 21
Advance tickets for all shows available at www.wlldduckbrewery.com