aprii 16. 1999 ’ J u st u u t 41
▼
aised by musicians Loudon Wainwright
III and Kate McGarrigle, Rufus Wain-
wright was playing the piano at age 6.
When he was 14, he was nominated for a
Juno (Most Promising Young Artist) and his
song “I’m A-Runnin” was nominated for a
Genie for Best Song in a Film. (Junos and
Genies are the Canadian equivalents of Gram-
mies and Oscars, respectively.)
Now, at 25, the queer Wainwright has
graced the cover of Out magazine as one of the
“People Who Rocked 1998”; was named Rolling
Stone magazines Best New Artist of the same
year; and repeatedly asked viewers what they
were doing New Year’s Eve in a holiday-
themed television commercial for The Gap. It
would seem the world is on fire for the young
Wainwright.
His music, with influences ranging from Tin
Pan Alley to Edith Piaf to Tosca, is pleasantly
pop, though heavy-handed enough to keep lis­
teners from feeling pandered to as they tap
their toes. And his gay love songs are a breath
of fresh air. From his song “Danny Boy,” for
example:
R
any way? Are you primed to become the next
Dana Plato?
Well, I’m not that young. I’m 25 and I’ve
been doing this for about 10 years, so it’s not
overwhelming me or anything.... I mean fame
is great and I guess one has to work with that
when you’re trying to make money or some­
thing, but I’m really more into just trying to
make really good records.
Despite the Rolling Stone accolades, your
music seems a bit esoteric. 1 don’t know if
have to speak their language—like Verdi and
Maria Callas. I definitely have a large dead
contingent.
Mykonos for sure...and visit the Oracle of Del­
phi.
There’s nearly a consensus that you’re the
new “it” boy, so to speak. Is it talent, effort
or luck?
The talent is about 10 percent. It’s mostly
work, I tell ya. I’ve been on the road since May
and I’ve played tiny stages, and then I’ve
played for 20,000 people opening up for the
Barenaked Ladies, and I’ve done Japan and
ss over
fus
\up-and-coming
¡oy has n early
ived
.O’B ryan
l was hanged at the doorstep,
p b yed like a tw o to a fourset
Had like poor Job in the Bible by God
(Copyright 1998 SKG Music)
Just O ut was able to catch Wainwright—
currently touring the United States and soon
to arrive in Portland—via telephone in New
Orleans.
you would agree, but with that in mind,
would you still hope to someday sell out
Madison Square Garden?
Yeah, I’d like to sell out Madison Square
Garden, but I’d probably be happy with selling
out Carnegie Hall. I think it’s esoteric, the
music and everything, but I think once you get
the orchestra out there.... Maybe Radio City
Music Hall. I’d settle for that.
Which leads me to ask, how do you find
Portland?
I’ve only been there once and I played at
this one club [LaLuna] that was sort of on the
outskirts of Portland, so I don’t know what it’s
like at all.
Your music also seems a little haunted—
like you stole it from the playlist of some
steerage-class minstrel on the Titanic.
Oh, yeah, that’s kind of a a x il vision.
Then next time should be nice and fresh.
You’ve had a fair measure of fame since you
were 14— is that fair to say?
Nothing compared to what I’m going to
have. [Laughs.] Or what I have now. I had a lit­
tle bit of it, but no overdose of fame or any­
thing.
What haunts you? What motivates you in
that way?
Let’s just say that all my favorite influences
are dead, most of them. A lot of the time when
I play, I’m trying to impress those people, so I
You’re still fairly young, so given that,
would you say that fame has spoiled you in
P R E S E N T E D
BY
T HE
C O N C O R D
C O M M U N I T Y
OF
C H O I R S
Granted, you weren’t a “superstar” when
you were 14, but what influence did your
fame have on your coming out process? You
had some notoriety when you came out, I’m
guessing.
No, not really. I wasn’t known at all. I did
one thing when I was 14, which was sort of
known in Canada, but then I didn’t do any­
thing for years. When I came out it was pretty
much a family and friends affair. It wasn’t
broadcast in Times Square or anything.
[Laughs.]
Now, as it turns out, you are famous and
you are gay. You’re this kind of gay role
model. Do you appreciate that?
Well, yeah. I’ve been doing a lot of tours
recently in some pretty strange places. Like the
other night I played [yells out, “No offense!”
apparently to someone nearby] Birmingham,
Ala., and Louisville, Ky., before that. A lot of
those people really appreciate me coming
there. 1 meet a lot of young kids who really,
really need the support. I never expected to be
a role model in that way. I didn’t really go for
that, but I’m certainly happy to be of service
and to be an inspiration. Why not? [Laughs.]
Why not?!
You broke m y heart Danny Boy
Not your fault Danny Boy
Hi. How is New Orleans?
Well, it’s pretty muggy and there’re a lot of,
you know, rickety buildings...and it’s great!
Is this going to be hedonistic?
Oh, yeah. I’m pretty much hedonistic wher­
ever I go—Mykonos or Albany, N.Y.
Europe. It’s mostly just perseverance and
work—and practice. It’s very boring when you
think about it. [Laughs.] But it’s worth it in the
end.
It’s not exhausted you? You’re still moti­
vated?
No, it exhausts me and I’m certainly near
the end of my tether, hut a little exhaustion
never killed anyone.
The world’s your oyster. Where do you go
from here?
I want to make a lot of money and get a
place in Paris. And also I want to write an
opera. And I want to date some prince who
lives in a castle. I’m like a 14-year-old girl, basi­
cally.
Is there anything special in store for your
Portland show?
One thing that’s going to be really cool is
that my sister will be there.
Singing backup?
Singing backup, and also she’s opening for
me as well. My sister will get up and sing a few
songs and she’s pretty amazing.
What do you do to recharge? Where do
you go on vacation?
I’m going to go to Greece—unless this
Kosovo thing blows up.
■ R ufus W ainwright perform s a free a lleg es
show at 6 p.m . W ednesday, April 21, at M usic
Millennium N orthwest, 801 N.W. 23rd Avc.
He perform s with Ben Lee Thursday, April 22, at
Berbati's Pan, 231 S.W. Ankeny St., at 10 p.m .
Tickets are $12 in advance, available through
TicketMaster.
Mykonos?
No, I have friends who live on Hydra,
which is further south. There are no cars on it,
it’s much smaller. But I’ll probably drop by
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