Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 19, 2002)
rapài l ì 2002 40 DIVERSIONS ............... T ............... memories—and like all the best humorists, he is unerringly accurate because he has a deep understanding of pain and agony.” To donate or inquire about tickets for next season, call 503-227-2583 or visit www.literary-arts.org. Going Straight Gi I * Portland Taiko gets intimate April 24 to 28 Taiko unplugged * T his time it’s personal. Portland Taiko Unplugged has this innovative little band of drummers moving its spring concert to a cozy, intimate space above the Bridge port Brewhouse in Northwest Portland from April 24 to 28. (See Page 28 for details.) If you haven’t been to a Taiko performance you shouldn’t even be walking around the streets of Portland. It’s a multi-ethnic Asian American drumming group that has the experience and tal ent to pull off mesmerizing shows that are equal parts beauty and power. Every performance is always better than you think it’s going to be. If you’ve only seen capsule pieces at Pride or some such other event, you owe it to your self to go to a full show. Some of the drummers are queer and, frankly, all of them look hot pounding the hell out of some big-ass drums and hollering around about it. Unplugged is a completely different set of rules for the ensemble and draws on “live” (pro nounced “lie-boo”) taiko performances members witnessed on a recent trip to Japan. “Live house” productions take place in very small venues, bringing the drummers closer to the audience and vice versa. You can sip wine and chat with the performers after the show. The concert also features renowned composer and Persian lute player Dariush Dolat-shahi and guest choreographer Mirth Tran, whose work will be set to original music by Portland Taiko. Modulate finds Mould in heavy experimen tal mode, utilizing a multitude of electronic effects (in addition to his trademark wall-of- feedback guitar) to convey his heart-on-sleeve lyrics, which are a bit more revealing than usual. “I’m not the kind of guy who likes to kiss and tell, but everyone wants to know the story,” Mould sings on “ 180 Rain,” indicating more comfort in his queemess since his reluc tant 1994 outing in Spin magazine. Long Playing Grooves, to be released in May under the alias of LoudBomb, delves more deeply into the electrónica explored on Modulate. Due in September, Body of Song is a return to thè acoustic introspection that characterized his revered solo debut Workbook. LiveDog98, an audio snapshot captured in London at the tail end of the Last Dog and Pony Show tour, is avail able at shows or online at www.bobmould.com. —Jim Thompson Sedaris at Schnitz ant to see David Sedaris April 25 at the Schnitzer? Well forget it, it’s been sold out for weeks. The good news is that the very queer Sedaris’ very cynical brand of lit cuts across those sub cultural barriers into the hearts of mainstream prose lovers. Although his is a special event of Portland Arts & Lectures outside its regular sea son, many of the tickets are still in the hands of season ticketholders. (If you’ve ever been to one of these lecture things, you’ll quickly realize you’re not going to run into these people at Boxxes.) Literary Arts, the fine folks who bring you Portland Arts & Lectures (which this year includ ed Edward Albee and Edmund White), are using t one time Bob Mould going electronic proceeds from the Sedaris evening specifically to benefit two of the nonprofit’s programs. Accord seemed about as likely as the legendary singer-songwriter-guitarist ing to marketing director Meg Daly, Writers in the Schools releasing four C D s in one year. However, 2002 will see all of employs local authors to teach writing skills to high school stu that come to fruition for the former H üsker D ü and Sugar dents in Portland Public Schools and Oregon Literary Fellow frontman, as well as a performance April 29 at ships provide fiscal support to Aladdin Theater. (See writers and independent publish Page 29 for details.) ers throughout the state. “By The new tour, dubbed Car donating to Literary Arts,” she says, “you arc directly serving the nival of Light and Sound, readers and writers of Oregon." promises much for fans old and Megan McMorran, who gets new. Mould will sing and play all those intellectuals to come to electric guitar, relying heavily our beloved city, was no fool* in on tracks from Modulate, his first David Sedaris: SO LD O U T booking Sedaris as the act for the release in four years, but also benefit. “He is smart and brazen,” she asserts. “He revisiting older gems from his extensive back sticks to domestic subjects—pets, mothers and catalog, aided by prerecorded electronic music fathers.. .religion, former teachers.. .childhood and two screens projecting short films. Ch-ch-changes for Bob Mould A * W ay Seattlite David Schmader brings his one-man show Straight back to Portland from April 25 to 27 and from May 2 to 4. (See Page 28 for details.) Schmader, who is also associate editor of the Seattle newsweekly The Stranger, went undercover to learn about “conversion therapy” from the inside out. This personal experience resonates in the show, which has him in session with a German psychotherapist, attend ing “ex-gay” support groups and learning all he ever wanted to know about Texas Christian heterosexuals. A t the same time, Schmader sends up the queer community, suggesting its limitations and tactics are ironically similar to conversionists. Throughout he probes difficult questions and rejects easy answers in his ongoing thirst for knowledge of what it means to be “straight.” Don’t be shy about hooting and hollering at this Portland run at CoH o Theatre. It’s being taped for a video release this summer. (In your face, Seattle!) Lesbian musician Margie Adam co-facilitates At the Edge: Improvising Your Spiritual Path April 28 Walking and Talking esbian musician Margie Adam joins Grace Cathedral’s canon for special ministries Lauren Artress to lead At the Edge: Improvising Your Spiritual Path April 28 at Wilsonville’s Living Enrichment Center. (See details on Page 29.) The evening event includes a conversation with the women about the dynamic of “being called” to creative work in the world, with musical interludes. The pair will discuss inter sections of creativity and spirituality and the relationship between contemplation and action. Following the dialogue will be a facili tated labyrinth walk, which encourages the use of reflection and imagination to find inner direction. “Learning to work together and celebrate our differences is hard work,” says Artress, who authored the book Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool. “It needs introspection and discernment; it demands action on the individual and collective level. This is the mission of the labyrinth as it re-enters our world.” Learn music and have fun at the Northwest Women’s Music The facilitators note that Celebration although the event is of spe cial interest to women, everyone is welcome. Li Music and Motherlode D rumming, singing, marimba, line dancing and an endless array of musical instruments and composition— all this will be going on the weekend of April 26 to 28 at the North west Women’s Music Celebration. This annual event at YM CA Camp Collins, about 40 minutes east of Portland on the Sandy River, has been organized and led by the lesbian group Motherlode for about 20 years now. The combination of workshops and perform ances offers women the chance to learn better playing and to perform in front of others. Begin ning classes are offered to those who haven’t had much experience, and second- and third- level classes are open to those who know their way around their instruments. “The emphasis of this weekend,” says Linda Vogt, one of the event coordinators, “is on partici pants having a positive, nonthreatening musical experience.. .a place to try new instruments or try singing or doing something you never thought you could. There’s a lot of play and a lot of laughter!” Cost is $155 a person, which includes all workshops, meals and lodging. Participants need to bring their own instruments. Registra tion forms are available at It’s My Pleasure, In Other Words, Artichoke Music and at www.motherlodemusic.com. A Neati idea T hat inventive little wine bar Crush has yet another delightful happening in the form of Cabernet Cabaret. (See Page 28 for details.) Wine-swilling goddess Rhea Neati will lead you through a tasting like no other in this musical comedy show that runs four consecu tive Tuesday nights starting April 23. You’ll get six cabs to sniff, slosh and gulp while she takes you through a short Rhea Neati leads you through history of wine a wine tasting like no other at and demon C rush’s Cabernet Cabaret strates all you need to know to be a true wine-tasting snob. Seating is limited. Call the boys/girls at 503-235-8150 for reservations. J H Compiled by L isa BRADSHAW
