1 . 2003 »
1
CULTURE
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The truth is all that matters
Musician Mark Weigle helps Portland celebrate Leather Pride
Ip? ark Weigle rocks. His music
— 7 a comes from the most honest
kind of personal place— one
» with integrity of tm th and
the emotional weight of life. His
music moves us, in the course of a
song, from one m an’s experience to a
universal one.
Billboard talent editor Larry Flick
chose Weigle’s second album, All That
Matters, as one of 2000s Top 10 Best
CDs. The magazine later singled him out
again in the article “Unsigned Artists
Who Deserve Grammy Recognition,”
naming his song “A Gcxxl Day" as the
Record of the Year.
So why isn’t he tin the cover of
music mags? Why no V H 1 ? Why isn’t
he playing the big venues across the
country? Because Weigle is one of those
massively talented artists who make big
record companies skittish— he writes
openly about the gay experience.
“I’m glad folks like Melissa and k.d. Bay area
are out in their personal lives," Weigle
confesses to Just Out. “1 feel like the next step
is for GLBT artists to write truthfully about
who they are.”
The independent Bay Area musician has a
large and loyal grassroots following that
includes fans of acoustic, country, pop, leather
and hears. “I’ve dealt with a lot of frustration in
my career," he notes, “hut all along I’ve consis
tently heard from folks— particularly gay men—
who have had powerful experiences through my
music. So I stay motivated to reach them."
Weigle’s first album, 1998’s The Truth Is,
includes the crowd-pleaser “T he Two Cowboy
V
G lenn S cofield W illiams
style version of Kinsey Sicks’ “AZT” to
a cover of “W hen I G o” by Portland’s
own Dave Carter (to whom the album
is dedicated).
Billboard’s Rick insightfully claims
Weigle’s stings “honor gay experience
without shutting anyone else exit.”
But don’t take our word for it. Wei
gle comes to Portland for an Oregon
Leather Pride Week concert Aug. 3 at
Embers. H e’ll also perform a few songs
during the Uniform & BuzzCuts Patty
at the Eagle, as well as during the
Rosetown Ramblers’ monthly country
dance, both Aug. 2.
“Mark is a wonderful singer and has
an amazing stage presence," says Andy
Mangels of lnUniform.net, who
brought Weigle to town. “I wanted to
have a celebratory and fun event for
Leather Pride that was not solely about
cruising or fantasy hut which was pure
entertainm ent."
musician Mark Weigle plays in Portland on Aug. 2 and 3
A nd regarding that fickle music
industry, hope comes from Performing
Songwriter magazine: “Weigle’s songs carry
Waltz.” He followed up with All That Matters,
with them a sense of decency, compassion,
which includes the blazing pop happy “A Good
love and trust. If th a t’s an agenda, we should
Day.” T hen came Out of the Loop with an
all sign up." j n
astonishing R & B slash on the body obsession
of gay culture, “Love Your Body," and a subcul-
MARK W eigle performs during the Rosetown
ture’s pride anthem , “Bears."
Ramblers’ country dance from 9:30 p.m. to
All three albums feature a srruxnh, acoustic
1:30 a.m. Awg. 2 at the Portland Metro Club,
style reminiscent of a great singer-songwriter
6/8 S.E. Alder St. Cover charge is $5. See
tradition like James Taylor or Jackson Brown.
sidebar for other appearances.
Weigle’s new album, Different and the Same,
is an extraordinarily eclectic collection of well-
G le n n S c o fie l d W illiam s writes poetry, prose,
crafted covers: from an erotically charged twist
plays, periodica and pom m Portland.
on Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309" to a Motown-
I m U *1 Pride is here again
his year there are plenty of times and places
to strut your sexy stuff for Oregon Leather
Pride Week, Aug. 1 to 10.
New to the scene? “D in ’t be afraid,” says
Andy Mangels of InUniform.net. “Introduce
yourself politely to someone who seems to he
interested in the same things you are. Explain
you’re new .. .ask some questions. Most people
love to talk about their interests, w hether tra
ditional or exotic.”
Been here before? A h, you know w hat to
d o ....
T
Balls, parties and concerts
• F ourth annual Leather, F eathers &
F u r Fetish Ball: DJ, dancing, costum e co n
test and stage acts. 2 1 + only. Sponsored by
Portland Leather A lliance. (8 p.m . Aug. 1.
Fez Ballroom, 316 S.W. 11th Ave. $12 from
Spartacus and Dancing Muse Boutique, $15 at
the door.)
• M ark Weigle concert: Ms. Oregon State
Leather 2002 Maria Webster opens. Sponsored
by lnUniform.net. (7 p.m. Aug. 3. Embers,
110 N.W . Broadway. $10 from Spartacus or Gai-
Pied, $15 at the door.)
• Q ueer O nly D ungeon Party: Sponsored
by Angel of Portland. (8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Aug. 8.
Ascension Dungeon, 5224 S.E. Foster Road.
E-mail tickets@angelofportland. com.)
• Bears in L eather Beer B ust: Sponsored
by Oregon Bears. (9 p.m. to midnight Aug. 8.
Gail's Dirty Duck, 438 N .W . Third Ave. $8 at
the door.)
• Bad Girls Mixed Play Party: Pansexual
partying sponsored by Bad Girls. (9 p.m. to
3 a.m. Aug. 9. Ascension Dungeon, 5224 S.E.
Foster Road. E-mail contact@pdxbadgtrls.net.)
Gatherings and socials
• Leather Social: Squeaking and drinking.
Sponsored by Dustin Posner. (9 p.m. to midnight
Aug. 1. Gail's Dirty Duck, 438 N.W. Third Ave.)
• Leather Tastings: Demonstrations by
local S/M experts. Sponsored by Portland
Leather Alliance. (Noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 3.
Panorama, 341 S.W. 10th Ave. $3-$5.)
• Movie N ight: Sponsored by Portland
Leather Alliance. (7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 5. Loca
tion to be announced.)
• Leather & Lace Show: Fetish on parade.
Sponsored by the Imperial Sovereign Rose
Court. (8 p.m. Aug. 7. Embers, 110 N.W .
Broadway. $5.)
• Erotica Show & Leather Archives Dis
play: Erotic acts, dancing and an exhibit from
Chicago’s Leather Archives &. Museum. Spon
sored by Blackout Leather Productions. (7 p.m.
Aug. 8. Embers, 110 N.W. Broadway. $5.)
• Leather Family Barbecue: Potluck pic
nic. Bring meat or whatever to grill and a side
dish to share. Sponsored by Blackout Leather
Productions. (6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 6. Washington
Park Rose Garden, Pavilion D.)
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Fund-raisers and charities
• Kinky A uction: Dancing, entertainm ent
and an auction to benefit Portland Leather
Alliance. (5 p.m. viewing, 6 p.m. auction
Aug. 2. Fez Ballroom, 316 S.W. 11th. Free.)
• Uniform & BuzzCuts Party: Uniforms
encouraged. Haircuts and bootblacking to ben
efit Outside In. Musician Mark Weigle plays a
few tunes. Sponsored by InUniform.net.
(9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Aug. 2. The Eagle PDX,
1300 W. Burnside St. $4.)
• Leather Pride Bash: Chaps & whips,
chips &. dip all to benefit Back to School.
Sponsored by the Eagle PDX. ( 10 p.m. to
2:30 a.m. Aug. 9. The Eagle PDX, 1300 W. *
Burnside St. $4 )
2327 east burnside
503.234.8610
stumptown coffee, pastries, vegan treats
sandwiches on grand central bread
Contests and fanfare
• Mr. & Ms. Oregon State Leather Contes
tant Meet & Greet: Meet the competition. Spon
sored by Blackout Leather Productions. (5 p.m.
Aug. 8. Embers, 110 N.W. Broadway. Free.)
• Mr. & Ms. Oregon State Leather Con
test: Includes traveling display from Chicago’s
Leather Archives & Museum. Sponsored by
Blackout Leather Productions. (7 p.m. Aug. 9.
Embers, 110 N .W . Broadway. $10.)
• Victory Brunch and Rose & Thorn Com
munity Awards: Food and honors. Sponsored by
Blackout Leather Productions. (11 a.m. to l p.m.
Aug. 10. Embers, 110 N.W . Broadway. $12.) JH
\
EVERY BOON OF GAY EROTICA
ALWAYS M STOCK!
< @ > H eroes: M en o f Falcon. Dem i go d s strut
their stuff sans trousers. Torrid photo book. $30.
< @ > Like Father, Like So n . M o m 's away,
D a d ’s horny, fun ensues. Explicit comix. $18.
< @ > Wired Hard v3. Dirty stones with a sci-fi
edge. Capt. Kirk! KKngons around Uranus! $15.
DOWNTOWN è 927 SW OAK • 226-8141