Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2006)
DECEMBER 15. 2005 ]USt|OUt 47 music Tale of Two Beginnings New singer/songwriters bring talent to Portland by Malka Geffen est Duncan can impress you tn Duncan moved to Portland from Olympia, Wash., | Duncans Web site will many different ways. She can tell where she attended Evergreen State College. Her go online by mid-February. you about her work as the commu debut performance was opening for Laura Mitchell In the meantime, you can nications coordinator for Equity of Dirty Martini at a backyard barbecue. “People contact her about per Foundation, “a local nonprofit ded started calling- after that, and things took off,” forming and get on her icated to funding change." She can also tell you about ' Duncan says. This was a change from Olympia, mailing list by e-majling rhe book she’s writing on adolescent sexuality and where she says it is harder to get off the ground. ! westofaminor@yahixr.com. gender identity. Or she can wow you with the guitar, “Olympia is really competitive, especially with mandolin, harmonica and banjo she plays. acoustic performing." he DJ may have saved Duncan grew up on sailboats and horseback in Macy Gray’s life on the As a queer artist, Duncan appreciates the the small maritime town of Gig Harbor, Wash. instantaneous audience base Portland can pro Black Eyed Peas’ “Request “When winter came around, I picked up a guitar. vide. “I’m able to really use my voice, to not have Line," but a guitar saved the Seventeen years later, I'm still playing and learn to hide and have every facet of my creativity illu- I life of Portland musician ing,” she says. minated on stage and feel really comfortable," she Kate White. “1 got in trou Her music ranges from Southern bluegrass to ; says. “1 turn on a different side of myself when 1 per ble and spent time in political folk rock and falls comfortably within the form. When people are really listening and enjoy Hillcrest Juvenile Deten larger alt-country genre. She describes it as a blend ing, 1 tend to thrive.” tion. They let me have a of Wilco, Indigo Girls and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Duncan writes original songs and performs guitar. It was a really crucial Inspiration abounds for Duncan, who examines covers. One of her favorite oldies is Woody Guthrie’s time when I wrote my first personal experiences as well as the Bush adminis “Lord of the Skies,” which examines religion and songs, and I’ve never tration in her songs. “The harder life gets, the bet politics in the United States. “1 play the foundation stopped,” she says. ter the music is,” she says. of the song and change up the rhythm and tempo to Though born in A relative new kid on the local music scene, give it a different feel," she says. Chicago, White moved here when she was 10 and considers herself a native Oregonian. She is a mechanic and loves spend ing time in the mountains. Former pro football player Kate White is working on a 13-song CD “I’m a Gemini, so I have to called Insatiable. have my hands in a lot of things, but music is my main thing,” she says. monogamy in a relationship and how it doesn’t White, who describes her music as sensual work despite best intentions. “I used to think it was acoustic R & B, says she wanted to sound like a gixxl idea before I believed I could find it all in Helen Reddy and play guitar like Joan Baez when one person,” she adds. she grew up. Her nine-song debut CD, Undecided, A big challenge for White is self-promotion. sold out at In Other Words after her performance "While I'm pretty gregarious, I’ve got no skills at at Pride m 2004- “My friends call it their making selling myself. I’d say 95 percent of my performanc love album,” says White, who was named Road to es have been for free or benefits,” she explains. “I the Bite’s singer/songwriter of the year in 2005. have a don’t-say-no policy unless it’s something I’m One of her favorite songs is “Mercy," which she ethically or morally against.” wrote about a friend who repeatedly got involved White says she’d like to make a living playing with the wrong type. “It comes off as really being music but figures she would need to hire an agent. about sex and living in the moment, but it’s really “I used to play pro women’s football. I was compet about repeating bad behavior knowingly," White itive and aggressive, but 1 am only like that on says. She also likes her song "Before I Believed,” field.” a ballad based on conversations between her and For more information visit www.thekate white.com. © Love, Death and Tradition, West Duncan's debut full-length CD, will be released this spring. her partner, Michelle Rixlgers, about non C 2006 PHILIP BURNETT WWW PHOTOPHIL US T “FULL OF SURPRISES AND REVERSALS, UNFOLDING WITH BREATHTAKING EASE AND CONFIDENCE.” -A.O. Scott. THE NEW YORK TIMES enterNiwfi 0 b’NwFilmCenterN ( (FilmCenterNwFi •NwFilmCenterN “ ★★★★ ! ALMODOVAR CRAFTS (RICHEST RATlWCt) ONE OF THE YEAR’S BEST FILMS!’’ ■Peter Braver». ROIIING STONE j « ritM at AI.MOBOVAR M VOLVER i FKNtLOPB CRIIZ R L . wwwsowvcl * mcsco * i WfWHQWUX CLASSICS' CINEMA 21 . . 1 < , r-j w * 1 • » T AVI NIJE ...is a gift that plays all year round. A Silver Screen Club subscription entitles reduced or free admission for the Portland International Film Festival & more! 223 451 B VIEW 1IIE TRAILER AT WWW.VOI.VERFIIM.COM www.nwfilm.org 503-221-1156
