Issue 694

Issue 694 May 2 – 9 | 2012

David | Atlanta

CONTACT Advertising | sales@davidatlanta.com Classifieds | classifieds@davidatlanta.com Press Releases / Editor | press@davidatlanta.com Calendar Listings | calendar@davidatlanta.com STAFF David Thompson | Publisher david@davidatlanta.com

Issue 694 | May 2 – 9 | 2012

David Magazine

650 Hamilton Ave. Suite H Atlanta, GA 30312 404.418.8901

Maximillian Corwell | Editor-in-Chief max@davidatlanta.com Joseph Brownell | Arts & Entertainment Editor | Web & Social Media joseph@davidatlanta.com

Contents 8 WTF!?!

Scene@ Jungle 10 12 Men Seeking Men WTF!?! Tidbits 14 OutlantaCon Gay Fantasy Fest 18 20 Scene@ Felix’s Papi’s Cinco de Mayo Carnaval 22 Protect Your Monster 25 Jessica Wild 28 Cinco de Mayo Party Planning 36 38 BarTab Map 40 Gay Latino politician Jerry Gonzalez Top 10 Tracks 43 Renaissance Festival Returns 44 BarTab Calendar 50 Music Reviews: Norah Jones, Jason Mraz 52 54 Classifieds Music Review: Rufus Wainwright 56 Adult Classifieds 58 60 FairyScopes Bitch Session 62

Kiki Carr | Art Director | Assistant Editor kiki@davidatlanta.com Chip O’ Kelley | Operations chip@davidatlanta.com Steve Tyrrell | Account Management steve@davidatlanta.com Sales Executives Bob Swanson | bob@davidatlanta.com Elijah Sarkesian | elijah@davidatlanta.com Tyler Ford | tyler@davidatlanta.com Writers Rian Ashlei Chris Azzopardi Joe Beasley Corian Ellisor Richard Marshall Stasha Oakley Troy Ordami Elijah Sarkesian Columnists Luis Chiruco Dustin Shelby Brent Star Tristan Timothy Lucas Witherspoon Randall Carpenter | Photographer Julio Saldana | Photography Intern Jamie Scarbrough | IT Rivendell Media | National Ad Rep 908.232.203 Add us on Facebook! DavidAtlanta Add us on Twitter! DavidMagazineGA

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WTF!?!?

Why is it wrong to be a male feminist?

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by Lucas Witherspoon

he other evening, during one of my typical insomnia-induced late nights, I was flipping through television channels at about 3 AM when I stumbled upon a Fox News gem called Red Eye. I have to admit I’ve found it genuinely comical (not in an ironic way) the handful of other times I’ve seen it it, but on this night in particular, the host, Greg Gutfeld, made a highly misogynistic joke about a woman in one of the stories, to which the other women on the panel laughed at. It may have just been the booze talking, but I found myself tweeting about how sad it was that these women on the panel were laughing at a joke made at their expense as women without even realizing they’d been insulted.

Holy hell, guys.

Apparently I was not the only person still awake and watching Red Eye. Almost instantly, I was barraged with tweets about how “there is nothing more annoying than a male feminist” and how I was a “typical liberal.” Well, first of all, I don’t believe in political party affiliations, and secondly, what exactly is annoying about a male feminist?

I know, I know, they’re presumed Fox News viewers, and as such it’s expected that they’re a little moronic (which is statistically true), but it made me think about the fact that there seems to be a misconception that there can be no such thing as a male feminist.

Feminism by definition is “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” It seems like equality among the sexes would be a commonly shared philosophy, right?

But the image of feminists conjured up in a lot of peoples’ minds seems to be that of a frumpy cat lady huddled around a flaming barrel with her fellow dumpy cat ladies burning their oversized K-Mart bras. We as gay men experience the same kind of unjust typecasting, with people evoking images of gay men in body glitter and

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hot pants to make us look less serious. In reality, anyone—regardless of sex—who espouses the belief that males and females should be viewed and treated as equals is a feminist.

Of course, we can’t dive into the subject of feminism without mentioning the most famous (and infamous) feminist of all: Gloria Steinem.

She isn’t only an important figure in the women’s liberation movement, though, as she’s been a perpetual supporter of gay equality.

A lot about the unofficial second-wave gay equality movement can be learned from the second-wave women’s liberation movement.

Dissenters like to use sex to discredit both groups, thinking of feminists as just needing a good dicking and gay men as sexual perverts with daddy issues. The issue of equality has zero to do with sex, however, as Steinem has pointed out in the past: “The idea that sexuality

is only okay if it ends in reproduction oppresses women—whose health depends on separating sexuality from reproduction—as well as gay men and lesbians.”

factory worker. If women had just settled then, we wouldn’t have female CEOs today (though income inequality is still present, don’t get me wrong).

Recently, I watched an HBO feature on Gloria Steinem called Gloria: In Her Own Words, and she said something that really struck me. Talking about her pre-feminist icon days, she said:

If black people had just settled for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, interracial marriage wouldn’t be legal (it wasn’t legal until 1967).

That’s why we as gay people can’t just settle for the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act or a nice speech from Hillary Clinton, when what we’re actually seeking is what every human being wants: to be treated equally. It starts with legal equality, but societal equality is going to prove to be a much tougher struggle.

“Back then I’m not sure I knew what feminism was. I’d had one sentence in my textbook somewhere in the past that said women were given the vote. I thought it was all finished—it was all one—and if I was still having a lot of difficulty, it must be my own personal fault.”

It really spoke to me about peoples’ tendency to just settle. Minority groups can’t just settle after a little governmental appeasement. Yes, women gained the right to vote, but they were still expected to be baby-producing homemakers, and once women started entering the workplace, it was usually as a low-level receptionist or

So, yes, I’m a male feminist, because I believe that women and men are equals. “Feminist” isn’t an ugly word. But my beliefs about equality supersede simply feminism, because I believe that all people deserve to be treated as equals.

It doesn’t make me a bleeding heart, liberal, or pushover, it makes me a decent human being.

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Men Seeking Men

To Three or Not To Three…

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by Tristan Timothy

very relationship reaches that point where things start to level off.

Growing tired of the same routine many gay couples in particular may be interested in trying threesomes or opening the relationship all together. While variety can be the spice of life, there are some things to be wary of.

If you decide to take that leap into opening your sex life to other partners there are a couple ways to find said extras, each with it’s own pros and cons.

Grindr for instance has truly revolutionized the backroom hook up. Cruising zones that were stationed in parks, truck stops and sex stores can now be accessed practically anywhere. This presents a problem however.

There have been many times where my partner and I have been on Grindr just for fun.

A curious cruise you may say. Sometimes it’s just interesting to see who is around you at any given moment. After too much of curious cruising however you may start to give off the wrong vibe. People can start to assume that you’re always looking for a threesome. And when those people corner your boyfriend in a crowded bar and try to make out with him, they get knocked the fugg out. Okay, so that was a personal problem. Needless to say it can be hard to get the point across just because your open to the idea of threesomes, you aren’t putting your boyfriend on the party bottom auction block.

A4A and Manhunt are safer routes for curious cruising, but then you can be branded with the reputation of a pic collector or unreliable

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Gay Dating in the City meth head. And there’s nothing worse than being branded a pic collector! (Meth Head’s still get laid.)

Our search for multiple partners has sometimes lead us to sex clubs and bathhouses. First off, some of those places are so dark it’s like a gay haunted house.

Penis just jumping out at you from every dark corner, moans echoing from unseen areas, and you’re bound to put your hand in a few sticky unknown substances. While they can be thrilling, sex clubs are hard to navigate.

You never know what you’re going to get until you’re on the inside. Plus once you’re in, there’s a palpable pressure to finish the deed you came there to do. Being pressured into having sex with people I really don’t want to have sex with is something I left in my early twenties, and I’m certainly not paying for it.

So while I’m still not sure what the best way to go about all this is, I’m definitely having fun figuring it out. Which is really the most important part. In my opinion, threesomes and the like should be used sparingly and as a spice to an already great sex life. It’s important to see them as enhancing instead of replacing the physicality between you and your partner.

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WTF!?!? Tidbits Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are allegedly dating. Between Snooki’s pregnancy, Dick Clark’s death, and the invention of “Kimye,” I’m kind of hoping the world will end in 2012.

Lindsay Lohan has apparently “banned” herself from the Standard

Hotel, the venue where she allegedly recently threw a drink at someone. I think her drunken dyslexia confused, “I’m banning myself” with the staff telling her, “You’re banned.”

Speaking of bottom barrel actresses, just when you thought actresses couldn’t lower themselves more than Lilo, Racquel Bailey, a 23-year-old actress from New Jersey, bought billboard space two miles from Tyler Perry’s Atlanta studio begging for a job in his next film. Considering he cast Kim Kardashian in a film, it’s not a stretch, because clearly talent is not a quality he looks for.

According to Variety, Taylor Swift might play Joni Mitchell in a film. If this happens, I’d like to go ahead and propose a class action suit for emotional distress. Who’s with me?

Tyra Banks took to Twitter to confirm that she’s fired Nigel Barker, Miss J, and Mr. Jay from America’s Next Top Model: “To my Nigel Barker, Miss J, and Mr Jay: Thank you for all of our years together on America’s Next Top Model!

Working with you is always an absolute pleasure. Excited for what the future holds for us. XOXO, TyTy.” I think the most shocking element of this entire thing is that ANTM still exists.

Alex McCord, former Real Housewives of New York City cast

member, revealed (against the wishes of everyone) that her husband, Simon van Kempen, jizzed himself when their son was born: “Simon was sitting behind me at the point of birth, and later when we untangled ourselves he discovered he’d actually ejaculated though hadn’t felt any of the normal lead-up to that.” It just takes me back to high school sex-ed when we had to watch an 80s video of a poorly groomed woman giving birth. Her pubes were styled the same as her perm and it looked like a baby koala being shot out of a sewage pipe. Now I’m all about doing what you do, but that is by far the most disconcerting fetish I’ve ever heard of. [Editor’s Note: Way to practice that male feminism, Lucas]

Sherée Whitfield has been officially axed from The Real Housewives

of Atlanta. While I’m going to miss her “elegant and sophisticated” (her words) persona, there’s only room for one drag queen on the show. Enter Marlo Hampton.

by Lucas Witherspoon

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Geeked Out OutlantaCon gay fantasy fest takes flight this weekend

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by Van Gower

undreds of costumed gay folk will proudly let their geek flags fly high when they converge on OutlantaCon 2012, May 4-6 at the Holiday Inn SelectPerimeter. The fourth annual sci-fi, fantasy, and gaming fest, billed as “the Southeast’s premier event for queer nerds,” is the rainbowcolored answer to Atlanta’s mammoth annual DragonCon convention.

While both conventions are hits with the gays and regularly top many annual to-do gay agendas, OutlantaCon is specifically a gay event. The realms of science-fiction and fantasy may hold a particularly special appeal for gays.

“I don’t know the stats, but it does seem to me people who are well educated, intelligent or have a high level of creativity are drawn to sci-fi and fantasy,” said Amber Taylor, lead singer-songwriter-guitarist of the Atlanta glamrock band The Sexual Side Effects, who can’t enough of the way-out world of sci-fi and hopes to attend OutlantaCon soon.

“I love sci-fi. Ever since I was a little kid, my father lived far away and sent me recordings he made of Doctor Who. It’s almost a nostalgic thing for me,” said Taylor. “That and anything that has aliens, spaceships, and things we will get to do in the distant future is really cool.”

New to OutlantaCon this year are a partnership with Georgia Equality and a downloadable Guidebook smartphone schedule app that will enable convention guests to stay up-tothe-minute savvy on the convention’s hottest activities and panels.

This year’s OutlantaCon bursts at the seams with a weekend-long treasure trove of offerings designed to envelop gay geeks in a phantasmagoric world all their own.

That world is populated in part by gay artist and comic book illustrator Joe Phillips, one of this year’s most eagerly anticipated special guests. The San Diego-based Phillips returns to his native Atlanta for OutlantaCon. The comic book veteran has penciled numerous titles for publishers including DC, Marvel, Dark Horse,

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Photo courtesy of Project Q Atlanta

Award-winning gay author, editor, and producer Andy Mangels at OutlantaCon 2009.

IDW, Image, as well as trading cards for Wizards of the Coast, Fleer, and Upper Deck.

Other events include audience-participation games like a gayrific twist on the classic TV game show Match Game, diva Moxie Magnus’ all-ages Star Trek-themed standup comedy, and “Zombie Ball,” a fundraiser for Georgia Equality.

A plethora of panels will cover an exciting variety of topics to stimulate your sci-fi senses.

They include: a Q&A with Phillips; “The World of Whedon,” examining the work of Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator and The Avengers director Joss Whedon; “The History and Importance of The X-Men,” “Mutants and Werewolves: Coded Gay Characters in Pop Culture,” and “Where’s the ‘Gay’ in Gaming?”

If the gamer in you is itching to go head-to-head with other enthusiasts, dive in to OutlantaCon’s gaming room, where a wide variety of board, card, and electronic – including Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 – games will be available for play. Be sure to also check out the market, where numerous dealers and vendors will have lots of goodies for sale.

For more information on OutlantaCon 2012 and a full schedule of programming, visit www. outlantacon.org.

More Info: OutlantaCon 2012, May 4 – 6, 2012 takes place at the Holiday Inn Select-Perimeter, 4386 Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd. Memberships $35 - www.outlantacon.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/OutlantaCon Twitter: @OutlantaCon

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Papi Hosts Atlanta’s Cinco de Mayo ‘Carnaval’ Outdoor Latin festival mixing up drinks, fun, and charity

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by Elijah Sarkesian

h, Cinco de Mayo. For people of Mexican descent, it’s a day to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride.

Historically, the day marks the defeat of French forces in Mexico in 1862. But you’re not reading this for a history lesson.

In modern times, Cinco de Mayo is a way to celebrate Mexican culture, the way holidays like St. Patrick’s Day and the Chinese New Year are used to celebrate broader cultural experiences. Knowing this, Las Margaritas is gearing up for their annual Cinco de Mayo party, with expectations that this will be their biggest party yet.

Cover Photo & this page

by Tim Wilkerson

Papi’s Cinco de Mayo Outdoor Latin Carnaval, as the event is billed, marks the tenth annual event for Cinco de Mayo from Las Margaritas. With the level of activity increasing on a yearly basis, this year’s event is the second to be held outside in the restaurant’s parking lot.

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Co-owner Oscar Valdivieso, also known as Papi, hopes that the event will serve as a way to connect the various parts of Atlanta’s LGBT community. “Atlanta’s very segregated. One of the things I shoot in my events is not only to give back to the community, through the non-profits, but also to bring all of the community together.

It’s why we have drag queens and singers [from different communities], because when you come to my event, it’s totally mixed.”

Valdivieso’s efforts to create a diverse atmosphere certainly come into play with the event’s organization. He likens the event to the

Brazilian Carnaval, with its bright and festive atmosphere.

No Cinco de Mayo party would be complete, of course, without top-notch entertainment, and Las Margaritas is pulling out the stops for this year’s line-up. DJ Karlitos, known for his work at Jungle, will be providing music throughout the day, along with DJ Chiruco from Chaparral’s Got Leche Fridays. Additionally, a Colombian salsa meringue band will be providing a more traditional musical experience.

Additional performances throughout the day add to the diversity of the event. Heading up the musical performances is up-and-coming singer Brie. Following an appearance on BET’s 106 and Park, where she came in first place in the program’s Wild-Out Wednesday Female R&B/ Pop competition, Brie released her debut EP, Vamp, in March.

Attendees will also experience production numbers from Alissah Brooks and Stasha Sanchez. Brooks is known in the Atlanta area for her performances throughout the city, notably during the first season of Dragnique. She’s also made waves recently through her friendship with The Vampire Diaries star Kat Graham.

Sanchez, meanwhile, holds several national competitive titles, including Miss Black America, Miss Gay US of A, Miss Black Universe, and Miss Ebony International. She is currently performing weekly at The Stars of the Century, Jungle’s weekly Monday night show.

Also providing entertainment during the event is JSin of Secretroom, a group that caters to the goth and fetish communities Aside from the main stage action, a number of secondary attractions will take place. Attendees will also be able to enjoy a number of activities, including face-painting, a photo booth, blackjack with Miss Lauren, and tarot card readings. A

number of treats, including homemade cotton candy and popcorn, will also be available.

Among the prizes being given away are masks and whistles to all guests, as well as Las Margaritas t-shirts.

In addition to providing a lot of fun for Cinco de Mayo, the event will also help out the Atlanta community. The primary beneficiary is Joining Hearts. The non-profit organization, which is commemorating its 25th anniversary, will split the proceeds between AID Atlanta and Jerusalem House.

A number of other organizations will receive contributions through special bartenders.

Representatives from the Atlanta Bucks, the Armorettes, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Hotlanta Softball League and other organizations will serve as bartenders throughout the day, with proceeds from each bar going to the bartender’s group.

Speaking of bars, Las Margaritas will be having specials on their namesake drink, which were voted by our readers as the Best Margaritas in Atlanta as part of David’s Best of Atlanta 2011.

In short, if you’re looking for a way to have fun this Cinco de Mayo, while also helping the Atlanta community, Papi’s Cinco de Mayo Outdoor Latin Carnaval is the way to go.

Papi’s Cinco de Mayo Outdoor Latin Carnaval begins at noon on May 5 at Las Margaritas (1842 Cheshire Bridge Road). Parking is available by valet near the restaurant and at Heretic; shuttle service will be provided to and from Heretic.

Protect Your Monster

by Richard Marshall

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Wild

About Jessica C

by Jesse A. Hancock

inco de Mayo will be extra spicy this year as RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Jessica Wild, from Season Two, sashays into town for the first time. Muy caliente!

Jose David Sierra, better known as Jessica Wild, will be joining Season Three contestant Mariah Balenciaga for a special performance Friday night, May 4, at Buford Highway’s Club Rush, formerly Chaparral. With these two sexy mamas onstage, and a few other surprises, this will be THE best place in town to get your margaritas and enjoy the fiesta!

“I’m so excited to come to Atlanta because I have a lot of sisters there,” said Wild, “and there are a lot of beautiful fans and people there. It has taken a long time, but I’m finally going to be there. All the girls from Atlanta say good things, like Nicole Paige Brooks, Mariah, Phoenix.”

Not just a drag queen, Wild is a make-up artist, choreographer, dancer and singer. Her inspirational story will be featured in a book being released in June 2012 entitled, “For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Still Not Enough,” edited by Keith Boykin, national best-selling author of “Beyond the Low Down.” The book is full of personal stories to help encourage people to be strong and accept and embrace diversity.

What do you think of this current season of RuPaul’s Drag Race?

This season has had a lot of young talent, and it has been a lot of fun to watch. It’s good to give the opportunity to young talent to express themselves, like my sister, Kenya Michaels. She is like a baby. This show opened a lot of doors for her. In my personal opinion, I love Latrice Royale, and I love Sharon Needles. Those girls are great! And Chad Michaels is an icon. I have a lot of respect for her. It’s a fun show really.

Who are you still in contact with of Season 2?

Really, I see all the girls all the time, but I am most in contact with JuJu Bee and Sahara Davenport because I live in Boston, and I have time to spend with them. Season Two is a really close family. I talk with Morgan and Sonique.

I’m going to see Sonique and Morgan and Raven next week. JuJu Bee and I support each other, and there is no drama. I can go to her house and she will cook for me, or she can come to my house, but since I don’t cook she cooks for me there, too. She is an amazing person.

Is it true you were selected to be on Season Two because you won an online contest?

Yes. That year they had this casting website, and I learned a lot. People put horrible and beautiful comments. It was hard, but in the end I won. The contest helped me get my face out there.

What have been some of the best experiences you have had as Jessica since finishing your season on RuPaul’s Drag Race?

So you live in Boston now, but you are from Puerto Rico. How is drag different in Puerto Rico, vs. the other places you have visited?

Jessica: The show opened a lot of doors for me.

I always wanted to become a singer, and I’ve been working on that. I have a lot of fans around the world, and I’m traveling all the time. So now I’m working at what I love doing, which is performing. It’s my full time job. I learned a lot from being on that show as a person and as an artist. I have a big family. My life changed a lot after being on the show but in a very good way.

Puerto Rico has amazing talent with lots of production. There you can find comedy, fierceness, professional dancers, and amazing makeup… and I think that’s why you are almost always going to see a Puerto Rican contestant on the show. They know we have a very big drag scene there and amazing talent. The new

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I moved to Boston about three years ago. Every place has a little different style, you know?

from Jessica generation is getting bigger and bigger because there are so many role models and so much support there. Just look at what is out there on YouTube. You might be like, ‘Is this Broadway, or what the hell is it?’ No, it’s just the drag scene in Puerto Rico. We are on point. I am very proud to be from Puerto Rico.

to the Latino Community and David Magazine readers:

like this is not easy, but you have the opportunity to prove “Pues quiero decirles que los quiero mucho, to people that they que mi comunidad latina la estoy repreare wrong. I proved it sentando con mucho orgullo, vamos a celebrar to my family, whose este Cinco de Mayo, y voy a estar dandoles support I have. I un espectaculo maravilloso el cual vamos started doing this a disfrutar muchisimo celebrando nuestras when I was 18, and raices nativas, voy a hacer musica en Espanol I’m almost 32. I para que cantemos y bailemos al ritmo Latino never quit, and now y que se que estamos bien orgullosos de lo que my family can see somos y PA LANTE y mucho ESCANDALO.” how hard I’ve worked.

Jessica Wild I can give money to my family doing this.

If shows like ‘Drag Race’ keep showing people that you are not Why do you think people today are becoming going to hurt yourself or others doing this, it’s more accepting of drag queens? going to be easier for families to accept. Some I think RuPaul’s Drag Race has opened so many people will have a problem with it, but that’s doors around the world in places where people why we need to keep working on it. didn’t know much about drag. When I’m travelling I see that it’s a big deal. I can be eating at Atlanta has seen a lot of drag queens come a fast food place and an old lady might start through town. What can we expect at your screaming, ‘Oh my God, Jessica Wild is here!’ performance at Club Rush?

Or maybe a straight boy starts coming toward It is going to be different because it will be me and I think he wants to hurt me, but he Jessica Wild performing, ha ha. My style is just wants a picture. The show is on Netflix high-energy. No matter if I’m tired, I’m crazy on and online, so people can keep watching. It’s stage. My biggest strength is performing. I love amazing. People can realize that we are real to make people happy. I’m going to flip my hair people with real dreams, and we love to enter- and make people want to dance. I’m going to tain. It’s our career. That’s why a show like this give a big show to the crowd. I’ve been waiting a helps more and more every year. Sometimes long time to perform in Atlanta. I’m so excited! people think drag is stupid or that we just want What else are you working on? Will we see to be girls, but seeing what goes on behind the you on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars or Drag U? scenes really teaches people more. We spend a I’ve been recording in Miami, and let me tell you lot of time and money on this, and it’s surprising a big hit is coming. I have a duet out already to people how much of a career it is for us. with a famous Mexican singer, Fedro. I’m going There is so much bullying and fear out there. to Mexico City soon. I will be doing a lot of TV What advice do you have for young people who shows in the Latin community to promote my want to try drag but are scared? music. We are under contract and not allowed I have the opportunity to talk with young people to say anything about the other upcoming shows a lot. I have done work with Youth Pride, and on Logo, but I will tell you that if they call me many of those kids keep telling me they were to be on ‘All Stars’ or ‘Drag U,’ I’m going to be kicked out for wanting to do drag or just for being there! I love those shows. If I’m not there, I will gay. I tell them to look at me. Gay? Drag queen? be supporting my sisters who will be. I’m going Latino? I fight with this everyday, but I pay my to keep going with my career. I’m very happy! rent and bills doing this. I’m doing what I love.

If this is what you want to do because you love Go to www.jessicawildshows.com to read more about to perform, you just have to be very focused. It Jessica and to iTunes and amazon.com to download her isn’t because you want to be a diva. If you create songs, “You Like It Wild” and “MAQUILLAJE,” a duet with a character and take it serious, you are going to Mexican singer, Fedro. Follow Jessica on Twitter at @ be successful. Don’t be scared. Anything in life JessicaWild88 and like her on Facebook. davidatlanta | 31

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Cinco De Mayo Party Planning

How to do it on a budget, or blow it out of the water

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by Rian Ashlei

inco de Mayo is my favorite “American” holiday, even before Christmas. I have never had an unpleasant one. Tequila, piñata’s, rowdy frat boys buying and taking shots, bad hats, it’s what good times are made of.

Low Brow

For budgeters and college students For lowbrow parties, the most important elements are the dress of the host, the food choice and the never-ending inexpensive tequila based beverage. This has been my style of Cinco de Mayo party throwing for many years. It works just fine and makes for epic partying.

Décor: 1 Obnoxiously Large Sombrero. It will probably be your most expensive purchase. It needs to be large and in charge. Velvet, colorful and embroidered. If you’re not lucky enough to have an authentic Mexican sombrero, hit Google and find one! It will excite guest and get everyone in the spirit, especially since decorations are not in the budget.

Food: Dip

Please note that this recipe is made to taste (no exact measurements here) and it won’t last long so make plenty of it if you’re anticipating a large turnout.

For a smaller party, maybe less than 20 people, you only need about 2-3 cans of diced tomatoes, specifically Rotel, 2 packages of ground turkey and the 5lb block of Velveeta cheese. Cook the turkey and season it…salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder will do. Cut the cheese up into cubes to help it with melting, and mix in the diced Rotel tomatoes…include the juice. Then turn the fire down and let it cook, low and slow. Won’t take long at all. To keep it warm throughout the party, throw it in a Crock-Pot. It will disappear, I assure you.

Beverage: Tequila Midday Do not drink a lot of this if you have to work the next day. It will trick you! This is my best friends’ take on a Tequila Sunrise, except instead of Grenadine or Cherry Juice you use Cranberry Juice.

Tequila? Well you could be a complete jerk and use the all time throat incinerator, Montezuma or try and be a little sweeter and gentler to your friends and use Sauza. Nearly every Latin restaurant makes this there house tequila so be kind.

This is also made to taste, so taste it…a little, so you’re not totally drunk before your guests arrive. For strong drinks, 3 parts tequila to every 1 part of cranberry juice and orange juice. You can adjust this for stronger or lighter versions. Add ice and serve.

Since you’re the host and you’ll most likely want to entertain, you should try and serve this from a large 5

gallon Igloo container so guests can serve themselves. For many years we did not have access to these so we used the 5 Gallon “Crystal” water dispenser. It worked great and made our friends laugh.

High Brow

Designed for the classy Décor: A piñata of course! Filled to the brim with delicious candied treats or loaded with inappropriate knick knacks.

Food: Catering Baby!

No one wants to be side tracked with a lot of food preparation, so pay someone else. Pura Vida or Eclipse di Luna or even a few dozen of the delicious fried chicken tacos from Frogs.

These restaurants make delicious bite sized tapas for you and your guests to snack on and they are not that expensive. And yes, I know Eclipse di Luna is Spanish, but it’s scrumptious.

Beverage: Margaritas & Sipping Tequila If you’re super fancy, you’ll want to have high-end sipping tequila available. You will want to make sure the label says “Añejo.” It is rested for at least a year in regular barrels and less than three years in small oak barrels. It’s smoother and doesn’t scorch your throat. Excellent choices are Herradura and Tres Generaciones (Editor’s Favorite: Don Julio 1942).

For traditional margaritas, opt for fresh lime juice and agave nectar instead of pre-made lime juice and triple sec; fewer calories and better quality taste.

And since you can afford it, send your friends with mini baby bottles of Patrón. They generally cost no more than $3 a piece and make your friends feel extra special.

Honestly speaking though, whichever route you take, you’re sure to have a good time. Tequila brings out the best in us all.

Maximillian’s Skinny Margarita 2oz blanco tequila (El Jimador is a cheap but tasty tequila, and Don Julio is a great one if you want something more premium) Splash of Soda Water 1oz Agave Nectar 1oz Lime Juice (fresh, not concetrate or pre-squeezed. You can buy fresh lime juice from most grocery stores and health food stores) In a shaker add ice, tequila and agave nectar.

Take the lime juice and cut it with equal parts water (fresh lime juice is very tart, so if you like tart, don’t cut with as much water). Shake and pour, and top with a small splash of soda water.

Mix to taste, so if you want it s w e e t e r, use more agave nectar.

This drink is low calories and very fresh.

Enjoy! davidatlanta | 37

“I Am Who I Am” Gay Atlantan founded Georgia’s largest advocacy group for Latino politicians – of all sexualities

J

by Stasha Oakley

erry Gonzalez is the founder and executive director of GALEO [Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials.]

After moving to Georgia from Texas and founding GALEO, he has received extensive awards and recognitions for his unfaltering activism. When he’s not hitting the streets to register voters or speaking on the capitol steps, he’s at home with Dr. Ray Deeb, his 40 | davidatlanta

partner of 15 years, and their dogs. Jerry talks to David Magazine about being gay and Latino, an activist, and blows off Cinco de Mayo (hint: it’s a battle victory, not Mexico’s independence day.)

David Magazine: What inspired you to start GALEO almost ten years ago?

Jerry Gonzalez: GALEO was started over 9 years ago to ensure we would create a catalyst for Latino civic engagement and leadership development.

On plans for May 5th: “[Laughing] Cinco de Mayo is not really a big Latino holiday, but I will actually be spending the day with my in-laws” GALEO has become well known and respected both statewide and nationally for providing a rational and important voice on the civil rights issue of our time, which is immigration.

Georgia has definitely been in the national spotlight for immigration legislation these past few months, what have been the main actions of GALEO during these intense state-wide legislative sessions and debates?

JG: To begin with, we are glad we were able to be a part of the diverse coalition which help defeat SB458, Georgia’s anti-DREAM Act, which would have banned access to higher education to undocumented students. GALEO lead the efforts in calling the scenario as an act of bullying against immigrant children.

Ultimately, the message resonated and many legislators really felt uncomfortable with denying immigrant children access to higher education.

Additionally, we are also following closely what will happen with the U.S. vs. Arizona in the U.S. Supreme Court later this summer. The decision would have national implications and would have an impact in Georgia. GALEO will continue to be at the forefront of this activity and engagement of our communities.

How do you balance being both an out gay man and also a very prominent Atlanta activist?

Immigration activism often includes working directly with faith based organizations that may speak out against homosexuality. Have any issues arisen and how did you deal with what could be a touchy situation?

JG: I am who I am. I am committed to justice, equality and fairness. I am a Latino leader and activist, who happens to be gay. Certainly, it has created some discomfort for some, but overall it has really been a non-issue in most cases. I have worked hard to earn respect and support

from the Latino community. Being gay is just a part of me that comes along with it. Being in a long-term committed relationship to my partner of over 15 years also adds to the dimension of being out in the community. When I get invited to events, my partner is sometimes by my side and is introduced as my husband or life partner.

It is who I am and part of my familia. Latinos accept familia and value family. Without the love, support and inspiration of my partner, I would not be able to serve the Latino community with the strong passion and commitment that I do serve. His support has been vital. The Latino community recognizes that, accepts it and respects that from me as well.

Both gay rights and immigration are volatile issues nationwide which can lead to gay immigrants being particularly silenced. Have you found certain issues that specifically affect gay immigrants?

JG: Certainly, the lack of immigration reform impacts gay bi-national couples. There are many such couples in Atlanta that struggle with being with the person they love because of the lack of recognition of marriage or lack of equal rights in immigration adjustment status.

In addition, there are concerns about growing HIV infections within the immigrant community because of the hostile environment that exists in our state. With people being afraid to come forward and avoid HIV testing or treatment, we could see some serious problems potentially brewing. Many of the HIV prevention and service providers do recognize these challenges and are at the forefront of addressing some of these obstacles to reach gay immigrants.

Lastly, there is the homophobia that exists within the Latino and recent immigrant communities.

It takes time and education to overcome some davidatlanta | 41

simply because of where they were born? Do we embrace them as brothers and sisters and neighbors? These questions are some that resonate with many within our GLBT community. The GLBT community should be paying attention to these matters because ultimately it will be how our nation and state will address our issues of fairness, justice and equality. If we allow for the marginalization of one group, then what group will be next? I urge GLBT David readers to become more informed and involved on these matters.

Gay Latino activist Jerry Gonzalez and his partner Dr. Ray Deeb, at the White House.

of these challenges. I am particularly hopeful because of recent studies indicating broader support among the Latino community for gay rights than what was previously thought. I would like to think that a big part of that movement has been with people coming out and making themselves known to their own families. As I mentioned before, familia is important and valued. Latino families love their gay brothers and sisters. It takes some adjustment, but the love in family is strong. My being out and open about who I am also is something that I can contribute towards greater acceptance. Knowing someone who is gay leads to the diminishing of homophobia within any community, especially within the Latino community.

What would you say to David readers that might think, “Oh well I’m neither Latino nor an immigrant, these things don’t affect me”?

JG: Injustice anywhere should not be tolerated. David readers should care because how the nation and our state address immigration matters will reflect who we are as a people.

Do we promote fear and ignorance of a people

You’ve won a lot of awards and been a major player in the activism scene, what has been your proudest moment with GALEO? JG: One of the proudest moments that I have had with GALEO has been watching our community leaders evolve and develop their own sense of leadership through further engagement and dedication towards community service. I have seen community members grow into grand community leaders simply for stepping up and taking on roles of leadership. We need more engagement and community members to step up and provide solutions for our community’s challenges and opportunities---both within the Latino and gay communities. Seeing more people engage is something that I am really proud of and will continue to encourage.

Since the theme of this issue happens to be Cinco de Mayo, what are you going to be doing on the 5th?

JG: [Laughing] Cinco de Mayo is not really a big Latino holiday, but I will actually be spending the day with my in-laws visiting from Florida.

Then, the following day, I will be registering voters at a festival at Centennial Olympic Park.

Anyone not registered to vote can come by and get registered with our organization. People can also register to vote online at www.georgialatinovote.com. Su Voto Es Su Voz! (Your Vote is YOUR Voice!)

Top 10 Tracks 1. Big Hoops (Bigger The Better) – Nelly Furtado 2. We Are Young – fun. Featuring Janelle Monae 3. Warrior – Mark Foster, A-Trak, and Kimbra

4. Dance Again – Jennifer Lopez

5. Leave the Lights On – Meiko 6. Tomorrow – Niki & The Dove

7. Beez In The Trap – Nicki Minaj

8. Only the Horses – Scissor Sisters 9. #1 In Heaven — MNDR

10. Disparate Youth — Santigold

By Dustin Shelby. Check out more music at Dustin’s blog at www.echodust.com

davidatlanta | 43

Barely Balanced & Loving It Georgia Renaissance Festival Returns

H

by Jesse A. Hancock

ear ye, hear ye! Put your worries aside, gather a few friends, and head back in time for a day. Well, actually just down I-85 South, to a medieval extravaganza! For the 27th year, the Georgia Renaissance Festival is back and ready-as-ever to win your hearts and create memories you won’t soon forget. With 32 acres to cover, you might want to wear some comfortable shoes. The festival grounds are filled to the medieval brim with colorful characters, creative artists, spectacular shows, ginormous turkey legs-to-die-for and other delights.

Open until June 3 on weekends 10:30am – 6pm and on Memorial Day, the festival will be gone again before you know it. Now is the time is now to go online and reserve your tickets. Parking is free.

While at the festival, one show you won’t want to miss is Barely Balanced, a hilarious sort of medieval Cirque du Soleil. Since Barely Balanced began almost a decade ago, front man Cameron Tomele says he and his team – Margret Ebert and James Freer – affectionately known to audiences as “Small, Medium, and Large,” take their jobs very seriously and are ready to help

44 | david atlanta

you have a good time.

“This job is very demanding, both physically and mentally,” said Tomele. “Not only that, but I’m a very hard boss. You have to be out here. You can’t slack off if somebody else’s life is in your hands. People wear out quick. You have to really love what you’re doing. We’re on tour pretty much the entire year. We may be home a couple weeks out of the year. A month at most.”

Thanks for taking the time to speak with us, Cameron. How would describe Barely Balanced for someone who has never seen your show?

That’s always such a hard question to answer, which is why I’m so glad cell phones have advanced and can do what they do. It’s just easier to show people. The show is kind of like what would happen if you combined human Jenga with stand-up comedy. It’s modern day vaudeville with my best friends and I stacked all over each other, throwing knives and fire while cracking jokes. We take what it’s like to be a 12-year-old and turn it into a show. We do everything our parents told us not to do, like standing on the top rung of a ladder and blatantly ignoring the warning sign.

How did Barely Balanced get started?

Well, we always say things in our show like,

Ren-Fairies, Butt Pirates, & Wack Wenches, Oh My! Gay Day is this weekend: Sunday May 6th Get 20% off tickets with this Discount Code: david www.garenfest.com/promo for David Magazine readers only ‘Don’t try this at home,’ but that’s exactly how we started. Most people talk with us us after our shows say, ‘Wow, that was really fun, but I’m glad that’s not my job’ or ‘I would never do that.’ But there are always a good amount of kids out there who we know are going straight to their friends and trying this stuff. We really don’t condone that, but it’s exactly how we got into it.

What’s new with Barely Balanced this year?

About every three weeks we put something new into the show. Within our regular shows we have a bunch of different stunts and comedy routines. We also have a bunch of new stuff that we just came up with. We’re still at that delicious point where you’re never really sure if it’s going to work or not, but it’s potentially successful enough that you have to try it in front of a crowd.

When it does succeed, there’s a magic in that.

Something I really love is succeeding with a new stunt in front of a live audience and seeing their

reaction. We are also debuting our ‘Wet and Wild Show’ this season, which is going to be a riot. We’re still trying to perfect it so we can perform it, since it does create such a mess.

How do you keep the show fresh both for you and for the audiences who come to see you more than once?

Obviously, there is going to be some repetition of things we do at each show, including some of the jokes, but we never wanted to be one of those acts whose show never changes.

There are a lot of people we know on the road who have been doing almost the same shows for twenty years. We try to get together at least once a week just to work on new stuff and to train to be able to do the stunts. We also try to make sure that whatever we are doing in the show, we are having a good time. We believe that if we are having fun, the audience will be, too. The audience can see when we are over it, tired of doing something. For me, it’s an honor to perform because it’s like I’m sharing a piece of myself.

How does the Georgia Renaissance Festival compare to other RenFests?

Georgia has a beautiful site. I love how when we get there we see lots of rolling green hills. We always come to Georgia right after a period in the desert in Arizona, so it’s so nice to get back davidatlanta | 45

work have a special LGBT day, and it’s usually something that is organized kind of on the underground, but that is pretty much consistently our favorite day of every festival. Our show is all about getting people to break out of their daily routines and really live life. We want people to celebrate what life is all about and just have fun being themselves. Those are the days that are easiest to get people to have fun. under the trees. All throughout the fair are these pockets and alcoves that are decorated really nicely. The grounds are just gorgeous. Also, we love the people from Georgia who attend. The kids are all so very well behaved. In other areas of the country the kids may be a lot more ill mannered. It’s always amazing how the kids in Georgia are so brave also. Some of the kids have come out to see us every year for several years, and they are always so polite. I love also how the crowd in Georgia is a lot more vocal, which is great for audience participation. If an audience member is going to shout out something funny, it’s usually in Georgia.

The Tortuga Twins and a few other acts at the Georgia RenFest have some very adult-natured themes. How do you compete with that? Do you try to keep all your shows family friendly?

I was at a Renaissance Fest a couple of years before I ever thought about performing, and I got to see different acts and really think about what it was enjoyed watching. When we first got into this we decided we always wanted this to be a show that anybody could enjoy. The movie ‘Shrek’ was a great inspiration. What we love about that movie is that there is a lot of adult humor, but it fits so perfectly that it usually goes right over kids’ heads, or they get it for a totally different reason. That was something that we wanted. So we may say a lot of innuendos, and we try to find that perfect mix if we can between physical and comedic elements. We always try to be unique. Having been on the road so much, we’ve found that we are almost the only ones doing the human stacking style acrobatics with vocal comedy. Being able to combine those things has helped us find our niche at these festivals.

You probably realize there are a lot of LGBT attendees here in Georgia. Does that change the dynamics or energy of your show in any way?

It makes us so happy! A lot of the festivals we 46 | davidatlanta

So would you say gays and lesbians make a good audience?

I would actually say they make the best audience.

As far as shows go and people in general it’s safe to say that anybody in show business knows what it means to celebrate life. I think that is a common theme in both the entertainer and LGBT communities. Any time you can mix those crowds up and increase diversity in the audience, it just makes the greatest shows. I love that we are able to bring people together from such different groups, such as gender, culture, or sexual orientation or whatever, and get them laughing. It’s all about just coming together as humans and having a good time.

I hear there is an openly bisexual kissing wench employed this year at the Georgia Renaissance Festival. What do you think of that?

I think that’s great! Right now there is a really interesting LGBT movement happening not just in the U.S. but around the world, and that’s an awesome thing. It’s great that someone else is helping push down those barriers. I applaud the Georgia Renaissance Festival for doing that. The more that people can be themselves, the better.

I read on your website that you are a writer and working on a young adult book.

It’s one of those things that I hope to finally get around to getting out there. I finished writing it last winter, but I haven’t had time to do the final edits on it. It’s great that we get to reach out to people like we do in our show, but there’s a certain level of creativity that I can tap into in writing. Hopefully, a publisher will pick it up this year.

Is there anything else you’d like to say to David Magazine readers about your show at the Georgia RenFest?

Come out to the festival and dress as wonderful and weird as you can. Make it one of the best days of your life!

calendar HERETIC Two step

MONDAY Beluga martini bar Martini Girls

Cabaret with hostesses Mr. Charlie Brown, Jealouse & more, 11pm $5

BLAKES ON THE PARK Manic Monday (retro night 70’s, 80’s, & 90’s) 10pm

Tuesday free 2 step lessons 8pm open dance till 11pm

HIDEAWAY Service Industry Night -

Employee Prices. Trivia w/ Will 9pm

MODEL T’S Texas Hold’em Poker 9:30pm SWINGING RICHARDS

No Cover Before Midnight, $5 After

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Price Appetizers 5-8pm

EAGLE Comedy TV- Free Pool FELIX’S Free Pool FRIENDS ON PONCE

Bad Boy Brian opens at 2pm

HERETIC Come play with Eddie 4pm-11pm HIDEAWAY $2.50 Domestic Beer JUNGLE Stars of the Century Show 11pm MODEL T’S Wheel of ? with Elvis 9pm

TUESDAY BLAKES ON THE PARK I Gotta Sing!

Hosted by Jerry Cyccone (Karaoke) 11pm

Club Rush HipHop til 4am, $5 COCKPIT DUDE: 80s Party, 9pm & 1/2 Price Appetizers 5-8pm

EAGLE Tuesdays with Tony FELIX’S Smirnoff Martini Night FRIENDS ON PONCE

Let’s Make a Deal 6pm

50 | davidatlanta

BLAKES ON THE PARK

5-9pm Doug’s Mid-Week Weekend party pop hits, Feathers & Flesh Revue 11pm

COCKPIT

Balls Deep Karaoke, 10pm with Mikey and Wesley & 1/2 Price Appetizers 5-8pm

EAGLE 80’s Music with Travis FRIENDS ON PONCE Team Trivia 8pm HERETIC H.U.M.P. Dress Code Party w/DJ Lydia Prim. 25¢ Keystone Light Draft all night long. No Cover!

HIDEAWAY

Craps & Blackjack with Miss Lauren

MODEL T’S Virtually Famous Karaoke with Pat & Tina 10pm

SWINGING RICHARDS 2-4-1 VIP Room XCESS ULTRA LOUNGE/TRAXX

Raquell Lord’s The Main Event Talent Show @ 10:30pm, Sign Up by 9:45pm.

Also Sophia Mcintosh & The Fabulous 5 +1 @11:30pm, 18+

got an upcoming event? email details to

calendar@davidatlanta.com MODEL T’S Morning Bagels / Texas Hold’em

THURSDAY

Poker 9:30pm

SWINGING RICHARDS

BLAKES ON THE PARK

$5 burgers all day, Texas Hold’Em Poker 7pm, Shawnna Factor Show 11pm

T-Shirt Review, $10 Cover

Club Rush Dance Party COCKPIT Rotating VJ’s & DJ’s (resident DJ

COCKPIT

Dirty Boy Bingo, 9pm w/ Ruby Redd

Diablo Rojo)

EAGLE Karaoke with Mikey

BLAKES ON THE PARK Pitcher Perfect

afternoon Absolut cocktails by the pitcher, Jealouse’s Daring Divas 10:30pm

FELIX’S Karaoke w/ Brett & Tyler 10pm FRIENDS ON PONCE Where Girls Who

EAGLE DJ Dance Party

Like Girls Meet Girls all night

FELIX’S Karaoke w/ Brett & Tyler 10pm

HERETIC 3 Legged Cowboy Night 9pm.

FRIENDS ON PONCE

Free Dance Lessons 8-9pm. No Cover!

Open @ noon with Bob Brewer

HIDEAWAY Levi & Leather Night

HERETIC Varies: Club Night or 3 Legged

JUNGLE Cherry Pop Thursday!

Cowboy Night - 10pm

LAS MARGARITAS

JUNGLE Club Night, Various Guest DJ’s.

Crazy Bitch Bingo 7:30pm

MODEL T’S Sexy & Know it Party 9pm

MODEL T’S Wheel of ? with Michael 9pm SWINGING RICHARDS

SWINGING RICHARDS

XCESS ULTRA LOUNGE/TRAXX

XCESS ULTRA LOUNGE/TRAXX

T-Shirt Review, $10 Cover

2-4-1 VIP Room & 2-4-1 Door Entry

Man 2 Man, Free 4 Men 25+ B4 12am

Turnt Up Thursday, No Cover, Hip Hop, Rnb & Reggae

SUNDAY

FRIDAY

Armorettes Drag Show at Burkhart’s

BLAKES ON THE PARK 5-9pm TGIF with Doug & Max, 1/2 price appetizers, Kitty LeClaw’s Meow Mix 10:30pm

BLAKES ON THE PARK Sunday Funday DJ Bill Berdeaux 3pm, DJ Daryl Cox 7pm

Club Rush Hip Hop w DJ Truz, no cover

Club Rush Got Leche? til 4am, $10 COCKPIT Rotating VJ’s & DJ’s, (resident DJ, Diablo Rojo)

COCKPIT PBR Beer Bust -- Open & Pouring FELIX’S

Bloody Mary & Mimosa Wallet Pleasers

EAGLE DJ Dance Party

FRIENDS ON PONCE Bad Boy Brian’s

FELIX’S Bartenders Serve It Up!

Smirnoff B Mary Bar 12:30pm

FRIENDS ON PONCE

HIDEAWAY

HERETIC Dj Lydia Prim no cover before

LAS MARGARITAS

HIDEAWAY After Work Martini Madness

MODEL T’S Sunday Dinner with Ron 3:30pm

Happy Times with Bad Boy Brian & Ken

11pm

Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar 12:30pm All You Can Eat Brunch 11am-3pm

JUNGLE Club Night, Various DJ’s

calendar | BARTAB

Music Reviews Jason Mraz Love is a Four Letter Word Jason Mraz’s fourth studio album, Love is a Four Letter Word, continues the growth of an artist.

Mraz blasted onto the scene with the platinum selling Waiting for My Rocket to Come. Mraz combined pop and intelligent rap-like word play to create a genre unto himself. While his sophomore album Mr. A-Z failed to garner the same success, his third album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things and the massive worldwide hit “I’m Yours” helped Jason hit his stride. “I’m Yours” spent 76 weeks in the Hot 100 besting LeAnn Rimes’ “How Do I Live” as the Hot 100’s longest running single.

It was “I’m Yours” and its honest lyrics and simple production that marked a shift in the style of music that Mraz makes. Love continues that style with simple love songs that espouse honest reflections. Mraz’s trademark wordplay is evident on the album but in a much more subtle way. “Frank D. Fixer” is a wonderful story song, “Living in the Moment” is a whistle along ditty that is perfect for any spring cleaning day, “In Your Hands” and “The Woman I Love” are both telling tales about the joys/fears of relationships and while the bridge of lead single “I Won’t Give Up” is reminiscent of Christina Perri’s “A

Thousand Years” verses, it too is a standout track. You can check Jason Mraz out (coincidentally with Christina Perri) this summer at Lakewood Ampitheater on August 18th.

Grade: B+

Norah Jones Little Broken Hearts Norah Jones has never been afraid to cross genre lines. Her debut album Come Away with Me combined elements of soul, jazz and pop to eventually earn diamond platinum status and five Grammy Awards. Jones followed it up with Feels Like Home which highlighted her affection for country music and featured “Creepin’ In,” a duet with Dolly Parton. Jones followed up with Not Too Late, The Fall and… Featuring – the latter of which consisted of collaborations with alt-rocker Ryan Adams, Q-Tip, Outkast and Ray Charles.

In 2011 Norah Jones worked with Danger Mouse and Jack White on Rome, an homage of sorts to 60’s Italian film scores. So it comes as no surprise that Norah Jones would recruit Danger Mouse to produce her fifth studio album. This provides Little Broken Hearts has a more electronic/electric feel. Lead single “Happy Pills” a kiss-off to a no-good man is just an example of Jones’ evolution. Other standout tracks include the dark “After the Fall”, “Say Goodbye” and album closer “Just a Dream”.

Hearts also exposes Jones’ dark side.

The haunting “Take it Back” opens with the lines “Won’t you take me away from here . . . there’s one missing part of me and I’m afraid it’s fine on its own . . .” delivered over an eerie guitar and piano laced track.

Jones surprises again with Little Broken Hearts. There is no musical stone she won’t overturn in an effort to deliver consistently solid material.

[Author disclaimer: My dog’s name is Miss Norah Jones so I fully acknowledge my bias.]

Grade: A-

by Joseph Brownell 52 | davidatlanta

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Music Review

Out of the Game?

Rufus Wainwright is Just Getting Started

I

by Corian Ellisor

love Rufus Wainwright just as much as many of my gay counterparts, and I expect a certain brooding melancholy cut with slices of dry wit. So, when I first listened to Out of the Game, I was shocked by its upbeat and poppy sound. Wainwright, who has cemented himself as the Liberace’ of present times, demonstrates his range and versatility by floating through several musical genres including rock, gospel and soul.

When I got over my initial shock, I found myself diving more into the psyche of the record.

Wainwright has gone through some personal growth since his last album, and it shows.

Between albums Wainwright both lost his mother and fathered a child. Both of these major events are highlighted in this album especially in the stand-out track “Montauk”. Written for his newly born daughter and in memory his mother, the song chronicles his daughter growing up and visiting her two dads. She discovers new facets to their relationship and also gets to know them as individuals. “Montauk” opens with the lines, “One day you will come to Montauk and see your dad wearing a kimono, and see your other dad pruning roses. Hope you won’t turn around and go.” Adding to the charm of this track are rolling arpeggios and huge orchestral swells that are very much true to Wainwright style.

Other tracks on the album explore the themes of

56 | davidatlanta

love, life and the pursuit of happiness. Game’s subject matter varies from gay men and their obsession with internet hookup sites, to the confessions of a heartbroken yet hopelessly optimistic romantic in “Bitter Tears”.

Responsible for the more pop-inspired sound of the album is producer Mark Ronson. You may remember him from his work with the late, great Amy Winehouse. Ronson uses 60’s inspired melodies on “Rashida” and “Song of You” that make the listener pay attention and rock from side to side.

If all that is not enough to make you want to buy this record, then watch the video for the title track from the album. The “Out of the Game” video features eccentric actress Helena Bonham Carter, who plays a sexually repressed librarian fantasizing about three different characters played by Wainwright. What more could anyone want? I know a menage-a-la-Rufus has been on my mind.

Whether you’ve never heard of Rufus Wainwright before or you’re a seasoned veteran of his poetic verse, you should pick up Out of the Game. He has gotten me through breakups with awful boyfriends and made road trips fly by with singa-long fun. This happy and effervescent record quenches the thirst of all people in the search of thoughtful music with a purpose.

Out of the Game hits stores May 1st, so do your part and support gay artists.

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FairyScopes

ARIES (March 20 – April 19): Mercury in your sign may have you convinced that you’re a silvertongued wit, but he’s likelier making you a motor-mouthed annoyance. Write down what you have to say and think about it carefully before you say it.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): Yes, darling, you are truly fabulous, but true fabulosity speaks for itself. Pushing it too hard is easy to do and only reveals your own doubts. That nagging voice inside your head may be pointing you to something you need to check out.

GEMINI (May 21- June 20): Trying to be the shining light among your friends may generate more heat than light. Give it a rest and just be your own sweet self. Your partner’s criticism is worth listening to. If you must argue, at least listen!

CANCER (June 21- July 22): Sharp awareness of the financial future can too easily degenerate into useless worries. Real as your problems may be, it’s too easy to imagine them as worse than they are. If you can’t take positive steps at least focus on constructive ideas.

LEO (July 23 – August 22): Normally you love attention, but now you are feeling conspicuous and a bit disconnected.

Feeling unsettled can make you argumentative. Relax.

Do what you do best and let your work speak for itself.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22): Talking filth with your sweetie could get you slapped, but is it a good slap or a bad one? Getting kinky can invigorate a relationship, but be very clear on limits, safety and clear communications. Harder and heavier does not always equal better.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22): If you’re wondering if a doctor should look at that the answer is yes. Building a real partnership includes hard work and hard conversations. If your mate is coming off as too competitive ask yourself what you’re doing to provoke that.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21): Those problems you see at work probably don’t need your solutions.

Discuss them gently, inquiringly with others concerned. Don’t insist. If your baby’s best attribute is sexiness you need to grow up and move on, but not necessarily today.

Scopes brought to you by Jack Fertig, professional astrologer since 1977. Visit his website at www.starjack.com.

60 | davidatlanta

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 20): Collaborative efforts will shine, but they do require effort. Share your best ideas gently and credit enthusiastically.

Promoting your own creative efforts is OK, too, but better if your partner does that for you.

CAPRICORN (December 21 – January 19): Get wild and crazy. You need a release.

Focusing that energy into a creative project is best, but don’t let that hang you up. Not a good time to take up an extreme sport, but that leaves a lot of room.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18): Your wicked mouth is like a superpower. Will you use it for self-indulgent entertainment or for the public good?

Bitchy acerbic wit needs a victim, but that’s the one thing that politicians are always good for.

PISCES (February 19 – March 19): Don’t let financial news throw you into a tizzy. Calm, discipline and cooperation will help you find solutions. Know who’s on your side and who you can confide in. Sudden inspirations aren’t reliable, but can point you to ideas that are.

Bitch! Session

Hey Daddy!

Can I get a Ride! *wink*wink* What is it going to take to teach certain people how to tip? I wish they would only get paid 5% for their time!

You remind me of when I was young and clueless.

Calling you a dirty liar would be an insult to dirty liars.

If the only Spanish you know is “Hola Papi” keep walking.

If you’re lucky: One drink takes 30 seconds to make. Walking to a kiosk, 25 seconds. Waiting on a kiosk takes 1 minute. Ringing in an order, 30 seconds. Garnishing and carrying a tray, 1 min. Multiply this by 600 people on an average Sunday Funday who also want a drink. Murdering the first person that dares ask, “wahhh! how much longer on my drink?!” ... priceless.

If you love something, let it go. If it doesn’t return, hunt it down and shoot it!

Anybody who told you to be yourself gave you awful advice.

Gotta Bitch?

Text 404.969.BTCH aka 404.969.2824 or email

bitch@davidatlanta.com 62 | davidatlanta

REALLY?!?

You’re a doctor and you’re parading around in your underwear at a bar like you’re 21? Grow up and start acting age appropriate!

Jesus may love you, but everybody else thinks you’re an ass!

You think you can wear girls pants and think you can be a top. Right. I can wear a fireman’s hat and think I can piss out a fire.

Maybe this year I won’t see anyone dressed up as a Mexican stereotype funneling margaritas.

If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw them compared to everybody else’s, we would grab ours back!!

To the “straight” blonde bartender at my favorite bar: I would have left you a bigger tip if u had given me some eye contact, but you were too busy with the blonde girl you were trying 2 pick up.

Get a clue honey. The queens are the ones with the money and you aren’t all that anyway. Neither was she!

No, I will NOT “see you later.” You shit on my dick!

Hooka if you don’t like our singing, then don’t come to karaoke!!!!!!

Stop pretending to be a top, it’s clear you’re a bottom.

Lose it Sucker! Suck it Loser!