Morrissey at the Warner Theatre

TNG co-founder, contributor and webmaster Michael submits this post.



Sexually ambiguous British pop icon Morrissey still has it. And the crowd still wants it. Morrissey played many of the hits from both his solo career as well as his time with The Smiths (as well as a few misses) and the audience ate it up. Look below the fold for a slide show.

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Ask A Straight Guy: The Airborne Toxic Event's Mikel Jollett

This post was written by TNG co-founder Zack.

The Airborne Toxic Event wonders why the crowd is so unresponsive.

L.A. jukebox-rock act The Airborne Toxic Event seperates itself from the rest of the indie-rock, "guitar and catchy chorus crowd" in one distinct way: Their band names references Don Delillo's White Noise. Given that I read "White Noise" at the impressionable age of 17 and it fast became my favorite book (which had as much to do with who I was as how it was written) it is my obligation to mention them on TNG. Their music might not be literary, but their name is and thats a start. Plus it gives me a chance to tell everyone that my 11th grade history teacher totally looked like Babbette.

ATE's guitarist/vocalist Mikel Jollett was nice enough to (very astutely) answer some of my questions about being straight. Full interview and ATE mixtape below the fold.

DC residents can check out The Airborne Toxic Event tonight at the Black Cat. Everone else can take a look at their tour schedule.

The New Gay: When did you first realize you were straight?

Mikel Jollett: 3rd grade. Sarah Heald. She had freckles and red hair and she wore the sweetest little dresses to school. I felt so dirty thinking about her that way since, you know, she was a girl and all. But she was so different. So feminine and pretty and nice. All I ever did was fight with my brother and play with our dogs and get mud on my pants. And so here was this girl, this sweet little red-haired freckled girl in a floral-print frock, and I was like, “Whoa. What the fuck is THAT?”

TNG: What is your least favorite stereotype about straight people?

MJ: You know, just that all we care about is being straight all the time. Like we’re always doing straight things, hanging out with other straight people, marching in our straight parades, watching straight TV shows, going to straight movies, dressing straight, talking all fucking STRAIGHT and everything. It gets annoying. Sometimes we just want to act normal.

TNG: What obligations, if any, do you feel that you have to the gay community?

MJ: Just to not be lame. You know, the whole gay/straight idea is sort of a construct anyway and there are very cool people who are gay and very lame people who are straight and 99% of the world falls somewhere in between both of these spectrums. Anyone who thinks that who you want to kiss is the measure of a person is probably trying to make up for some kind of inadequacy.

TNG: What are the biggest challenges faced by a straight person in today's culture?

MJ: I’d have to say straight marriage. Did you know that almost 50% of straight marriages end in divorce? (Even worse, the rest end in “death.”) It’s a scary world out there.

TNG: If you had to "go gay" for one member of the same sex, who would it be?

MJ: Jason Wishnow.

TNG: Given the seemingly endless number of "indie" artist in existence today, how do you think you set yourself apart from the crowd?

MJ: We hear that wearing feathers in our hair is super-indie these days, oh and so are florescent ray-bans and for some reason, Sweden. We work hard to keep up with it all. You know, “how to be indie,” “how to talk Swedish.” It’s exhausting. We check A LOT of websites.

TNG: Finally, why should Washington, DC come out and see you play tonight?

MJ: The bar has drink specials. TNG

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What We're Listening To: I Fought The Law Edition

TNG Music Editor Rocky submits this post for your listening pleasure.

So yesterday, for the first time in my life, I was called for jury duty. I'm of two minds. Part of me feels as though it's my civic responsibility, and something we all have to do in order to preserve our relatively just, civil society. Plus, it's interesting to see our actual judicial system at work rather than Jack McCoy, and it's a change from my normal routine. But the other part of me is annoyed. Why? Because I was actually picked to be on the jury. Apparently, of the fifty people in the courtroom, I was deemed one of the twelve sanest and most rational. Me! I can't even begin to tell you how messed up that is. But even if that's what I have to do all week, it doesn't mean you guys shouldn't get your mixtape fix, so welcome to What We're Listening To! This is TNG's weekly rundown of the music that we don't in any way object to. On the menu this week, we've got: Lily Allen, Lilofee, Go West, The Vince Guaraldi Trio and Ra Ra Riot. Check out our reviews, plus the mixtape below the fold...

Lily Allen—It's Not Me, It's You

I really don't know much about Lily Allen except that she has a pretty, slightly warbly British-accented voice and makes great pop songs. We got a copy of her January 2009 release, It's Not Me, It's You, here at TNG headquarters a few weeks ago, and I got slowly drawn in. The music is as to be expected, pretty pop songs, light and airy, elegant, blissful. The lyrics provide a strong contrast to the musical timbre. The first track ("Everyone's At It") is about how everyone is on drugs. Track 3 ("Not Fair") is how her boyfriend has problems with premature ejaculation and is really bad in bed. Track 8 ("F*** You") is an amazingly up-beat middle-finger to awful people (including homophones! Thanks Lily!). However, the song that nearly brings me to tears cry is Track 10 ("Chinese") where she sings to her boyfriend how she's coming home from a long trip and all she wants do to is come home, see his face, drink some tea, order chinese food and watch TV. Someone hand me a hankie. - Michael

Lilofee—"Lock and Key"

I discovered San Francisco-based band Lilofee, aka Kimi Recor and Rob Easson, last week and I can't get enough of their dark pop style. While Kimi is on record saying that she has a hard time writing anything besides fairy tales, the song I first became obsessed with is "Lock and Key" off of their album The Only Years - a synth-y ode to pansexuality and free love. What keeps the song from straying into "I Kissed a Girl" territory is the fun, clever and unapologetic nature of the lyrics. The first lines of the song set the cultural tone ("I'm part of generation sexually ambiguous/All the girls kiss all the girls/And the boys don't know what to do/So they borrow our pants and our shoes and our eyeliner too), the chorus offers a provocative challenge (Hey Mister, Hey Mister/I kissed your kid sister/Whatcha gonna do?) and the second verse explains the title (We were made to be explored by others physically/Like a lock with many, many, many different keys/And I play safe but I don't play by the rules...). Even if you don't listen to the words, the music is catchy and utterly danceable - I haven't been able to get it out of my head all week. - Jolly

Go West—Dancing On the Couch

An album of imponderable questions. What does that damned red couch have to do with anything? What are “Chinese Whispers,” and does it matter when the song sounds so good? Why did lead singer Peter Cox sabotage his future as a rock star to sing lounge-y songs like “From Baltimore to Paris” and “The King is Dead”? Is it an absolute requirement that every ‘80s album have one socially-conscious song like “Crossfire”? Why did the boys decide to include a slightly redone version of “Don’t Look Down” from their first album? Is heaven an Alan Murphy guitar solo? And can anyone work a metaphor like Go West? Cox’s sexy, tormented vocals on “Masque of Love” use dancing and boxing as stand-ins for the difficult negotiations of a relationship’s end and run double puns on the meanings of “masque” and “mask.” Trust me, it totally works, and for ‘80s pop music, this is brilliant writing. What can I say? I used to be an English teacher, I’m still a dork, and I get all riled up about this stuff. - Philip

Vince Guaraldi Trio—Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus

My boss has been out all week which means I can listen to music in the office. So, what album to turn to when I want great music that doesn't distract while I work? Vince Guaraldi's 1962 album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus is easy-breezy listening but structurally solid. Guaraldi was inspired by the 1959 film Black Orpheus, which took the ancient Orfeo and Eurydice legend and set it in Rio during Carnaval. Guaraldi's take on this film's soundtrack is filled with fantastic bossa and samba dance rhythms, strong choruses and freewheeling improv exchanges. And if Guaraldi's smooth piano tricks make you think of Charlie Brown and Snoopy, it's for a good reason: Guaraldi did all of the original music for the Peanuts movies. As great as those soundtracks are, they shouldn't overshadow this album or his other work. - Chris

Ra Ra Riot—"Can You Tell"

I haven't fallen this hard for a song in ages. I'm obsessed. Seriously. According to iTunes, in the past four days, I've listened to it 54 times. I'm listening to it right now. It's just such a sweet, sexy little love song that also happens to rock. Oh, and the strings just absolutely kill me. Now, admittedly, I don't know a whole lot about Ra Ra Riot, but the song is from their album, The Rhumb Line, and if "Can You Tell" is any indication, that album is probably amazing. I'll let you know, if I ever get past it. Also, the video is new my favorite thing, not only because the leader singer is so hot I don't even know what to with myself, but it's so simple and cute and clever that your heart might start doing cartwheels. Now before you say anything, yes, it seems to be about falling in love with your girlfriend's sister, but in a sweet, totally non-skanky way, so chill and enjoy! - Rocky


And without any further ado... THE MIXTAPE!

Click me!

As always, I added a few extra songs. This week's theme is pretty simple: classic songs about breakin' the law, son! Here's the playlist:

The Clash - "I Fought The Law"
Ra Ra Riot - "Can You Tell"
Lilofee - "Lock and Key" (Jolly)
Velvet Underground - "Waiting For My Man"
The Vince Guaraldi Trio - "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" (Chris)
Mobb Deep - "Shook Ones"
Sublime - "Scarlet Begonias"
Steve Miller Band - "Take the Money and Run"
Serge Gainsbourg - "Bonnie and Clyde"
Lily Allen - "Chinese" (Michael)

Unfortunately, Philip's selection was unavailable this week, but he was kind enough to provide us with a video, which you can access by pressing this.

And with that, I shall bid you a fond adieu. Hopefully, the government will have given me my life back by next week, and WWLT will be back at full strength. Have a happy week!

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Your Morning Upper: That Boy Needs Therapy!

This post was written by TNG co-founder Zack.

Ahh, spring. The time of year when a young boys fancy turns to that of... Sorry, what was I saying? A warm breeze just blew through my window and I lost my train of thought. This weekend's preview of warm weather left me pulled in so many directions that I feel like Stretch Armstrong: tugged between work, fun, and the fact that I was getting sick, I couldn't concentrate on anything for more than ten minutes at a time. I was getting sick, so I slept until 2 on Saturday, watched 5 episodes of Friends (and reawakened a very embarrassing crush on Ross) and ate my weight in chinese food. But it was so nice out that I also went over to a friends house and drank whiskey until 3:30 a.m.... ostensibly to help my throat. Today I was supposed to do laundry but instead had an hour long New Pornographers dance party in my living room while my boyfriend was at the grocery store.

The above video, for The Avalanches' "Frontier Psychiatrist," is a pretty good representation of what my thoughts sound like this season. A big jumble that might not make too much sense, but is really joyous and fun to listen to. Happy mudluscious-ness, everyone!

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The Indie Rock Fag Stalks Neko Case

"The Indie Rock Fag" is TNG co-founder Zack's new weekly column. Please be kind to it.

Original illustration by Ryan Blomberg.

Disappointment, Neko Case be thy name! The flame-haired Americana chanteuse with the unreal voice put out her newest studio album, Middle Cyclone, two days ago. Which means she has two sold-out DC dates booked at the 930 Club for April. Which means that I have been told, once again, that she does not have any time in her schedule to be interviewed by me. Granted, she is one of the best-loved singers in American and I'm just some kid in a t-shirt fucking around on a computer. She doesn't owe me anything. But I have seen her — either solo or with her other band, The New Pornographers — 4 times already and tried to interview her every time. Usually this just involves pestering her publicist with emails, but at last Septembers Austin City Limits music festival I took a more active role and waited for her for three hours in the press tent, just in case. She never showed.

Though my interview requests for the current tour have once again taken the form of email flurries, I am starting to realize that all my tenacity is verging on a darker name. So if I'm going to stalk Neko Case I might as well articulate some of the reasons why. You can check out a full list, along with a Neko Case mixtape, below the fold. All songs not hyperlinked are included in it.

1. Her Ridiculously Obtuse Lyrics: Who would you rather spend an hour at dinner with: Boo Radley or Andrew Dice Clay? Someone who puts every facet of their personality on public display might make for good tabloid fodder, but doesn't leave a whole lot of mystique to unpack. On the other hand, Neko's lyrics are so elliptical that they beg to be pored over like some tattooed, PBR-drinking scholar of the talmud. "Margaret vs Pauline," "Deep Red Bells" and "Things That Scare Me" seem to touch on the injustices of the American class system. "Maybe Sparrow, "Fox Confessor..." and "The Tigers Have Spoken" use animal imagery to, maybe, make deep points about love and relationships. And who knows what the hell "Star Witness" is about? I personally think its a retelling of "An Occurence At Owl Creek Bridge" with a car accident, but I could be wrong. Thats why I'd rather ask her myself and get a straight answer.

2. I Owe Her An Apology: About a year ago I blurted out something insensitive at the most recent DC New Pornographers show (April '08, if you're wondering) and Neko called me a douchebag. I pretty much deserved it, but have never had a chance to say I was sorry. Doing something jerky and not clearing the air drives me crazy. If I snap at my boyfriend about something inconsequential in the morning I can't enjoy myself until I can track him down on gchat and apologize. I still feel bad about something mean (yet warranted) I said to my college roommate when I was 19. It would be nice to be able to say to her "Hey Neko, someone you've never met and have never given a thought to feels bad. How would you feel about assuaging him?"

3. I want her to sing at my wedding: One of the most perfect days of my life so far — October 27, 2007 — culminated with a near-magical New Pornographers concert. It might have been the weed n' whiskey combo I ingested before hand, it might have been the halloween costumes and close proximity of my boyfriends' hand. It might have been the fact that no one called me a douchebag. But when Neko belted out "Go Places" (a song which, granted, she didn't write) I was struck so fully with the size of her voice that I wanted to harness it to power my house and end war. Barring that, I just want a handle on what makes her so compelling as an artist and a semi-public figure. And once that happens we'll become best friends and she'll wear a seafoam green dress to my nuptials and belt out the world's most ethereal covers of "Precious and Few" and "Every Breath You Take." (A song which is itself about stalking. See how I come full circle?)

4. I Like To Pretend She's A Lesbian: The first time I saw Neko solo (August 16, 2007, if anyone is counting) my friend Rachel pointed out that there seemed to be some sexual tension between her and her backup singer, Kelly. It was probably just the overactive imagination of a lesbian and gay man who were too far back in the 9:30 Club to really pick up nuances, but since then its been fun to look for sapphic tinges where there probably are none. What exactly is the relationship between Margret and Pauline? Did Neko have a brown-haired lady that "fed" her when she was a "baby?" Why does it seem so incongruous to her character in "People Got a Lotta Nerve" when she sings about being a "man-eater? More than anything, the opaque nature of her songwriting just reminds me of the secrecy I used to practice when I was concerned the whole world would infer my sexuality from a simple turn of phrase.

If I actually got to ask her this, though, chances are she's probably just say "Fuck you, I'm no lesbian. I've forgotten more about sucking dick than you ever knew." But a guy can dream, right? Its for that reason that I actually haven't read her new interview with the New York Times. All it takes is one mention of a boyfriend or husband for the dream to get shattered.

5: I Want To, Damnit!: It's just that simple. I've worked my fingers to the bone sending interview request emails. Made my neck and left shoulder sore by pinching a phone between them on the times that I tried to call her publicist while also typing up a post. I got a very mild sunburn waiting around in the Austin City Limits press tent to see if she's show up. I ate too many sandwiches because I had nothing else to do there, for Christs' sake! Who does a guy have to blow around here to get an interview with Neko Case? Ahem. Sorry for that. What I meant to say is that she is a talented artist and intriguing, enigmatic figure and I would be honored to pick her brain.

So there you have it. Any tips about how I can either make this happen or get over it? Anyone out there in TNG-ville have a similar obsession?

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What We're Listening To: Coming In Like A Lion Edition

TNG Music Editor Rocky submits this post for your listening pleasure.

Man, I thought we were gonna get off scot free this winter. Didn't you? There's something just so exceedingly obnoxious about snowstorms in early March. It's like spring is right there. I can see it. I can taste it. But, no! You get ten feet of snow instead. Sigh... Well, hopefully, like me, you got or gave yourself a snow day. And remember, spring is only three weeks away. "Three weeks... three weeks..." That'll be my mantra (until next week at least). In the meantime, at least we have the gift of sweet, sweet music! Welcome to What We're Listening To, TNG's weekly column that breaks down the music (and occasionally the other things) keeping us warm at night. On the menu this week, we've got: Phoenix, Freshlyground, Icehouse, Rush, Obi Best, Mates of State and Dan Deacon. Our reviews and the beloved mixtape await you below the fold...

Phoenix—"1901"

I always get this mix of excitement and trepidation when I hear that a band which I've associated with a particular part of my life is releasing a new album. There are so many memories attached - what if it sucks? So when a friend sent me a link to the song "1901" off of the French pop/rock band Phoenix's upcoming album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, I was nervous. Phoenix was a big part of my college experience, both the good (dangerously overcrowded dorm room dance parties) and not-as-good (a debacle of a failed attempt to see the band live which ended with me sleeping in a friend's car in downtown Philly) times. All hesitation melted away, however, the first time I heard the ridiculously catchy and danceable track and have literally pressed "Repeat" on it over and over again all week. The only disappointment, in fact, is that I have to wait until the end of May to hear the rest of the album. - Jolly

Freshlyground—Nomvula

I fell in love with this 7 person band when I saw them live at an HIV/AIDS March on Parliament while studying abroad in South Africa in the Spring of 2005. They broke into the music scene with their first album "Jika Jika" in 2003, blending traditional African music with folk, blues, and jazz. Each member of Freshlyground brings something different to the table, marrying different styles and cultures. Often singing her her native language Xhosa, front woman Zolani Mahola seduces the audience with her smoky voice, while Simon Attwell's dancing flute and Kyla-Rose Smith's plucky violin [not to mention her dashing good looks] keep your foot tapping even on the slower songs. - Maggie

Icehouse—Man of Colours

I bought this for the hits, “Crazy” and “Electric Blue.” And “Crazy” is a terrific romantic power ballad, maybe the best out there—but “Man of Colours,” the softer, gently-sung story of an elderly painter observing the world through the window in his attic room, is even more affecting. And “Electric Blue” is a perfect pop song, bright synths and a killer, soaring chorus—but the hard-charging “Nothing Too Serious” and inspirational “Touch the Fire” equal that feat. So I came for the hits, but I’m staying for the sheer number of great songs, and I’m guessing that Man of Colours is going to be in heavy rotation for a long time on my own personal playlist. - Philip

Rush—The Spirit of Radio

This greatest hits album by Canadian rock band Rush is an excellent overview of the group's work. The music is very "80s" sounding with lots of synth--great stuff. Of particular note is "Closer to the Heart." This song is a bit slower, but I love the melody. Another great track is "The Trees" which, with its civil rights era lyrics, is particularly appropriate to TNG. MY favorite, however, on the album is "Subdivisions." As an urban planner and urban dweller, I agree with the songwriter--'the suburbs have no charms to soothe the restless dreams of youth." But in light of recent discussions here on TNG, it's also apt because it considers the 'subdivisions' of society into which we must fit or 'be cast out.' - Matt

Obi Best—Capades

Zack and I checked out this new band last week after listening to their album a few too many times. Alex, the band's frontwoman, has an impressive vocal ability and a cool, funky vibe that shines through in this quirky-but-substantive debut. "Nothing Can Come Between Us Now" - which has the lyrical caveat, "except for a big problem" - is the best song on the album, kicking it off with a hypnotic piano line and subtly pulsating beat. "It's Because Of People Like You," another highlight, tells the horrors of having a nasty note left on your car due to a bad parking job. Favorite line of the album: "You're still here on the second verse / On the third we break up, baby how it hurts." - Corey

Mates of State—Re-Arrange Us

I'm trying to figure out a way to say this without sounding like a complete nerd or a total jackass, but there's just no good way to go about it, so here goes...I first heard Mates of State on This American Life. Ira Glass told me they were great. I would follow Ira Glass off a cliff. So, here we are, a few albums later and I owe Mr. Glass a thank you note. This husband/wife team are pure fun. They're heavy on the keyboards, percussion and strings, and weave tight vocal harmonies that are nearly instantly catchy. This is not complicated music - it's good clean stuff done well with a tip of the hat to 80s synth bands. And to sweeten the deal, there are still tickets available to their April 4th show at the 9:30 Club. - Chris

Dan Deacon—Bromst (March 24)

I know I'll probably get some shit for this, but, as a native Washingtonian, I was raised to be pretty dismissive of all things Baltimore. All those years having to suffer the indignity of rooting for the Orioles taking its toll on a city's psyche, maybe? So in the earlier part of the 00's, when the whole Baltimore scene (Wham City, Artscape, Club music, etc.) started really coming into its own and rising to national prominence, I admittedly didn't pay too much attention. Turns out I've been missing some cool stuff. (Obviously.) Recently, I got my hands on an advanced copy of electronica wizard/local celebrity Dan Deacon's new album, Bromst, and I have to say I'm kind of in love with it. Like a lot of his previous work, it's weird and freaky and chaotic, but it feels like a much more controlled chaos. Beneath all the beats and loops and feedback and craziness, there's a rhythm and a light that are infectious. It's joyful and I haven't felt compelled to use that word to describe much lately, so I guess... spring's coming? Think of it as Merrweather Post Pavilion's maniacally chipper little sister and be sure to check it out later this month. - Rocky

And now, without any further ado... THE MIXTAPE!

Click me!

As usual, I went ahead and added a few extra tracks and one teensy substitution. Since Bromst isn't out yet, playlist doesn't have any of tracks. (Although, as of yesterday, you can check out the whole thing here...) So for my official pick, I chose a track I really like from Dan Deacon's 2007 release, Spiderman of the Rings, called "The Crystal Cat." I don't think it's necessarily as sonically interesting as the new stuff, but it's fun and a good primer for the stuff you'll hear if and when you get ready to wrap your mind around the new album.

For the first bonus track, remember Franz Ferdinand? That first eponymous album? You were probably drunk. But remember how their second album kind of sucked? Well, the Scottish indiepoppers are back and their new single isn't half bad. Dirty lyrics and dance beats, just like back in the day.

Next, folky singer/songwriter M. Ward's new album Hold Time is so good I want to give him a hug. It's absolutely the perfect album to weather you through the schizophrenic meteorological shitstorm that is March in Washington, DC. It's a little dreary and sad, but full of warmth and surprises. "Stars of Leo" is a particular favorite.

And, finally, on New Year's 2004, my best friend was driving me home and played me Rainer Maria's "The Double Life" from the album Long Knives Drawn. I then proceeded to make her listen to it another 50 times, because it's so gay and it doesn't even know it! I'm guessing it's actually about an affair, but when taken out of that context, the lyrics are like manna from heaven for a semi-closeted 23-year-old. Especially one that actually did dream of waking up on the Lower East Side in the arms of some crazy/beautiful artiste. (There's still time I suppose...) Anyway, it's always been a personal favorite of mine and since the playlist.com gods approved, I figured I'd tack it on. I hope you enjoy, and here's the full playlist.


Mates of State -"My Only Offer" (Chris)
Obi Best - "Nothing Can Come Between Us" (Corey)
M. Ward - "Stars of Leo"
Rush - "Closer To The Heart" (Matt)
Dan Deacon - "The Crystal Cat"
Phoenix - "1901" (Jolly)
Franz Ferdinand - "No You Girls"
Icehouse - "Electric Blue" (Philip)
Rainer Maria - "The Double Life"
Freshlyground - "Doo Bee Doo" (Maggie)

Much love to all! See you next Tuesday!

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Ask Two Straight Guys: Blitzen Trapper's Drew Laughery and Brian Adrian Koch

This post was written by TNG co-founder Zack.

Blitzen Trapper prepare to cover "Everything's Gone Green."

A fun side effect of music writing is the moment a band turns from "group you always hear hyped, but never listen to" into the creators of your new favorite song. My experience with Portland folk-rock sextet Blitzen Trapper was that their name reminded me of a reindeer hunter and that people really liked them. Then I fell into a copy of the fourth album, last year's Furr, and fell in love with the title track. The Ovid-worthy ballad about a boy turning into a wolf and back was a nice gateway to the rest of the album, an even mix of The Band and pre-Yankee Hotel Foxtro Wilco.

Blitzen Trapper's keyboarder Drew Laughery and drummer/vocalist Brian Adrian Koch were nice enough to answer some of my questions about being straight. You can read the full interview and check out a Blitzen Trapper mixtape below the fold.

Blitzen Trapper plays a sold out show tonight at the Black Cat.

The New Gay: When did you first realize you were straight?

Drew Laughery: When at church, at 13, the sports illustrated swimsuit pages I had torn out and stuck in my bible spilled out in the middle of service. My dad reached down to help pick up the spillage. He was red with anger/embarrassment. It was then that I realized I was different.

Brian realized it on a wednesday evening and it just stuck. He continues to re-realize it every Wednesday.

TNG: What is your least favorite stereotype about straight people?

DL: Polo shirts

Brian Adrian Koch: That we are all amzing spellerz.

TNG: What obligations, if any, do you feel that you have to the gay community?

DL: To be the best straight person I can be, and Brian volunteers a lot. I mean a lot.

TNG: What are the biggest challenges faced by a straight person in today's culture?

DL: What's for dinner?

BAK: Making decisions. That's what's for dinner.

TNG: If you had to "go gay" for one member of the same sex, who would it be?

DL: Brian is the only one for me.

BAK: Drew and I are constantly mistaken for twins, and that's fine by me. I see myself in him and I like that. Why go to the store for milk when you have a cow at home?

TNG: Given the seemingly endless number of "indie" artists in existence today, how do you think you set yourself apart from the crowd?

BAK: Eric [Menteer] writes amazing songs and has the largest lymph glands in the country. It's a powerful combo.

DL: Hmmmmmmmm... one word "superolfactroysmellingsenses"

TNG: Finally, why should Washington, DC come out and see you play tonight?

DL: Because I will be performing with my pecs out.

BAK: Drew's pecs and we love gay people.

DL and BAK: Thanks for asking. see you at the show.TNG

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DC9 CONCERT OF THE WEEK: DC9 5 Year Anniversary

This advertorial was written by TNG co-founder Zack.

Jukebox the Ghost present a strong argument for men with beards.

As the home of alterna-queer dance party Taint and performance night Crack, 9th St.'s DC9 has proven itself as a queer-friendly business for close to five years. Please continue to support them by checking out this concert. (Yes, this is a paid advertorial but I'm doing TNG full time now and need to pay my rent:)

Sunrise, sunset. Though it seems just yesterday that DC9 was bald, wrinkled and covered in its own afterbirth, the 9th St. rock club is celebrating its fifth anniversary tomorrow and bringing in some vaunted regional talent to help. Piano-heavy local boys Jukebox the Ghost will headline with Baltimore act J-Roddy Walston and The Business. Special guest DJ Marc-Alan Gray rounds out the festivities. Considering that I've seen regular tuesday nights at DC9 spiral quickly into bachanallian revelry, a birthday party like this one — with a midnight to 3 am happy hour— will probably leave you with a headache, some memory gaps and big honking smile. You should check it out.

Jukebox and co. play this Saturday, Feb. 28th, at DC9. (1940 9th St., NW.) Doors at 9. Tickets are $10 before midnight, $5 after midnight if it's not sold out. You can buy them now.

You can also check out a Jukebox the Ghost mixtape below the fold.

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Ask a Straight Guy: Harlem Shakes' Lexy Benaim

This post was written by TNG co-founder Zack.

Its all fun and games until Harlem Shakes loses an eye... or a drummer.

"Make a little money. Take a lot of shit. Feel real bad. Get over it."

The above sentiment, expressed in Brooklyn band Harlem Shakes' infectious single "Strictly Game" is a microcosm of why I find their music so alluring. Their lyrics have a tossed-off spontaneity that combines with unassuming hooks and a general driving energy to create music that says a lot more than it wants you to pick up on. It's like the way that kindergarten teachers trick kids into learning when they think they're just having fun: the songs reel you in by being catchy and pretty before you realize that the lyrics have some resonance. The band debut LP "Technicolor Health" comes out in a couple weeks: those who don't have tickets to tonight's sold-out opening gig for Tokyo Police Club should wait patiently to check it out.

Harlem Shakes' vocalist Lexy Benaim was nice enough to answer some of my questions about being straight. Full interview and video for "Strictly Game" below the fold.

Harlem Shakes open for Tokyo Police Club tonight at the Black Cat. Sold out.

The New Gay: When did you first realize you were straight?

Lexy Benaim: After watching Billy Idol's "Rock the Cradle of Love" video when I was about 4.

TNG: What is your least favorite stereotype about straight people?

LB: That we have a Hollywood mafia.

TNG: What obligations, if any, do you feel that you have to the gay community?

LB: To speak out for the causes we believe in like the right for gay people to get married. To pressure James Franco into a homosexual lifestyle.

TNG: What are the biggest challenges faced by a straight person in today's culture?

LB: Pretending to hate "Project Runway" and watching the Super Bowl every year no matter what.

TNG: If you had to "go gay" for one member of the same sex, who would it be?

LB: Will Smith.

TNG: Given the seemingly endless number of "indie" artist in existence today, how do you think you set yourself apart from the crowd?

LB: We have a "no plaid" rule.

TNG: Finally, why should Washington, DC come out and see you play tonight?

LB: What else are you gonna do? Watch C-Span? Write a whistle-blowing memo? Just come to the show.TNG

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Ticket Giveaway: Benjy Ferree @ The Black Cat

This post was written by TNG co-founder Zack.

Marker? I didn't even comb 'er!

If I lived in Brooklyn I'm sure that seeing local musicians would be ubiquitious to the point of humdrum. Every indie band and their brother seems to hail from that sleepy hamlet. But a DC-area musician? That's something to crow about. Though the last wave of local artists like Ted Leo and the Dismemberment Plan still garner worldwide respect (ok, Crystal Waters too) there haven't been many District residents getting attention this year. PG-country native Benjy Ferree, however, should be enough to tide some of us over until the next Le Loup record.

Combining folk rock, americana and a bizarre concept about a fallen-from-grace child star, Ferree's newest album "Come Back to the Five and Dime Bobby Dee, Bobby Dee" gets it release party this Saturday, Feb. 28th, at the Black Cat. To win tickets, simply answer the below question as both a comment and an email to Zack@thenewgay.net. Please don't enter unless you are able to attend:

What is the true sound of DC? College kids vomiting on 18th Street? Women getting cat-called in Columbia Heights? Most creative answer wins.

Contest closes Friday at noon. In the meantime, check out a Benjy Ferree mixtape below the fold.

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Ask A Straight Girl: Drug Rug's Sarah Cronin

This post was written by TNG co-founder Zack.

Love rows where Sarah Cronin goes.

Cambridge folk-pop band Drug Rug, like blue cheese, is the kind of slowly-acquired taste that eventually gives way to life-long devotion. What first sounds like a warbly amalgamation of Wings and someone who swallowed too much helium will reveal, on subsequent listens, a core of catchy songwriting that tends to be perfect for getting oneself through the tenacious last days of Winter. This is partly thanks to the warm, affirming music and half because of the fact that band's lead members, Sarah Cronin and Thomas Allen, are a couple. Awww. These days they are rounding out their sound with a full band and touring in advance of their new LP which is due sometime in the summer.

Cronin was nice enough to answer some of our questions about being straight. You can check out the full interview, and a Drug Rug mixtape, below the fold.

Drug Rug plays tonight at DC9. Show starts at 9. $8.

The New Gay: When did you first realize you were straight?

Sarah Cronin: I guess as long as I'm in a monogamous heterosexual relationship I'll be straight.

TNG: What is your least favorite stereotype about straight people?

SC: That we're good at basketball and we can't dance.

TNG: What obligations, if any, do you feel that you have to the gay community?

SC: To vote for and advocate equal rights in all measures.

TNG: What are the biggest challenges faced by a straight person in today's culture?

SC: Staying off drugs. Not eating too much party pizza. Finding a Harry Potter costume that will fit a size medium adult.

TNG: If you had to "go gay" for one member of the same sex, who would it be?

SC: Britney Spears. Friends first though.

TNG: Given the seemingly endless number of "indie" artist in existence today, how do you think you set yourself apart from the crowd?

SC: I just do it.

TNG: Finally, why should Washington, DC come out and see you play tonight?

SC: Because I'm learning how to play the organ. TNG

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