Sue Ellen’s hosts Dallas Lesbian Festival this month

We just noticed the flyer over on Sue Ellen’s site for this year’s Dallas Lesbian Festival. And the lineup is looking pretty heavy featuring the return of Deborah Vial. We hear she has been hanging out in Hawaii but will come back to Big D to headline the festival. Not to worry. The rest of the lineup also includes locals Ciao Bella, Anton Shaw and the Michelle Johnson Band.

However, nothing against our Dallas girls, we are kind of stoked about L.A.’s The Dollyrots and San Francisco’s The Action Design being on the bill. In fact, we’re kind of surprised they aren’t higher on the bill. The Dollyrots have received some buzz on NPR’s All Songs Considered and we heard they killed at SXSW this year. And two touring bands on this bill really amp up the lineup. We know our Dallas girls can kick it, but some new and legit rock can only make this show kick ass.

The festival takes place May 24 with advance tickets now on sale. Proceeds from the show benefit Dress for Success, a nonprofit “promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.” Muy fab.

Something we noticed. On the site, it says the Melrose is offering special DLF room rates. And then we chuckled. Lesbian festival – DLF – DILF – not MILF – orrrr, maybe it was just us.

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Some more SXSW stuff

While one might consider the Perez Hilton event the gay highlight of the festival, that honor really belonged to the GayBiGayGay mini-fest held in someone’s backyard. Oh, you already know the story. We do find it peculiar that not much footage seems to be popping up. We found this ultimately boring clip of DJ Fucci spinning and scratching on her laptop while the gays danced the night away – and that did look like fun – but so far no clips of any of the bands or other festivities have come up. Go figure.

And then we came upon this little article by Alexander Cho posted exclusively online on the Advocate magazine’s Web site. He talks a bit about GXGG and how it rings truer than most of the other showcases going on.

Not everyone, though. While SXSW scene-stealers were busy bagging swag at events sponsored by companies from Scion to Levi’s to Dell, a group of volunteers was hard at work decorating a stage that stretched across two huge dusty backyards in east Austin, miles away from the hubbub. The daylong counterfest, affectionately called GayBiGayGay, is now in its fourth year. It has become a community hub for Austin queers and their visiting friends looking to escape the largely hetero commotion on the final Sunday of SXSW.

Clearly this was not a Perez Hilton event…and thank goodness for that.

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QTube offers up your fave gay music vids

Boy we must be late to the game on this one. We’ve often wondered where we could find our GLBT artists and their vids other than spending way too much time trolling around YouTube only to be distracted by other videos and trains of thought. Thanks to Queer Music Heritage (in a roundabout way) we’ve discovered QTube – GLBT Music Videos on Demand. And no, they aren’t a site that hasn’t been updated in a few months. They seem to be staying on top of the latest releases by our favorite GLBT and friendly bands and musicians.

We didn’t get to see them at SXSW but this recently uploaded vid from The Gay Blades makes our fave list. We wanted to show you this one but didn’t in case any kiddos were in the room.

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SXSW Post Watch – One Night With Austin hosted by Perez Hilton

Perez Hilton came back to host his music showcase of small time bands needing the exposure SXSW is intended to give. After the showcase, Kanye West and Solange are sure to blow up. Heh. At least he also hosted some indie flavor at his One Night in Austin showcase including Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, Ida Maria and Little Boots.  Check out Daniel’s take on the show here.

Also on the lineup was Ladyhawke as you can see here:

And that up and comer Kanye West:

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Gary Floyd enters Texas Music Hall of Fame…no, really

But it’s not who you think. You know we love this Gary Floyd, the torch song singing silky voiced troubadour that tickles are ear fancies. But this Gary Floyd is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum with his Austin born punk rock. And by the end of this weekend’s SXSW festival he’ll be inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame.

That’s what it says here. Back in his punk days, his band The Dicks sounded like quite the raucous punksters.

Rumors of the time the gay, cross dressing singer pulled liver from his underware and hurled it at the audience seemed to many like scenes from a John Waters movie. Floyd admits the look of his bandmates resembled that of a prison gang, not punk rockers.

Today he’s a bit bluesier and his voice ain’t too shabby after years of screaming punk.  Now he’s doing his thing over in San Fran, he’s clearly going to remain a part of Texas music heritage. And we like that just fine.

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Roy G & the Biv tonight @ The Lounge and later @ SXSW

Before they go and make their SXSW debut tomorrow, Roy G and the Biv make their debut live performance tonight at The Lounge in Deep Ellum headlining a bill that also includes Schwa, Prince William and Darktown Strutters. Then they make our SXSW watch with three shows scheduled for tomorrow and Friday. For venues, check out their MySpace page.

We keep getting surprised and impressed by the direction these Denton electro popsters are taking. Their debut EP last year introduced us to the new band via a throwback to the early electronica pop from the late 80s and early 90s. Perhaps a bit derivative but their music works quite well and in the very end is simply a listening joy. Their “Halloween” single covered “Somebody’s Watching Me” renewed the 80s pseudo-Michael Jackson hit with a nice shot of vigor and now their latest single “Runnin‘” introduces some guitar play against their synth beats and basslines.

Next month they head out to New York for a show at Club NME. Perhaps our other favorite band can get on the bill and really show what Dallas has to offer to the pop music arena.

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SXSW Band Watch – Starf*cker plays Radio Room tomorrow

So while we’re trying to hype up the GLBT bands (and having a hard time finding them), we keep coming across bands that we wished were on our side of the fence. Only for the fact that the music is so good for some reason that we’d love to boast that kind of talent. But, being that music is transcendent and art, it doesn’t really matter in the long run, right?

So this is why we like the pop band Starfucker. Initially, we liked the irreverence of their name but their indie pop confections are slick yet fun gems of music that is akin to your ears watching a parade. With such an in-your-face moniker, their music plays like your old elementary school crossing guard – sweet, friendly, affable but with a hint of danger. That irony is not lost but almost detracts from the music. It’s like if Crowded House was called Bitchslap and continued to play their same songs. And speaking of, SF comes off as a modern take on the old 80s pop folk band but on the electronic side of things. And it works oh so well.

SF plays on the opening day of the South By Southwest @ Radio Room, 508 E. 6th St. at 9 p.m.

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SXSW Funny Watch – Margaret Cho performs all over the fest

We don’t ever think too much about comedy when it comes to SXSW. We figure Ms. Margaret Cho is going to change our minds about that. She has three shows lined up and two in one day. But what do we need to say that you don’t already know about the Cho? She’s funny, she’s fab, she’s fierce. ‘Nuff said.

With three opps to check her out, how could you possibly miss? Or better yet, catch all three. She’ll be hitting Cedar Door, 201 Brazos St., on Thursday and then performs at The Velveeta Room, 521. E. 6th St., on Friday @ 8 p.m. following up immediately next door over at Esther’s Follies, 525 E. 6th St. @ 9:05.

From MargaretCho.com

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SXSW Band Watch – Berlin’s Kamikaze Queens perform @ Club 115

Seriously, who could simply resist the band name Kamikaze Queens? We had to take a look only to be thankfully delighted they live up to their name. The German band mixes garage rock, cabaret and punk into a perfect cocktail of music that should be sick when seen live. The title song of their newest release “Voluptuous Panic” is a lush rocker that sways between heavy guitars of any rock club show and the beautifully smoky droning beats of old Germany cabaret clubs. Add in the delicious voices of Trinity and Mad Kate and the result is a welcome indulgence of melodic sound.

They describe themselves as “colossal, gutsy, rock..n..roll bullet for the twenty-first century. Like the film noir damsels of 1920’s Berlin—petulant, sexual and ambiguous—so are the 2 front women, Trinity and Mad Kate—naturally vivacious, visceral, and insanely energized. Back them up with Tex Morton (Mad Sin, Sunny Domestos) on screaming guitars, Luscious Lloyd (Sin City Circus Ladies) on slap bass and Lipps (Colinda, Bob Rutman) beating on the drums—and you have a sound like a suicide pilot dive-bombing your rock..n..roll senses.”

Yeah, we can totally see that.

Right before they embark on their Bitches on Wheels European Tour with Priscilla Sucks, they stop in Austin to infect the masses with their genius. Check them out Saturday @ midnight over at Club 115, 115 San Jacinto St., with a pretty international lineup spanning from Minnesota to Japan to Brazil and Belgium. The show overall starts at 8 p.m.

Here they perform “Loaded Gun” way back in 2007. Enjoy!

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SXSW Fest Watch – GayBiGayGay Music Fest or GXGG?

Already we had to change our SXSW watch after finding this MySpace page. Looks like a splinter fest of gay bands only will be happening at this backyard event called GayBiGayGay. Although, we aren’t sure if GXGG would be the exact abbreviation. Questionable name aside, this could be an interesting all-day show if we knew more about the lineup. Unfortunately, they aren’t posting one. Hmmm…makes us wonder.

We do like the intent at least of the goings-on. The page says:

WE ARE A GAY MUSIC FESTIVAL HAPPENING ON THE LAST DAY OF SXSW. SUNDAY MARCH 22nd , y’all!! 10am until–all the night long. **4604 kitty ave.** thats where springdale meets MLK, and then just to the southeast. FREE, ALL-AGES, no advance purchase necessary, no purchase at all necessary.

And well, that’s about it. But the Woodstocky looking event does hold some interest for us. Even if w don’t know much else about it. Hopefully someone out there makes it to the fest and reports back with an assessment. Anyone? Anyone?

We were able to find this tidbit of info about last year’s GXGG over at Stereo Homo. They wrote “Actually, the biggest queer event of the SXSW experience is GayBiGayGay, essentially a free, all ages backyard party that happens on the last day of the weeklong festivities. The organizers promise “music, celebratory engagement, delights, flirtation, dancing, camp, thrills, fireworks, shirts off, and HOMOSEXUAL UTOPIA!” In fact, Stereo Homo was even privy to the roster, “The lineup is mighty impressive this year, including Nicky Click, Forever, Little Teeth, Scream Club, Paradise Island, The Shondes, Captain Ahab, Hot As Shits, Dynasty Handbag, Giddyup Helicopter, Screamin Cyncyn and the Pons, Katy Koonce, Maple Rabbit, MEN, Hey Willpower, Chainbow, Stanley Roy and the Pigfuckers, Sky, Manny and the Brokeback Boys, Shunda K of Yo Majesty, and DJ Lynne T of Lezzies On X. Sounds like a good time to me.”

If the lineup is that mayjah, then we have to agree with SH. In fact, it sounds like an amazing good time.

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