published in VenusZine.com on 7/28/08
For the past year, Em Ledger has been building a thriving riot grrl community from the bottom up in Sheffield, UK. Taking influence from nearby grrl collectives such as Manifesta in Leeds and Female Trouble in Manchester, Ledger and friends decided to start their own group by throwing together DIY showcases for musicians and artists. Ledger talks here about how she was able to start her own collective and how you can do it, too.
That's so awesome you have a riot grrl collective! Tell me about your group, Lola and the Cartwheels.
The whole project really started from a real lack of positive grrl events and attitude. I was sick of going to the same indie clubs with the meat market atmosphere and ego-fests. I just wanted to create a safe and fun atmosphere for like-minded people who wanted to collaborate.
We work alone in the events we do but are part of a network called Riot Grrrl North UK that supports touring bands to help them get as much shows and exposure as possible. There are six core members of the group, who ensure the organization, publicity, and general maintenance of the group, and then a whole bunch of people who come together and get involved, which is exactly what we love about this scene.
What does the group do?
Lola was born June 2007 when we put on our first show with some friends. We then went on to set up a monthly showcase of grrl and queer musicians and artists called “Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases,” which featured bands, craft stalls, a zine distro, and a club night afterwards with resident and guest DJs.
We had a regular venue at the Redhouse in Sheffield where we hosted all our events for the first year of Lola, but our club night just finished. Now we are concentrating on some new projects and sourcing a new venue as our usual one is experiencing financial difficulty. This year, we're looking to showcase film screenings, zine and craft workshops, and other community events.
What are some cool things the group has done?
A year ago we never thought we'd get to do half the things we have. We were included in the riot grrl book Revolution Girl Style Now. We put on a show with Partyline and got to meet our idol, Allison Wolfe. Allison was great; she was down to earth and inspiring. It was refreshing to see someone who still has passion and drive after so many years.
We managed to book them through the Riot Grrrl UK network. As soon as one person hears of a touring band, they'll let the band know there are several other collectives around the country, and usually they e-mail with all their dates and we let them know if we can help out. We'd encourage anyone to give it a go — start off small and see where it leads. Put out fliers in your area and see who responds. Maybe you'll meet some new best friends, band members, etc!
How can people get involved?
We're always looking for new projects, ideas, touring bands and artists, and people of all kinds. If you wanna get involved, suggest ideas, play a show, or send us your zine, you can contact us on our MySpace page, MySpace.com/lolaandthecartwheelssheff, email us at lolaandthecartwheelssheff@hotmail.co.uk, or join our Facebook group!
—
Read the article here.
Jul 28, 2008
Reader of the Week: Candice Wing Yee Mack
published in VenusZine.com on 7/21/08
From the rough-and-tumble stacks of the Los Angeles Public Library, Candice Wing-Yee Mack is a 4-foot-10 library card–swingin’, information cowgirl. In addition to being a proud bookworm and teen services librarian, she’s also a culture vixen with her own weekly Web radio show. Wing-Yee Mack talks here about the secret lives of tiny librarians and getting kids hooked on books.
Are there enough tiny librarians to form a collective and/or army?
It's fabulous being a tiny librarian! I get the opportunity to work with a huge variety of people and answer a huge variety of questions. The diversity is what makes it fun and challenging. The tiny librarian collective is coming to an information center near you soon, if we're not already there. We lurk on a bevy of online answer services like Yahoo! Answers, ChaCha, Wikipedia, AskNow, Ask A Librarian, etc.
There has to be more to the job than shushing youngsters and telling them to use the online card catalog. Tell me something awesome that’s happened on the job.
A few months ago, on Free Comic Book Day, I saw a teen wearing a T-shirt with a bunch of comic book characters on it and asked if he wanted a gift bag. We got to talking, and it turns out he wasn't really into comic books (he said the shirt had been given to him as a gag gift), but that he was interested in the graphic novel, Fun Home by Alison Bechdel.
For those who are not familiar with the book, it is Bechdel's autobiography about growing up, coming out, and discovering after his death that her father was secretly gay. We didn't carry the book at my library, but I happened to have my own copy at my desk because I was going to donate it to my branch. I ended up loaning the teen my personal copy of the book. A few weeks later, when he returned it, he told me how much he enjoyed the book and how he and Bechdel had been e-mailing back and forth. This is just one example of why I love my job and how libraries can impact people's lives.
Tell me more about yourself. What are your off hours like?
I love learning new things and having a good time, so I tend to haunt foodie blogs and sites like yelp and citysearch to learn about the new places to eat and hang out. As a teen services librarian, I need to keep up on pop culture — that, and I love pop culture in general — so, I watch a lot of TV and films, listen to all types of music, and go to concerts and clubs. I also do a show on the community-based Internet radio station imradionetwork.org on Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon.
—
Read the article here.
From the rough-and-tumble stacks of the Los Angeles Public Library, Candice Wing-Yee Mack is a 4-foot-10 library card–swingin’, information cowgirl. In addition to being a proud bookworm and teen services librarian, she’s also a culture vixen with her own weekly Web radio show. Wing-Yee Mack talks here about the secret lives of tiny librarians and getting kids hooked on books.
Are there enough tiny librarians to form a collective and/or army?
It's fabulous being a tiny librarian! I get the opportunity to work with a huge variety of people and answer a huge variety of questions. The diversity is what makes it fun and challenging. The tiny librarian collective is coming to an information center near you soon, if we're not already there. We lurk on a bevy of online answer services like Yahoo! Answers, ChaCha, Wikipedia, AskNow, Ask A Librarian, etc.
There has to be more to the job than shushing youngsters and telling them to use the online card catalog. Tell me something awesome that’s happened on the job.
A few months ago, on Free Comic Book Day, I saw a teen wearing a T-shirt with a bunch of comic book characters on it and asked if he wanted a gift bag. We got to talking, and it turns out he wasn't really into comic books (he said the shirt had been given to him as a gag gift), but that he was interested in the graphic novel, Fun Home by Alison Bechdel.
For those who are not familiar with the book, it is Bechdel's autobiography about growing up, coming out, and discovering after his death that her father was secretly gay. We didn't carry the book at my library, but I happened to have my own copy at my desk because I was going to donate it to my branch. I ended up loaning the teen my personal copy of the book. A few weeks later, when he returned it, he told me how much he enjoyed the book and how he and Bechdel had been e-mailing back and forth. This is just one example of why I love my job and how libraries can impact people's lives.
Tell me more about yourself. What are your off hours like?
I love learning new things and having a good time, so I tend to haunt foodie blogs and sites like yelp and citysearch to learn about the new places to eat and hang out. As a teen services librarian, I need to keep up on pop culture — that, and I love pop culture in general — so, I watch a lot of TV and films, listen to all types of music, and go to concerts and clubs. I also do a show on the community-based Internet radio station imradionetwork.org on Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon.
—
Read the article here.
Reader of the Week: Marjorie Perry
published in VenusZine.com on 7/14/08
When she decided to shave her head, Marjorie Perry said she just bit the bullet one day and went to Supercuts. That’s it. But for Perry, going with the flow seems to be her M.O. From living in a foreign country to living in her own country without electricity, the 22-year-old is naturally inclined to living life in the moment. The rental clerk at That’s Rentertainment, the last locally owned video store in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, talks here about killing with kindness, living without electricity, and how to eat sea urchin.
What have you been up to?
I guess the most newsworthy thing I've done is the Hug-In. A friend of mine was attacked last semester as he was walking home one night because he was perceived as gay. I wanted to do something really positive in retaliation — a kill them with kindness thing. So, a bunch of us queers took over the same bar-strip space of the campus where he was attacked on a Friday night, and handed out hugs, flowers, balloons, and candy. I organized it, but I had a lot of help. I thought it was really successful because I wanted to get the word out about what happened, since my school really did not address it. I really want to do it next year even bigger and better.
You mentioned in your email you’ve been living without electricity for awhile. How have you been managing to function?
I've been going without electricity since the semester ended — so, about 2 months? I have another month to go, but it's not even an issue any more. I am pretty ecstatic to move into my new apartment though. I know it's going to feel like moving into the Hilton. I will definitely appreciate the things the first world takes as a given: hot showers, reliable power, and modern refrigeration.
You're quite the trooper — and also quite the traveler. What was it like living in Hong Kong for a year?
That was great. I'm kind of a foodie, and I got the chance to try some crazy stuff. I unwittingly ate congealed pig's blood — it was cubed up and put in a soup. I also ate live sea urchin. The lady chops the shell in half and you quickly suck out the inky, spongy inside.
A great perk of living in another country is the change of perspective on what is truly a worry or a problem. When I was living in Hong Kong, I had to figure out a lot on my own and how to work through different problems. So, when I came back, the problems I encountered at home were not so daunting.
—
Read the article here.
When she decided to shave her head, Marjorie Perry said she just bit the bullet one day and went to Supercuts. That’s it. But for Perry, going with the flow seems to be her M.O. From living in a foreign country to living in her own country without electricity, the 22-year-old is naturally inclined to living life in the moment. The rental clerk at That’s Rentertainment, the last locally owned video store in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, talks here about killing with kindness, living without electricity, and how to eat sea urchin.
What have you been up to?
I guess the most newsworthy thing I've done is the Hug-In. A friend of mine was attacked last semester as he was walking home one night because he was perceived as gay. I wanted to do something really positive in retaliation — a kill them with kindness thing. So, a bunch of us queers took over the same bar-strip space of the campus where he was attacked on a Friday night, and handed out hugs, flowers, balloons, and candy. I organized it, but I had a lot of help. I thought it was really successful because I wanted to get the word out about what happened, since my school really did not address it. I really want to do it next year even bigger and better.
You mentioned in your email you’ve been living without electricity for awhile. How have you been managing to function?
I've been going without electricity since the semester ended — so, about 2 months? I have another month to go, but it's not even an issue any more. I am pretty ecstatic to move into my new apartment though. I know it's going to feel like moving into the Hilton. I will definitely appreciate the things the first world takes as a given: hot showers, reliable power, and modern refrigeration.
You're quite the trooper — and also quite the traveler. What was it like living in Hong Kong for a year?
That was great. I'm kind of a foodie, and I got the chance to try some crazy stuff. I unwittingly ate congealed pig's blood — it was cubed up and put in a soup. I also ate live sea urchin. The lady chops the shell in half and you quickly suck out the inky, spongy inside.
A great perk of living in another country is the change of perspective on what is truly a worry or a problem. When I was living in Hong Kong, I had to figure out a lot on my own and how to work through different problems. So, when I came back, the problems I encountered at home were not so daunting.
—
Read the article here.
Reader of the Week: Craig Hunter
published in VenusZine.com on 7/07/08
Multi-talented craftster and feminist Craig Hunter is a busy dude. Having just moved across country from Houston, Hunter has found a niche within the Brooklyn indie community as his DIY Web site Cubist Literature continues to grow. His interest in women’s literature has fostered the progression of the site, which began as a solo music project and has since evolved into clothing, crafts, and blogging. Hunter talks here about his site, his heroes and how Le Tigre got away with his favorite sunglasses.
What are you currently doing with your bad self?
NOT birdwatching, I can tell you that. That's what I wanted to do when I was five years old. Instead, I run Cubist Literature (or C.Lit, if yr nasty), mostly designing t-shirts these days. Basically, it is a means of expressing myself creatively and artistically — and it also happens to be my full-time job!
Where did the name Cubist Literature come from?
The name came to me while I was home alone on a Saturday night, drinking whiskey and doing homework. I was reading Gertrude Stein for a literature by women course I was taking, and I started reading up on her and found that her style was called “cubist literature.” Think cubist art but made up with words. I felt akin to that name for some reason and that it would be an appropriate name for my solo music project. Gertrude Stein's work is definitely amazing and quite an experience. It's a bit intense and insane, too. That's why I like it.
On your site, you talk a bit about your heroes. Who are they and why are they your heroes?
My heroes are all women!: Miranda July, Kathleen Hanna, Kim Gordon, and Debbie Stoller. I have met Debbie Stoller, Kim Gordon (twice), and Kathleen Hanna — but that’s a story spanning two days and a pair of stolen sunglasses. I still haven't met Miranda July. One day, I hope.
Back up. What is this story about Kathleen Hanna and stolen sunglasses?
So, it was my first time seeing Le Tigre and because I was REALLY excited, I wanted to see both their Texas shows. At the Austin show I was up close at the front and I had been wearing these cool sunglasses. But because it was inside at a show and dark, I had them in my hand, waving them around, dancing to the music. Johanna Fateman was near me for some reason and saw me holding my glasses high up in the air, so she came closer and instead of touching my hand (which is what I thought she was going to do), she grabbed my sunglasses and put them on.
I didn't get upset, because I thought they'd just give them back after the show. During the last song, I ran outside and waited out back so that I could intercept and get my glasses back. But that didn't go down. Instead, JD used the sunglasses as a disguise to run back and forth between the tour buses.
Those thieves! What happened next?
OK, fast forward to the next day in Houston. I went to talk to a roadie about these STOLEN sunglasses (and plus I said I'd really like to meet Le Tigre, especially Kathleen Hanna, because their work and music meant a lot to me). The roadie said normally she'd see if she could get me on the tour bus to meet them, but they were busy getting dressed and ready for their set.
When Le Tigre got on stage that evening, the first thing I saw — I was in the front row again, of course — was Kathleen wearing my sunglasses! And after the first song, I yelled out (not angrily, though), "Hey, y'all stole my sunglasses!" And Kathleen came up and yelled back, smiling, "Nu-uh! You gave them to us!" And so that taunting with sunglasses went on the whole set.
I was determined to meet them this day, so during the second to last song, my sister Windy and I ran out to the side of the venue to wait for them. It took a little bit, but before long I saw the women exit the building and Kathleen said, "Oh, there he is. We found him."
She and Johanna came over to us and said, "Oh my God, you GAVE us these sunglasses! We didn't steal them from you." And by that time, I didn't even care about the glasses anymore. I was just too excited to meet Kathleen, so I said, "Forget about the glasses. You can keep them. I just have to tell you how much you guys mean to me and have influenced me." And we talked and Kathleen had heard from the roadie that I'd started a women's issues group at my small Catholic university and thought that was awesome.
So, did you ever get the sunglasses back?
Le Tigre mention the incident in their blog, but they got the end of the story wrong: they said I made them give the sunglasses back. Lies! I don't own them anymore.
—
Read the article here.
Multi-talented craftster and feminist Craig Hunter is a busy dude. Having just moved across country from Houston, Hunter has found a niche within the Brooklyn indie community as his DIY Web site Cubist Literature continues to grow. His interest in women’s literature has fostered the progression of the site, which began as a solo music project and has since evolved into clothing, crafts, and blogging. Hunter talks here about his site, his heroes and how Le Tigre got away with his favorite sunglasses.
What are you currently doing with your bad self?
NOT birdwatching, I can tell you that. That's what I wanted to do when I was five years old. Instead, I run Cubist Literature (or C.Lit, if yr nasty), mostly designing t-shirts these days. Basically, it is a means of expressing myself creatively and artistically — and it also happens to be my full-time job!
Where did the name Cubist Literature come from?
The name came to me while I was home alone on a Saturday night, drinking whiskey and doing homework. I was reading Gertrude Stein for a literature by women course I was taking, and I started reading up on her and found that her style was called “cubist literature.” Think cubist art but made up with words. I felt akin to that name for some reason and that it would be an appropriate name for my solo music project. Gertrude Stein's work is definitely amazing and quite an experience. It's a bit intense and insane, too. That's why I like it.
On your site, you talk a bit about your heroes. Who are they and why are they your heroes?
My heroes are all women!: Miranda July, Kathleen Hanna, Kim Gordon, and Debbie Stoller. I have met Debbie Stoller, Kim Gordon (twice), and Kathleen Hanna — but that’s a story spanning two days and a pair of stolen sunglasses. I still haven't met Miranda July. One day, I hope.
Back up. What is this story about Kathleen Hanna and stolen sunglasses?
So, it was my first time seeing Le Tigre and because I was REALLY excited, I wanted to see both their Texas shows. At the Austin show I was up close at the front and I had been wearing these cool sunglasses. But because it was inside at a show and dark, I had them in my hand, waving them around, dancing to the music. Johanna Fateman was near me for some reason and saw me holding my glasses high up in the air, so she came closer and instead of touching my hand (which is what I thought she was going to do), she grabbed my sunglasses and put them on.
I didn't get upset, because I thought they'd just give them back after the show. During the last song, I ran outside and waited out back so that I could intercept and get my glasses back. But that didn't go down. Instead, JD used the sunglasses as a disguise to run back and forth between the tour buses.
Those thieves! What happened next?
OK, fast forward to the next day in Houston. I went to talk to a roadie about these STOLEN sunglasses (and plus I said I'd really like to meet Le Tigre, especially Kathleen Hanna, because their work and music meant a lot to me). The roadie said normally she'd see if she could get me on the tour bus to meet them, but they were busy getting dressed and ready for their set.
When Le Tigre got on stage that evening, the first thing I saw — I was in the front row again, of course — was Kathleen wearing my sunglasses! And after the first song, I yelled out (not angrily, though), "Hey, y'all stole my sunglasses!" And Kathleen came up and yelled back, smiling, "Nu-uh! You gave them to us!" And so that taunting with sunglasses went on the whole set.
I was determined to meet them this day, so during the second to last song, my sister Windy and I ran out to the side of the venue to wait for them. It took a little bit, but before long I saw the women exit the building and Kathleen said, "Oh, there he is. We found him."
She and Johanna came over to us and said, "Oh my God, you GAVE us these sunglasses! We didn't steal them from you." And by that time, I didn't even care about the glasses anymore. I was just too excited to meet Kathleen, so I said, "Forget about the glasses. You can keep them. I just have to tell you how much you guys mean to me and have influenced me." And we talked and Kathleen had heard from the roadie that I'd started a women's issues group at my small Catholic university and thought that was awesome.
So, did you ever get the sunglasses back?
Le Tigre mention the incident in their blog, but they got the end of the story wrong: they said I made them give the sunglasses back. Lies! I don't own them anymore.
—
Read the article here.
Jul 3, 2008
Reader of the Week: Jane Hanna
published in VenusZine.com on 6/30/08
In between marketing for alternative weekly newspaper Chicago Reader, ponying with her dance troupe, the Janes, and rocking out with her band, Vamplifier, Jane Hanna finds little time for anything else. The self-proclaimed “train wreck” takes a moment out of her busy schedule to talk about partying, cheeky mini skirts, and finding a niche for her band’s eclectic sound.
What does being a special events and promotions coordinator entail? What percentage of this profession involves partying?
I'm basically the entire marketing department and street team for the newspaper, with the help of my trusty assistant. We have a booth at most of the music festivals and other cool summer events around town, so I get to hang out at those for free. I organize things like the huge bash we threw at Martyrs' back in May 2008 to celebrate our first-ever “Best of Chicago Readers Poll.” But I'm usually too busy being obsessive about the details to actually party at my own parties. I sacrifice my enjoyment so that the guests can enjoy a smoothly run evening. Noble of me, isn't it?
How long have you been involved in the Chicago go-go's group, the Janes? What do you usually do at one of your shows?
I've only been dancing with the Janes for a few months. I got hooked on the go-go aerobics classes at The Flamenco Arts Center (taught by the leader of the Janes), which are so much better than going to the gym. But I have this terrible addiction to the stage, so the gals were nice enough to let me join the performance troupe once they realized I was probably going to start showing up at their gigs in costume anyway!
We do authentic ‘60s-style choreography to songs of the era and perform all over town at benefit shows, festivals, and special events. Sometimes bands will hire us to add a little something to their stage show and we'll improv a set. You really can't go wrong when a bunch of girls with white boots and big hair run up onstage. It just does something to people — they go crazy when we start ponying.
How many inches above the knee does your skirt have to be to participate?
The costumes are retro and cheeky, but nothing naughty sticks out. Although, at my very first gig, I had to borrow a dress from another Jane so I'd match the group, and she's a bit shorter than me (I'm the tallest Jane). Let's just say that the fringe hanging off the bottom hem was about a millimeter away from turning things into adult entertainment.
Tell me about your band, Vamplifier.
I play keyboards and sing some, but I'll be throwing in some guitar once I get a little further in my lessons. We have an eclectic sound, with a lot of different influences. Basically if David Bowie and Marc Bolan had been hanging around Stax Records, and Television walked in with the Clash and they all started jamming to the Doors, it'd be weird and loud. But kinda cool? Let's call us psychedelic, trashy, post-punk, garage pop. PTP-PGP. That sounds good. We're putting out a self-produced EP called Knife Techniques later this summer.
How do you balance your job, your go-go troupe, and your band in addition to your social life?
I don't, actually. I'm kind of a train wreck. But I'm happy. My boyfriend calms me down, my dog cracks me up, and I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I was any less over-booked.
Where can readers learn more about your projects?
Where else but MySpace? You can find the Janes schedule and booking info at myspace.com/thejanesgogo and Vamplifier's show info and CDs at myspace.com/vamplifier. You can also read the Reader online at chicagoreader.com.
Read the article here.
In between marketing for alternative weekly newspaper Chicago Reader, ponying with her dance troupe, the Janes, and rocking out with her band, Vamplifier, Jane Hanna finds little time for anything else. The self-proclaimed “train wreck” takes a moment out of her busy schedule to talk about partying, cheeky mini skirts, and finding a niche for her band’s eclectic sound.
What does being a special events and promotions coordinator entail? What percentage of this profession involves partying?
I'm basically the entire marketing department and street team for the newspaper, with the help of my trusty assistant. We have a booth at most of the music festivals and other cool summer events around town, so I get to hang out at those for free. I organize things like the huge bash we threw at Martyrs' back in May 2008 to celebrate our first-ever “Best of Chicago Readers Poll.” But I'm usually too busy being obsessive about the details to actually party at my own parties. I sacrifice my enjoyment so that the guests can enjoy a smoothly run evening. Noble of me, isn't it?
How long have you been involved in the Chicago go-go's group, the Janes? What do you usually do at one of your shows?
I've only been dancing with the Janes for a few months. I got hooked on the go-go aerobics classes at The Flamenco Arts Center (taught by the leader of the Janes), which are so much better than going to the gym. But I have this terrible addiction to the stage, so the gals were nice enough to let me join the performance troupe once they realized I was probably going to start showing up at their gigs in costume anyway!
We do authentic ‘60s-style choreography to songs of the era and perform all over town at benefit shows, festivals, and special events. Sometimes bands will hire us to add a little something to their stage show and we'll improv a set. You really can't go wrong when a bunch of girls with white boots and big hair run up onstage. It just does something to people — they go crazy when we start ponying.
How many inches above the knee does your skirt have to be to participate?
The costumes are retro and cheeky, but nothing naughty sticks out. Although, at my very first gig, I had to borrow a dress from another Jane so I'd match the group, and she's a bit shorter than me (I'm the tallest Jane). Let's just say that the fringe hanging off the bottom hem was about a millimeter away from turning things into adult entertainment.
Tell me about your band, Vamplifier.
I play keyboards and sing some, but I'll be throwing in some guitar once I get a little further in my lessons. We have an eclectic sound, with a lot of different influences. Basically if David Bowie and Marc Bolan had been hanging around Stax Records, and Television walked in with the Clash and they all started jamming to the Doors, it'd be weird and loud. But kinda cool? Let's call us psychedelic, trashy, post-punk, garage pop. PTP-PGP. That sounds good. We're putting out a self-produced EP called Knife Techniques later this summer.
How do you balance your job, your go-go troupe, and your band in addition to your social life?
I don't, actually. I'm kind of a train wreck. But I'm happy. My boyfriend calms me down, my dog cracks me up, and I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I was any less over-booked.
Where can readers learn more about your projects?
Where else but MySpace? You can find the Janes schedule and booking info at myspace.com/thejanesgogo and Vamplifier's show info and CDs at myspace.com/vamplifier. You can also read the Reader online at chicagoreader.com.
Read the article here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)