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03/03/10
NEW FEATURE STORY: DARCELLE'S

Mercury Cover Story: "The Queen's Castle," Darcelle's is the oldest Drag Queen club in America.

IT BEGINS WITH MAKEUP. Loads of it.

For the first few weeks, Felicity tells me, the caked layers of clown white powder and rouge gave her horrible acne. Of course, every drag queen has her own routine and sensibilities, but at Darcelle XV there are rules—the makeup must be contrasting and loud, almost comically so. And only when it's finished do you tuck your dick back... More >>



. . .

03/03/10
NEW STORY: BEAR HANDS

IF THE PAST IS indeed doomed to repeat itself then it is surely worth noting the similar paths of Bear Hands and MGMT. Both have members who attended Wesleyan University before moving to Brooklyn, and both released a single on Cantora Records that brought their buzz to bubbling heights... Read More >>

. . .

02/02/10
NEW STORY: CRAIG FERGUSON


This was the first interview I couldn't get in some time. Still, Ferguson was worth writing about. He's got a crazy story: pissing the bed alcoholism 'till age 30, drummer in punk bands, unlikely immigrant. Once he mouthed off to a pimp in the L.E.S. The pimp pistol whipped Ferguson then aimed. He thought, "this is it," before his drinking buddies--who he suspected to be members of the IRA on a fundraising trip shouted the pimp down.

Ferguson's standup show last week was phenomenal--one of the best I've seen in some time. It covered all aspects of comedy: pointed, slapstick, impressions, story-telling, callbacks, one-liners, physical, etc. His command of the audience was total, and the show was constant. In the end, Ferguson was better than David Cross, who is beloved in Portland. Don't let the show fool you (even though the monologues can still be off-the-cuff masterpieces). Craig Ferguson is rad.

. . .

02/02/10
NEW STORY: BRAZOS


I cannot stop listening to this young Texas band's debut album, Phosphorescent Blues. Read the story, Lone Star State of Mind and then take a listen. In a year Brazos will be famous.

. . .

01/19/10
THE YEAR IN COMEDY

An look back at 2009 in Portland's ever-changing comedy scene. Right after this article went to print, I learned a lot more about the new-ish Curious Comedy theater, which deserves a steely focus. We'll get there soon.

. . .

01/19/10
NEW STORY: ROCK STARS IN KENTON?
For the Portland Sentinel. I explore the Songwriters Roundtable, which some believe could bring local rock stars to the otherwise quiet neighborhood of Kenton.

. . .

12/13/09
NEW STORY: WHO IS BOB SAGET?


You're not going to believe me, but to do this story properly I would've needed at least 1500 words. Whether or not that's worth doing is another matter. Saget told me canned jokes like he was on Letterman.

. . .

11/30/09
NEW STORY: VIC CHESNUTT

One of the most thrilling shows I've seen in the last six months. Maybe more. And despite the difficult subject matter in his songs, Vic was a great interview.

With A Lot Of Help From My Friends
Vic Chesnutt's Creative Renaissance

. . .

11/30/09
NEW STORY: MEAN JEANS

Every bit as crazy and awesome as the article would suggest. Perhaps more so. This record's been on repeat.

Radical Dudes
Mean Jeans: Portland's Pop Punk Party Animals

. . .

11/30/09
THIS VIDEO IS AMAZING
Yeasayer's "Ambling Alp"



. . .

ABOUT ANDREW
Andrew R Tonry is a Jack of All Trades, currently residing in Portland, Oregon. He is a writer, artist, media specialist and political junkie.

 
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