As of today, we’re no longer at v-rag.blogspot.com. With the launch of the brand new V-Ragwebsite comes a brand new blog as well, http://blog.v-rag.com! All the same awesome content will be there, like V-WEB and the V-Rag Classic Track, as well as brand new daily blogs from Steve Adams and Josh Rimer, weekly contests and more! Stay tuned for the next generation of V-Rag Magazine Online! Head to www.v-rag.com and blog.v-rag.com now!
With June almost over, the new issue special Anniversary edition of V-Rag is almost here! Which means this is your last chance to see our most popular photo shoot to date with Empress XXXIX Raye Sunshine. Photographer Kate McLaren created a magical candy-land with Sunshine as the sweet Candy Queen. Check out the photos here and be sure to check out more at next month's Pride in Art show at Five Sixty!
First there was Rufus. Then there was Feist. And now... there are The Zolas. While America churns out one mediocre pop idol after another, Canada is kindling a flourishing group of indie pop marvels. The Zolas are the most recent inductees to a short but impressive list of Canadian artists that are making mindful but fetching music you won’t be ashamed to say you love.
An early press release suggested The Zolas sound like “Justin Timberlake meets The Beatles”, or “Coldplay meets The Clash”. Zach laughs about this: “We don’t really sound like them; we wish we sounded like them.” It may not be sound-alike so much as sheer musical inventiveness that is drawing such eclectic parallels.
Both born and raised in Vancouver, Zach and Tom like to credit the rainy city for some of their success. Vancouver has the sordid reputation for being no fun and a difficult place for artists to make it, but as Zach points out, “There’s the old saying that rain is great for art. That’s why the West Coast is good.”
Needless to say, The Zolas have all the gusto it takes to make a great group. As they culminate their tour at the Biltmore on June 30th, they intend to get right down to business and begin their next album. In a word: Whoop!
Win tickets to The Zolas at the Biltmore on June 30th! Simply email us at fans@v-rag.com to be entered into a draw for two tickets to the Vancouver show! And read the full interview with The Zolas in the upcoming July issue of V-Rag!
One of the best Canadian duos to dazzle us with their electro sounds is having their final show in Vancouver tonight. Thunderheist will be calling it quits after their Venue performance tonight at 9:00pm. With only one studio album, members Isis and Grahm Zilla made a huge impact on the Canadian dance scene with international hits like "Jerk It", "Bubblegum", "Horny" and "Nothing 2 Step 2".
We got to catch up with them to chat about the break-up and their future plans. Isis explains "Thunderheist became this animal beast that took on its own life, and I think we both just wanted to take this time to reconnect with ourselves." Of tonight's show, she has big expectations for all of us. "We'll possibly get people drunk and we'll possibly get people pregnant..." Can't wait!
To read the full interview with Thunderheist in this month's issue of V-Rag, click here
The season is changing, and that means big changes for V-Rag as well. We're finally on the web! By July, the brand-new fully interactive V-Rag website makes its official launch. And as a special treat to all of our loyal readers, you can get the July issue before it hits the stands! Just e-mail us at fans@v-rag.com to have our very special double-sized Pride Edition sent straight to your PC. While you're at it, get entered into a draw for a $200 Little Sisters gift card! All for being our friend. July will also mark our One Year Anniversary. 12 issues later and we're stronger than ever before, next month's edition will be one to keep. As a thank-you to everyone who's supported us over this last year, I'd like to personally invite you out to Century House on Saturday July 3rd at 7pm for complimentary tapas, prizes and great music, followed by the official after party at Five Sixty starting at 11pm till late into the night. Performances, swag bags and special surprises are in store throughout the evening!
Getting down to business, we're pretty excited and more than a little star-struck to feature the supermodel of the world herself, RuPaul this month! We got to catch up with the busy drag diva to talk about her new book, her new look, and the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race! Thanks Ru! We also had the pleasure of chatting with Montreal duo Thunderheist about their upcoming show in Vancouver, which also happens to be their last ever together! British punk legends the Buzzcocks just flew through our fair city and frontman Pete Shelley gives some words of wisdom. And you have got to check out the amazing photo shoot of our Empress, Raye Sunshine, in this month's Candy Queen as shot by Kate McLaren! It's tasty tasty...
From dirty punk rock to glittery handbag house, V-Rag has very broad taste. After a fantastic night with the pioneering band The Buzzcocks, we're is feeling a little... homo... So what better track to put us in the mood than Livin' Joy's 1994 classic "Dreamer"? Sassy soulful vocals, a driving disco beat and a hook that screams 90's dance, everyone should remember this club anthem. And it's the perfect way to come down from a screeching rock show. Sweet dreams!
All you punk rock fans, tomorrow night is your night! The legends of the scene and pioneers of the genre The Buzzcocks are playing at Venue Nightclub May 31st. These guys are gods, and if you're not convinced, check out the classic videos "Ever Fallen In Love" and frontman Pete Shelley's sexual anthem "Homosapien". Groundbreaking, genre-defining and 100% punk rock. Bow your heads in shame, Offspring. Full feature in the upcoming June issue of V-Rag.
Wiggle started many moons ago in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan and moved to Vancouver in 1995 along with multimedia artist collective The House of Venus. The annual showcase offers creative people of all types an escape from reality, to let go and live the fantasy. Wiggle attracts a diverse crowd that wants to see a great show including rock stars like Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and Blondie’s very own Deborah Harry. Wiggle has also boasted some of the world’s leading stars of drag royalty including The Lady Bunny of Wigstock fame, Candis Cayne (of ABC’s Dirty Sexy Money), Miss Guy of The Toilet Boys and Perfidia of Patricia Fields fame and Stranger with Candy's wigmaker. Come down to Five Sixty tonight at 9pm for Wiggle's Sweet Sixteen and be part of the legend!
Oh my... For every gay, there is team Kylie and team Madonna. And while Madonna is a legend and a trendsetter, Kylie is the ultimate pop goddess. Which is the theme of her forthcoming studio album, Aphrodite. She's getting back to her dancefloor roots with production courtesy of heavyweights Stuart Price, the Scissor Sisters, Kish Mauve and Calvin Harris. We're very excited for July 5th to come, especially after hearing this teaser for the new single "All The Lovers". Oh my...
Finally the clouds are lifting and the sun is shining! Summer is almost here!! So for this week's V-Rag Classic Track I thought we'd revive something that screams summer. Summer of '95 in fact. Jamiroquai has never been a favourite of mine, but this David Morales club mix of their first huge single "Space Cowboy" is a true classic. So slather on the sunscreen and enjoy!
The time's almost here, boys and girls! Tomorrow night at 9pm is the Opulence Ball at Lotus Lounge. The fiercest voguers will be joined by the wildest costumes, the hottest queens and the glitteriest girls! Come down and walk in your favourite category, or just watch the festivities and win tons of great prizes! Conni Smudge hosts with guests Joan-E, Symone, Jenny Magenta and Carlotta Gurl. Remember the first 100 people at the door get a swag bag courtesy of Little Sisters and V-Rag Magazine. These aren't lame bags either, they're packed with great stuff like club passes, underwear, lube and gift cards! There's also a huge grand raffle prize you need to see to believe. Don't miss this party, come down tomorrow to show your O.P.U.L.E.N.C.E.!
Tickets are still available at Little Sisters, Priape and Pulp Fiction Books or at the door.
Sherry Vine has recently gained immense attention from her parody videos on YouTube, most notably her Lady Gaga spoofs, which have millions and millions of hits. Sherry came out of the New York City club scene in the early nineties, an original that continues to bring her bombshell charm while performing live. Recently, she has added television guest appearances to her list of credits. Sherry now lives in Berlin, honing her craft and gaining even more cabaret credibility.
SHERRY VINE: THE FAME QUEEN Interview by Michael Venus
You have been getting so much attention for your fabulous video spoofs, especially The Lady Gaga "Bad Romance" one. How did you start making them, what is the process and have you met Gaga yet?
I've been doing video spoofs for a few years just for fun and to generate some publicity on YouTube. But I never expected the success that came with the "Bad Romance" parody [Sherry's Version is titled "Shit My Pants"]. Who knew poo was so popular? The process is a dollar and a prayer. Haha! I'm blessed to be surrounded by so many talented people who are into helping out. I met Gaga once right before she exploded into superstardom. She was SOOOOOOO nice!
What are some of your career highlights?
I have so many highlights! I've been so lucky to have been making a living doing what I love so I give thanks every day.
Who are you current inspirations?
I am inspired certainly by Lady GaGa - I think she's the hottest thing since adult diapers. And anytime I need inspiration I look at videos or pictures of Debbie Harry!
What are you fave things about Vancouver?
My fave thing in Vancouver is Cotton of course! I was only there for a short time but I remember a lovely day strolling along the water.
Upcoming projects?
Right now I'm focused on the tour with Joey. I have a new video parody of "Telephone" coming out this week. And then I will be performing the Gay Pride circuit in Europe all summer.
Joey Arias is a New York-based drag icon who came out of the pivotal eighties performance art scene. Gender bending and hanging out with Andy Warhol while performing alongside Klaus Nomi and David Bowie, he later re-invented himself into a Fantastical Fetish Diva who shocked audiences with his ability to “channel” Billie Holiday. Joey has dazzled the globe ever since and continues to perform and inspire. He is an accomplished and infamous living legend.
JOEY ARIAS: DRAG QUEEN SINGS THE BLUES Interview by Michael Venus
Tell us about working with Klaus Nomi and David Bowie.
Klaus was my best friend and we did everything together. When Bowie invited Klaus to work with him, Bowie asked if I could join them. That was a dream come true. I've always loved David. He was the funniest person I ever met. Just vibrating with excitement!
Highlights while working on Zumanity?
Working with Cirque du Soliel was just an amazing experience, especially with Manfred Thierry Mugler as Artistic Director of the personas to be presented. There are so many stories that I could write a book. For instance in the orgy scene, a 90-year-old woman took her tits out and started sucking them and wanted to suck cock on stage... She was a horny fuck, thank god. Sex is Beautiful.
What are some of your career highlights?
I think a NYC highlight was to perform at Carnegie Hall channeling Billie Holiday. That blew me away.
Who are you current inspirations?
My inspirations are anyone who has an open mind and wants to create... Like Basil Twist. He's a child and lover of dreams and magic. Working with Sherry Vine and her aspirations of searching for the ultimate show. And the of course Mr. Thierry Mugler who directs me and watches that I don't do anything stupid. And my future husband.
What are you fave things about Vancouver?
I love Vancouver and it’s really been so good to me... I've met so many wonderful people... Love the landscape from the bedroom window. Vancouver is so open-mined from the times I've been there, and the boys were lined up around the toilet waiting for a good conversation... And I saw some big conversations there.
Upcoming projects?
Upcoming, I'm working with Miss Vine in our new show... The film Arias With A Twist, the docu-fantasy that's opening many film festivals... and my new solo show presented by Earl Dax and directed by Manfred Thierry Mugler. It’s gonna be something very musical.
Any words of wisdom?
Words of wisdom... Let inspiration guide you and don’t be afraid of the dark... The only monster is you. Chase your nightmare because it will pay off!
This issue was a doozey to try and put together. I don't think we've had an edition quite as jam-packed full of stuff as this one! Definitely a full month's worth of reading here, kids. First off, we'd just like to give a warm congratulations to Fraser, the winner of Gay Top Model. He's the perfect choice to represent Vancouver as we go into a new decade, and a pleasure to work with. Photographer Ian Sheh shot his winning cover for V-Rag as well as a fashion spread featured on inside.
Lots of great talent in this issue including two New York legends, Sherry Vine and Joey Arias. The pair have been performing together for decades and Vancouver is lucky enough to host them both this month! Also, we managed to catch up with the one and only Andy Butler of Hercules & Love Affair. He gives all of you lucky readers a sneak peak at the brand new album and the inspiration behind it.
May is a very busy month for events in Vancouver, and V-Rag is the place to get the scoop on all of them. The 2010 Vancouver International Burlesque Festival hits the Rickshaw Theatre May 6-9 and we've included a guide to all the goings-on. On the drag side of things, the annual Wiggle party turns Sweet Sixteen and the New York-inspired ball Opulence returns to Vancouver on May 5 at the Lotus. Oh wait, this is Cotton's job to tell you all this stuff! She rounds up our host of regular features (which seems to be growing by the month), and joins Joan-E's Rag, Terry Costa's Live On Stage, and Rob Easton's Wasted Thoughts. Yet another addition this month is Food:Notes, courtesy of PINQ.CA's Ryan Bazeley, where we review the best new restaurants in our fair city. Now dig in!
What a night for Vancouver nightlife tonight! Two NYC drag legends, Sherry Vine and Joey Arias will be performing tonight at superclub Five Sixty. The duo have been on the scene for years, and tonight you can see why they're considered royalty. Arias now performs with Cirque du Soleil in Zumanity and Vine is an internet sensation with her Lady Gaga parodies. Here's a couple of examples of what all you lucky people are in for tonight...
Since we're all about the vogue battles this month, I thought it would be fitting to have the definition of vogue as this week's V-Rag Classic Track. Malcom McLaren's seminal track "Deep In Vogue" beat Madonna to the punch by a long shot. He even used vogue legend Willi Ninja in the video! This is gay New York summed up in one song. "In my black tights just throwing shade, doing this dance that some queen made".
Only 2 weeks to go until Opulence returns to the Lotus Sound Lounge on May 5th. And the incentive to be the fiercest on the floor is heating up! Not only will the winners become Legendary Children, but they'll receive trophies, gift cards from Little Sisters, mix CD's and goodie bags full of cool stuff. So it's definitely time to choose your categories and perfect your walks! This is a war on the floor...
Tickets are now available at Little Sisters, Priape and Pulp Fiction Books.
With just over two weeks left till the next Opulence Ball, I thought it would be appropriate for this week's classic track to be a vogue and ballroom legend. Ellis D (a.k.a. Junior Vasquez) samples "Love Break" by the Salsoul Orchestra to create one of the most recognizable voguing classics, "Dub Break". Work on your fierceness by whacking, death dropping and voguing to this jam!
You may not know this, but V-Rag is made up of a whole bunch of movie geeks. Which makes this week's obsession a full-on infatuation. One of the campiest, wildest and most tripped-out films ever is making its Vancouver (and North American) debut this week. 1977's Hausu is like a cross between The Ring, Beetlejuice and a Michel Gondry music video. It's almost impossible to describe, so I'll let its distributor, Janus Films, give it a try.
“How to describe Nobuhiko Obayashi’s 1977 movie House? As a psychedelic ghost tale? A stream-of-consciousness bedtime story? An episode of Scooby-Doo as directed by Dario Argento? Any of the above will do for this hallucinatory head trip about a schoolgirl who travels with six classmates to her ailing aunt’s creaky country home, only to come face to face with evil spirits, bloodthirsty pianos, and a demonic housecat. Too absurd to be genuinely terrifying, yet too nightmarish to be merely comic, House seems like it was beamed to Earth from another planet. Or perhaps the mind of a child: the director fashioned the script after the eccentric musings of his eleven-year-old daughter, then employed all the tricks in his analog arsenal (mattes, animation, and collage) to make them a visually astonishing, raucous reality. Never before released in North America, and a bona fide cult classic in the making, House is one of the most exciting genre discoveries in years” (Janus Films).
Hausu will be screened at 7:00pm and 8:45pm April 15 – 19 at the Pacific Cinematheque, 1131 Howe Street (off Davie)
Well, Children... The wait is almost over. O.P.U.L.E.N.C.E. You own everything. Everything is yours. In 3 weeks time, the Opulence Ball will return to the Lotus Sound Lounge at 455 Abbott Street, Vancouver. Fierce voguers will take to the stage with Vancouver's best performers such as Joan-E, Symone, Jenny Magenta and Carlotta Gurl. All hosted by the Mother of the House of Opulence, Conni Smudge and presented by V-Rag! If you're new to the ball and Opulence scene, watch Paris Is Burning and come down to compete in a category, or just watch Vancouver's best vogue battles! Listen to classic house and disco from back in the day, win a trophy, dance your ass off and work the runway! Keep up to date on Opulence news at www.houseofopulence.blogspot.com, or join the Facebook group! It's time to prepare for the War on the Floor. May 5, 2010
Categories Include:
Butch Queen Femme Realness Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Vogue Luscious Body Banjee High Fashion Parisian Vegas Showgirl
Remember, we've got two free tickets to give away for BURN THE FLOOR on Tuesday April 13th at the Vogue Theatre! All you gotta do is get your friends to join our Facebook group and post one word to describe V-Rag. Contestants will be entered into a draw, and the lucky winner gets two tickets to the groundbreaking ballroom sensation! Time's running out, and the odds are in your favour!
Fraser! Fraser took home the top prize last Thursday at the finale of Vancouver's Next Gay Top Model, at Celebrities Nightclub. This 19-year-old cutie came out on top of the competition thanks to his fine photos and gorgeous body. Included in his bevy of wonderful prizes is the opportunity to be the coverboy for the May edition of V-Rag!
And in a twist fitting to the Top Model name, instead of one runner-up being announced, three models were awarded second place: Toban, Riley and Rob.
Toban wowed the audience with his stunning model features, and showed us that bitch knows how to work a camera as if his life depended on it. Out of all the on location photos, shot by the marvelous and talented Shane Oosterhoff, Toban's scored the highest.
Riley was another fan favourite in the competition, and the manly-man model left a trail of drool in his wake each time he stepped out on to the runway.
Rob had the most support from the live audience, and thanks to his confidence and devastatingly handsome features, he won the City TV challenge and presented the weather on a live episode of Breakfast Television. He was adorable! You can check out that interview here.
That's it for this year's installment of Gay Top Model, which will surely come back for a fourth season/cycle/whatever Tyra Banks is calling it these days. VNGTM Organizer/Producer Terry Costa outdid himself this time, and V-Rag was proud to have been a part of this year's event. Check out the video and shots, courtesy of Shane Oosterhoff, below to relive the magic. See you next year!
THE FUTURISTS photographer Sydney Gregoire works for the camera.
