V-WEB: Our Weekly Obsession (April 15/10)

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)

V-WEB: Our Weekly Obsession (March 25/10)

What do you get when you mix the style of Leigh Bowery, the voice of Sylvester, the body of Divine and the electro-synths of Giorgio Moroder? Why, it's Italy's own Disco Queen Hard Ton of course! The latest addition to Gigolo Records, the label which discovered Tiga, Vitalic, Miss Kittin and Fischerspooner, is set to be the wildest Italian export since the Versace family. Check out their videos for the full Hard Ton experience, prepare to be dazzled!

V-WEB: Our Weekly Obsession (March 11/10)

Yup. We're addicted all over again. Last year, our television world was changed by RuPaul's Drag Race, the over-saturated airbrushed spectacular that introduced us to Nina Flowers. Oh yeah, and that other queen that won. Season 2 is now in full swing after its debut in February on LogoTV. And since Glee is on hiatus, we're in desperate need of some prime-time gay TV! Although it's not on MuchMore here in Canada yet (WHEN?!), you can watch full episodes online or on Logo. So far, guests have included Tanya Tucker, Kathy Griffin, Dita Von Teese, Alec Mapa, Phoebe Price and Mike Ruiz. Face it Tyra. Every week, drag status is going up and yours is going down. Deal with it.

Check out the official RuPaul's Drag Race site on LogoTV.

V-WEB: Our Weekly Obsession (March 4/10)

The Junior Boys are nothing new to anyone who enjoys indie Canadiana. But holy hell, is their new video HOT! The Hamilton, Ontario natives have served up a glitchy beepy electro masterpiece dripping with soul from their album Begone Dull Care. And the video for "Bits & Pieces" is a gay love letter from the boys. House of Monroe, the Toronto-based vogue troupe show us who the legendary children really are with glow-in-the-dark neo drag courtesy of Mary Messhausen! What do we really wanna see now? A vogue battle between House of Monroe and House of Dangerkat! WORK!


"Bits and Pieces" - Junior Boys

V-WEB: Our Weekly Obsession (Feb. 11/10)

The boys of OutTV's Don't Quit Your Gay Job have been with us since day one, when we first profiled them. In fact, V-Rag was the first to bring you an exclusive look at the premiere season! From drag queen to dominatrix to city bus driver to stripper, Rob Easton and Sean Horlor gave us a peak at the jobs we either covet or curse. A breakout hit here in Canada, they're back for a second season, set to be bigger and better than the last. In the spirit of the season, OutTV will be airing the first two episodes of the new series on Feb. 15th ("Curling") and Feb. 22nd ("Hockey"). This is a true local original, and be sure to keep your eyes out for a feature on Season 2 in the upcoming March issue of V-Rag. Also read all about Rob's Wasted Thoughts, a V-Rag regular column as well as Sean's Up Your Alley blog on the xtra.ca website. Go Team Rob & Sean!

V-WEB: Our Weekly Obsession (Feb. 4/10)

OK, as if this picture isn't enough to become obsessed over, amazingly the personality behind it is even more astounding! If you don't already know who Little Boots is, where have you been for the last year?? The ex-lead singer of Brit-pop group Dead Disco (a.k.a. Victoria Hesketh) dropped the electro-pop masterpiece Hands in 2009. Since then, she's been called the British Lady GaGa, the next Kate Bush and the biggest artist to watch in 2010. It's easy to see why, with pure pop brilliance like the single "Remedy" mixed with her undeniable talent and beauty. Can you tell we're obsessed yet? Check out the videos and pretend that you're not already on Team Boots. Especially with the way she rocks out on that Tenori-on and Stylophone! She'll be coming our way March 5th at Venue and V-Rag will be there squealing along.


little boots - remedy
Uploaded by project485. - Classic TV and last night's shows, online.


Little Boots: "Meddle" for PlayGround
Uploaded by playgroundmag. - Explore more music videos.

V-WEB: Our Weekly Obsession (Jan. 28/10)

We just did a great interview with the masterminds behind BASH'd!: A Gay Rap Opera, Feminem and T-BAG (check them out at the Cultch this month), and we're feeling oh so hip-hoppy. Homo homies are the obsession of the week, and despite what you may think, there are a LOT to choose from. Cazwell, DeadLee, God-Des, QBoy and Johnny Dangerous are among just a few MCs bringing gay rap to the mainstream! February will feature much more on the subject, but in the meantime, check out these staples of the genre...


CAZWELL - "Is It All Over My Face"


CAZWELL f/ JONNY MAKEUP - "I Seen Beyonce"


DEADLEE f/ MICAH BARNES - "Good Soldier II"


CNN Interview with DEADLEE


GOD-DES f/ SHE - "Lick it"


GOD-DES f/ SHE - "Love You Better"


QBOY f/ SHE - "Coming Out 2 Play"


QBOY f/ KATE NASH - "Dickhead"


JOHNNY DANGEROUS - "(Wan Dat) Azz Iz"


JOHNNY DANGEROUS - "Dirty Is The New Black"

V-WEB: Our Weekly Obsession (Jan. 14/10)

We've been obsessed with Major Lazer for most of 2009, but Vancouver finally gets a taste of this fantastic dancehall/electro/house act tonight! DJ Switch, one half of the Diplo/Switch duo behind the band is playing at Pop Opera tonight. For those who don't know Major Lazer, WATCH AND LEARN! With featured vocalists like Santogold, VYBZ Cartel, Ricky Blaze, Mr. Lexx and Nina Sky, this is some solid dancefloor action. And Switch will definitely be tearing it up Lazer-styleee!

Major Lazer "Pon De Floor" ft. Vybz Kartel and Afro Jack
Uploaded by DowntownMusic. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

V-WEB: Our Weekly Obsession (Jan. 7/10)

It's been almost a month since our last V-WEB posting, the holidays certainly got the better of us. In any case, this week we're obsessed with Calgary-based indie-folk-pop geniuses Woodpigeon! Their new album Die Stadt Muzikanten is a blend of old-fashioned song writing, brilliant arrangements and a gay sensibility courtesy of frontman Mark Andrew. Think Hidden Cameras-meets-Sufjan Stevens... In fact, they're signed to the same label as our past cover boys and girls the Hidden Cameras and Tegan & Sara. The album drops on January 12, and they play the Biltmore Cabaret on January 16th! V-Rag will be on site, so expect an exclusive interview in the February issue. In the meantime, check out their amazing cover of ABBA's "Lay All Your Love On Me", you'll be obsessed too!


"A Moment's Peace for Mary Christa O'Keefe" Woodpigeon


"Lay All Your Love On Me (ABBA Cover)" Woodpigeon

V-WEB: Our Weekly Obsession (Dec.10/09)

With Lady Gaga in town yesterday, today and tomorrow it's only fitting that she's this week's obsession. More like our obsession of the year. Personally, we like that she says "fuck" a lot and credits a majority of her success to her rabid gay following. Gaga praises the bond between her and audiences, particularly the Marys, in her interviews, so when those two forces collide in her live show we hear the result is nothing short of breath-stopping and frantic.

V-Rag is on the scene for tonight's performance at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. What could be more suitable than that venue, seriously? First of all the actual Queen Elizabeth just met Lady Gaga. Second of all, the Queen E has played host to so many fabulous and spectacular shows Lady Gaga's carnival will feel right at home. We're excited. Here is the first of five clips of a really good interview Gaga did with Noisevox that, if you're at all interested in who she is and what she represents, speaks volumes.