Get BENT - SSION's new album - FREE for a month!

Crosspost from Dangerous Minds.
 
Meet Ssion, the gender bending electro-punk dance band from Kansas City, led by front person Cody Critcheloe. Is Cody a man or a woman? I'm not completely sure, but it's not important - s/he can be whatever you want hir to be. And as with other current queer artists like JD Samson, Cody likes to play with people's traditional perceptions of style and beauty - witness the trademark combo monobrow and mustache, a pretty risqué fashion move in these anti-hair-biased times

Ssion (pronounced "shun") are a full on audio/visual/performance-troupe well known for their live shows and support slots for the likes of Gossip and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Critcheloe has been making a respectable career as a video director on the side, working with Peaches, Liars and Scream Club. Ssion formed in Kansas in 1996 and released their first material in 2003. The band released their last album Fools Gold in 2007 and with it the full length feature film Boy which compiled all their music videos and has been described as a "gay, punk rock equivalent of Forest Gump." Ssion have taken the step of releasing their new album Bent as a free download for a limited time, and it's definitely worth downloading. As with Tyler the Creator's first album Bastard, it's surprising to hear music released for free that is of this high quality.

Make no mistake though - Bent is pop music. It's party music, it's designed for dancing - for those moments at a friend's house when the sun is coming up, you've had a ball, but you've got that melancholic feeling that to quit now as it's can't get any better. There are shades of very early Madonna here, coupled with the classic mid-80s synth driven sound of the Pet Shop Boys and Eurodisco, all refracted through early 90s NY dance pop like Deee-Lite. Bent is basically the album the Scissor Sisters should have made by now, classy dance music stripped of the chintz (and Elton bloody John references) and honed to a sharp electro-pop point. It's pretty damn good. So my advice to you dear readers is to let a little bit of Ssion into your life - get Bent.

Ssion - "Clown"
 

 
Ssion - "Psy-Chic"
 

 
Ssion - "Luvvbazaar"
 

 
Ssion - "Credit In The Straight World" Excellent cover of Hole Young Marble Giants.
 

MENERGY ANTHEM Cherie Lily "Werk"

Meet Cherie Lily, the fantabulous faux-queen-meets-dance-instructor wife of modern rock icon Andrew WK. Oh yes, we love this gurl here at Menergy! Her latest single "WERK" is quickly becoming anthem and it's not hard to hear why - it's a modern call to arms for dancers and drag queens to VOGUE THE FUCK OUT!

"Icon" "Give Me Face" "It's Ovah" "Tens Across The Board" OH YES.

Cherie has put together a video featuring lots of voguing routines and some future legend and nightworld faces from New York City. Check it out and GET YR WERK ON QUEENS:



We've got an exclusive interview with Ms Lily in the pipeline, but for more info check out her website, and you can buy "Werk" and its remixes here.

GRINDRMAN (NSFW)

One of our absolute FAVOURITE blogs here at the Haus of M is GRINDRMAN, which is ran by a friend of ours. You know how those awkward, awful private messages that you receive on gay cruising app Grindr? Well it's not just you! On this blog Grindrman shares his daily messages for our delectation and amusement.




Obviously given the nature of the content, it's NSFW, but it is WELL worth checking out and subscribing to!
http://thegrindrman.tumblr.com/

CARRION - Controversial & Cultural Highlight of the Week!

Our resident graphic designer Gregor Laird's new joint exhibition with friend Sarah Green, CARRION, certainly is proving to be very newsworthy since it opened last week! One old dear walked out, offended by the imagery of his work, which features crucified chimps, zombie Michael Jacksons and other such deliciousness!

make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

However, her timid viewpoint doesn't reflect that of the popular press, as Scotland on Sunday named the exhibition - on at the Axolotl Gallery, Dundas Street, Edinburgh until 1st Aug - as one of the cultural highlights of the week! Click here to see. We here at the Haus of M strongly urge you all to make the effort to go see it before it finishes, as we're sure it'll leave an impression on you, one way or another.

Jon Pleased Wimmin EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

It goes without saying that Jon Pleasd Wimmin is one of our favourite DJs, after rocking the floors at both last year's HyperPride and our Fierce Ruling Divas Ball. But many people might not know that apart form being a great DJ Jon is also a very talented artist. We tracked him down to ask some questions about his work:



When did you start making these pictures?

I started them for fun about 18 months ago and had such a great response from posting them on Facebook that it kind of evolved very naturally, people seem to love them.

I've made collages since I was about 15 and have always had them around my home. I collect images/memorabilia from my life and then create them when I have enough material, I like to think of them as living scrapbooks/photo albums. It's much better than having a closed box or book hidden away. Life is an adventure and it's good to remind yourself of these adventures.

How do you select people for your portraits?

I choose people who I admire and who are (to me at least) iconic.

Who have been the major influences on your style?

Well, when I left school in 1985 I studied Fashion design in London for 3 years and that helped shape my love of 'styling' and obviously there's a debt to Warhol but I would say that 'Pop Cutlure' in general. There is definitely a theme of transformation to them, which has always played a huge part in my life. Whether it be through doing drag or remixing a piece of music. I have always been obsessed (in a healthy way) with Image....it's a shame that very few people these days seem to have much of one.

Are they for sale?

Yes, you can order them from the website www.poparttart.com and I do commissions too. Greetings cards are going to be up on the site within the next few weeks also.

Who is your favourite artist?

I like lots of different artists...Cindy Sherman, Val Denham, Richard Wathen, Jeff Koons, Gilbert & George, Guggi and Warhol of course, to name a few.

Which is your favourite portrait you have done so far?

I think it's a tie between Liberace & Twiggy at the moment.



Tell us a bit about Dare - what can the causal punter expect to hear there?

Well, I try to make sure that the music involves interesting new electronic dance tracks and that it sits alongside tracks from the past that have inspired them. So many of today's clubs and 'dj's' just play a long list of upfront faceless tracks that I like to try and show the lineage of where the music that I personally love has come from, where it's at and where it's going next. The main key is to keep it interesting whilst keeping it accessible and fun. Not too up it's own arse.Also, the Speakeasy where we hold the night is a great, intimate space with an area for relaxing and socialising and a dancefloor for dancing. We wanted to make sure it was a sociable night where like-minded people could meet.

Have you been DJing anywhere else recently?

Yes, we do Dare! quarterly in London at East Bloc (Next date July 16th).
I've got gigs at Yello in Belfast, Windsor, Portsmouth and more in London coming up soon.

How is clubbing in Edinburgh at the moment?

I wouldn't really know to be honest.
I decided to run Dare! as there was a distinct lack of 'mixed' nights in the city and wanted somehwere for my friends and I to be able to go, hear the type of music we love and have fun.
I wouldn't say we were competing against anyone as there really is nobody else doing the same sort of thing.

What are your top 5 Hi-NRG records of all time?

1. Hypnotic Tango - My Mine
2. Koto -Visitors
3. The Flirts - Passion
4. Sisley Ferre - Give Me Your Love
5. Joanne Daniels - After the Rainbow.



You can also find PopArtTart and Dare on Facebook.

New CHRISTEENE Video!!

She's back!! And this time she's "Workin' On Grandma":

CHRISTEENE "Workin' On Grandma" Music Video - watch more funny videos

That's some next level shit right there.

Bad Taste Barbies "Working Up A Sweat (Niallist PumpMixx)"

Bad Taste Barbies are a hi-nrg, uber-trashy, disco-rock gang-bang hailing from the depraved back alleys of "the San Francisco of the North", Manchester. Led by the twisted brain of Kurt Dirt (above) they take inspiration from Divine, Rob Zombie, Madonna, My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult, Sylvester, the Cramps, Marilyn Manson and the Divine David, and they have been tearing it up something rotten on the live scene. I had the unlucky job of going on after them at last Halloween's Zombie Pride, something I never want to do again as my one man show is no match for their moobs-out, gymnatic, in-yer-face. audience cavorting! Their nrg level is so hi you'd think they live on a mixture of crack and viagra.



Thankfully BTBs liked my style enough that they asked me to do a remix, which I gladly accepted. The track "Working Up A Sweat" was fast enough already, but I upped it by about 20bpm, bolted on some cheesy 80s synths, some cowbells (of course) and channeled the power of Madonna's "Burning Up" for a sordid trip to a cruisy new-wave gymnazium:

BAD TASTE BARBIES Working Up A Sweat (Niallist PumpMixx) by theniallist

And get this - Angie Bowie liked the track so much that she retweeted it!! Wow, that means in the Kevin Bacon game I am now only 4 steps away from the God of Glam, king gender bender himself, David Bowie!!



For more Bad Taste Barbie action, check out their Myspace.
All together now - Seig Heil, Jeremy Kyle!

Menergy Hearts Gomma

Just showing some love to the record label Gomma, and all the Gomma gang. These guys have been on fire in the last 12 months, here's a selection of tracks they have released:

DISKOKAINE - HALL OF SHAME (HANNELULAURI Remix) (buy it here)
This is like a disco orgasm to me - LOVE it!!



LE LE - NUMBER ONE GIRL (buy it here)
This is a bit more French house meets synth pop, but is nonetheless fantastic.



MUNK - LA MUSICA (buy the album here)
Gomma boss Munk has a new album out now called The Bird and The Beat - here's his latest single which is (no surprise) REALLY good:



For more funzies check out Gomma's blog.

Countdown to the LAST VIC PARTY #5 - Beyoncé runs the World

OK so Born This Way comes out today, but I'm over that already. It's STILL all about Beyoncé for me, much to Munter's disapproval. And this performance at the Billboard Awards shows why she is a complete GODDESS! Even Gaga agrees, gushing about the power of B in the opening segment.

Who runs the world? BEYONCÉ!

Countdown to the LAST VIC PARTY #11 - Chloé Remembers...

DJ Pee Play 's Cruising #2 "Deep Inside"

More vintage gay butchness, this time an excellent re-edit video by San Francisco's DJ Peeplay (of Honey Soundsystem) cutting up the gay S&M thriller Cruising to the sounds of Harddrive's "Deep Inside". We like this. A LOT.

Skatt Bros "Life At The Outpost"

Totes Hilare! Thanks Gregor :-)



I really wanna get a copy of "Party Every Day" now too..

Jiz! is on Twitter!

Follow her bitchez - then you'll get goodies like:

"Jiz recession tip. Sue an old priest for rape from a "recovered" memory."

"Asha kept saying she wanted to go for an asymmetrical look. So I gave her a right mastectomy."

"FML. My labia majora looks like a cluster of Ghandi foreheads. I guess it's Valtrex time."

http://twitter.com/Jizismyname

Interview with ZsaZsa Noir

ZSA ZSA NOIR is our live musical guest at tomorrow night's MENERGY. She also happens to be one of the hottest gender benders from the San Francisco of the south, Manchester. We sent her a few questions to get her lips around:



Who is Zsa Zsa Noir?

Zsa Zsa Noir is the seven foot tall, sorded incarnation of all my subversive kinks in musical, gender queer form.


When did you start performing? And why did you start?

I started performing when I realised I wanted to be a mermaid at the age of six. I've never looked back except now I can hold the attention of a whole crowd of freaks and scream obscene lyrics over polished electronic disco filth. I'm compelled.



You produce all your own tracks, so who/what are your main musical influences?

I loved Uffie and double rate Peaches. My voice was created from a love vibration emitted by David Bowie, Tina Turner and Marilyn Monroe. I have tonnes of influences but Miss Noir is an original.


And you style yourself too, talented girl, who are your fashion/design icons?

Shit loads.




What is the gay scene like in Manchester? How does it compare to other cities?

People sometimes see me as a 'gay' act. 'Queer' is correct and 'Queer Happenings' by and large exist outside of Manchester's gay scene for me. I'm part of the Queer Scene. Sorry that didn't answer your question.. You should ask someone who shops on the high street.


Bonus question! Asked by Midnight Growler: What does an octopus' arse taste like?

Octopus arse.. It fucking stinks beyond the capabilities of my vocabulary but tastes a delicate balance of salt and fish. Rather nice even when raw.



Here's a taste of what will be on offer tomorrow night - ZsaZsa's current single "Hey Lean Diggy Doggy" (available to buy from iTunes)

Gender Bender Bingo TONIGHT!

Get your asses down to this, bitchez, for it shall be fierce:



AND it's all in aid of a good cause, and in memory of the legendary Tranny Paul. More info on the Facebook Event Page.

RIP Loleatta Holloway QUEEN OF DISCO

THE QUEEN of disco music died last night in Chicago, aged 64, after battling a short illness. You may not know the name but you will DEFINITELY know the voice. This Diva RULED disco music in the late 70s and early 80s, and got sampled to smithereens on Black Box's "Ride On Time". She made some of the most diva-tastic records EVER and IMO the only people who could touch her were Donna Summer and Sylvester. RIP Lolo you will be missed!! xxx



EPIC diva action from 3:10 on this one:





And SERIOUSLY if I don't see drag queen tributes pouring in today for this Goddess I will be VERY PISSED OFF >:-(

TRANNY NITE is TONIGHT!

That's right it's TRANNY NITE! Tonight at the Art School, in the Vic Bar, as a fundraiser for the GSA's printing department. Get tranned up! With DJ sets from The Niallist and Lock Up Your Daughters, and performance from Lady Munter and Vanity Von Glow! This is going to be ace :-)

And in the spirit of things, here's a clip sent to me by Steven from Arthur's Landing. This is by one of the biggest pop stars in Thailand (who is straight) and the chorus is "I'm A Lady Boy". Apparently they've got very progressive attitudes to gender roles in Thailand:

Back On Track mix by Pumping Iron's Andy

MAJE! Here's what to expect from Pumping Iron at the next Menergy bash:

Back On Track by Andy Bailey

Fax Yourself / Sunshine
Karen Pollack / You Can't Touch Me (Murk Dub)
House 2 House / I Need Your Love (Love Mix)
Frankie Knuckles / Your Love
Azari & III / Indigo
Dione / Come Get My Lovin (Remix)
Bardeux / When We Kiss

We Heart Limmy! Part 2

We Heart Limmy!

Via Limmy.com, Jar Jar Binks has confired his bisexuality.