Echo Magazine - Arizona LGBTQ Lifestyle - August 2019

Pets!

In the dog days of summer, Echo raises a paw to our furry friends.

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | Vol. 30, #11 | Issue 719 | August 2019 | COMPLIMENTARY

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INSIDE THIS

ISSUE

Photo by Delia Johnson: Cronkite News

Issue 719 | Vol. 30, #11 | August 2019

NEWS 8 Editor’s Note 12 News Briefs 14 Datebook

COMMUNITY 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56

Without Reservations At the Box Office Opening Nights Bands Recordings Between the Covers Talking Bodies Not That You Asked We The People History

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La Gattara Cat Lounge & Boutique

At this feline haven, Felicia Minor and Freddie Prinze Charming host a monthly drag bingo night that’s jam-packed with fun. Meow!

Pups at Pedal Haus, courtesy of the venue.

OUT & ABOUT 13 20 32 34

Diamondbacks Pride Night Flagstaff Pride Carnival Latino GAGA for Scotty: A Drag Show Fundraiser 36 Let’s Get Better Together Conference 62 Charlie’s Foam Party 64 Erotic Art Show

ON THE COVER Tink. @tinktherealchihuahua Photo by Maria Vassett.

Dining with man’s best friend Pets!

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In the dog days of summer, Echo raises a paw to our furry friends.

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | Vol. 30, #11 | Issue 719 | August 2019 | COMPLIMENTARY

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It’s no fun to see a dog’s sad face as you walk out the door for a zesty meet-up with friends. So, take your furry friends along. Here are several spots around the Valley that welcome your best buds.

Courtesy of Kaibab Animal Hospital

In Good Hands

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In their daily services, Dr. Darren Wright and his team at Kaibab Animal Hospital emphasize compassion and respect. Meet this doc and learn why he chose veterinary medicine.

Cat Psychology

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Our feline friends are complex — often exhibiting a variety of personality traits and intriguing behaviors. This article offers insights that help us best cohabitate with these curious and curiosityinspiring creatures.

WEB EXCLUSIVE

Insta-Pets

Echo Readers and staff share their favorite pets to follow online.

(Pictured here: Harlan Porterhouse.)

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Rescue Roundup Learn about some of the local animal rescues and shelters keeping pets safe and healthy as they prepare them for new fur-ever homes. Many of these spots are always looking for new volunteers — could be you.

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Spiderwebs in the Sky: Raven Chacon at Heard Museum Jenna Duncan reviews Raven Chacon’s current exhibition featuring immersive, experiential works. echomag.com/chacon-heard-2019.

Installation in the Jacobson Gallery, Heard Museum, Phoenix.

Photos: Amanda Watkins, Heard Museum.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

By Amy Young

I

n August, Valley of the Sun residents tend to wax on about the ‘dog days of summer,’ and we do it shamelessly and without guilt. With our temperatures often topping 110 degrees, we have a leg (or a paw) up on our fellow states; complaining is a built-in part of the summer’s framework.

Dr. Darren Wright is the owner of Kaibab Animal Hospital. The interview on page 22 with this dedicated veterinarian offers an in-depth look at Wright, from how to best care for your pets, to what drove him to this career pursuit, to his perspective as a gay veterinary professional.

Talking about the dog days inspires thoughts of dogs. Cats, too. Or pigs, goats, bunnies, or simply any and all of the exceptional critters that affect our lives. It is the perfect month to relaunch an annual Pets issue.

It’s been a while since Echo has focused an entire issue on four-legged furries (not counting human fuzzy bears on all fours) and we are excited to spotlight these spectacular creatures, along with venues and people that service and welcome them.

On page 16, you’ll find an article on La Gattara Cat Lounge & Boutique and the regular drag bingo event that Felicia Minor and Freddy Prinze Charming host among the felines. The café theme continues on page 18 with a rundown of great places to eat and drink with patios that welcome the pooches.

There’s also a roundup of rescues and shelters that might help you find a new friend, and a deep look at cat psychology, because, face it — we all want to know how the feline brain works.

We asked our readers to tell us what pets to follow on Instagram — thanks for sharing! Echo staff weighed in on this, too. to See the Insta-glamorous results on page 28.

Between all of the adorable pet pics and stories in this issue, there’s plenty to dig into — news, reviews, and music- and theater-oriented interviews — enjoy! Stay cool and we’ll see you in September with our Back In Action issue.

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT PUBLISHER: Bill Orovan ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Bill Gemmill EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR: Amy Young CONTRIBUTORS: Joey Amato Kimberly Blaker Grace Bolyard Edward Castro Jenna Duncan Buddy Early Michelle Talsma Everson Tamara Juarez Justin Keane Steve Kilar Jason Kron Jeff Kronenfeld

Laura Latzko Logan Lowrey-Rasmussen Judy McGuire Kaely Monahan David-Elijah Nahmod Tia Norris Tom Reardon Seth Reines Mikey Rox Terri Schlichenmeyer Colby Tortorici

INTERNS Grace Lieberman ART DEPARTMENT PHOTOGRAPHY: nightfuse.com.

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Amy Young is the managing editor of Echo Magazine. A longtime journalist, her work has appeared in numerous publications, regional to international. Please contact her at editor@echomag.com.

DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING: Ashlee James ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Gregg Edelman NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863

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Phoenix, AZ 85011-6630 PHONE: 602-266-0550 EMAIL: manager@echomag.com Copyright © 2016 • ISSN #1045-2346

MEMBER:

Echo Magazine is published by ACE Publishing, Inc. Echo is a registered trademark of ACE Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Written permission must be obtained in advance for partial or complete reproduction of any advertising material contained therein. Opinions expressed therein are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. ACE Publishing, Inc. does not assume responsibility for claims by its advertisers or advice columnists. Publication of a name, photograph of an individual or organization in articles, advertisements or listings is not to be construed as an indication of the sexual orientation, unless such orientation is specifically stated. Manuscripts or other materials submitted remain the property of ACE Publishing, Inc. 8

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LIVE AND LOVE WITHOUT FEAR WEÂ OFFER STIGMA-FREE & COMPASSIONATE: HIV Prevention, Care, & Support HIV & STD Testing PrEP & PEP Navigation Trans Health Navigation Case Management

Nutrition Services Primary & Trans Care Counseling Empowerment Programs Sexual Health Education Condoms

Learn More Online at: www.swcenter.org

NEWS BRIEFS

The House of Representatives approved an amendment on July 11 to reverse Donald Trump’s transgender military ban.

Courtesy of Pink News

T

he motion passed with bipartisan support.

The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act would put safeguards in place under law that any person who meets gender-neutral occupational standards can serve in the military regardless of race, color, national origin, religion or sex, including gender identity or sexual orientation.

Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said: “This is a crucial moment for our elected officials to bring accountability to a reckless and lawless policy.

“This bigoted ban has brought chaos to prospective recruits, active duty service members, and countless families forced to watch their dedication and duty soiled by a self-interested President.

“The military wants and needs qualified transgender people, and we applaud this action by the House to ensure that every person willing and able to serve is allowed to serve. It will now be up to the Conference Committee and the President whether to embrace equal opportunity or discrimination.”

“Over the last three years, 14,000 transgender service members have served openly and successfully,” said amendment sponsor, Representative Jackie Speier.

“All five service chiefs affirmed they

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do not hamper lethality or cohesion.

“Malice and ignorance cannot stop us giving medical care to those brave enough to serve. We know what transgender service members bring to the fight; let them bring it.”

experience and work to represent a diverse and intersectional community.

According to The Hill, the amendment passed 242-187.

Ten Republicans voted with all Democrats in support of the bill.

“Transgender troops have served openly with distinction for years, and they and their fellow service members deserve nothing less than the respect of a grateful nation,” said Sarah McBride, Human Rights Campaign National Press Secretary.

“The Trump-Pence administration’s trans troop ban goes against medical experts, military leadership and budget analysts; it is unsound, unpopular, and unpatriotic.

“We are grateful to Congresswoman Speier and the strong, bipartisan majority of the House who voted for this amendment to ensure all transgender military service members have equal non-discrimination protections.”

PinkNews is the brand for the global LGBT+ community and the next generation.

PinkNews stands for the fundamental rights of the entire LGBT+ community and its allies. We acknowledge individual news

Arizona Diamondbacks Pride Night

June 21 at Chase Field, Phoenix.

Photos by Bill Gemmill.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2019-photos.

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DATEBOOK August 10

July 27

Ready to strike out? At Biz Bowl: Drag Me to Bowling 2019, that’s a goal you want to have. The Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce hosts the 11th annual family-friendly event that includes bowling, a drag costume contest, and raffles. Adults can save some energy for the official 21-and-over after-party at Stacy’s @ Melrose. The balls start rolling at 4 p.m. at Let it Roll Bowl, 8925 N. 12th St., Phoenix. business.phoenixgaychamber.org

August 3-10

The World Hip Hop DANCE Championship Finals happen at multiple venues for over the course of a week. More than 4,000 dance crews, grouped by age, show off their moves and skills as they compete for top spots. Visit the site for prices and times.

Hiphopinternational.com

The Imperial Court of Arizona hopes you’ll join them for And BINGO was his Name: Drag Bingo for AZK9 Rescue. Teddy Michael and Sophia Sinclair host this charitable party that features lively bingo calling and drag performances. Admission is $5. Bring dollar bills — tips for hosts and performers go to the in-need animals.

Doors open at 3:30 p.m. at The Rock, 4129 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. imperialcourtaz.org

August 12

The Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Phoenix Boys of Leather, ALBAC, and Arizona Men of Leather have teamed up to host Absolution: Leather Fetish Night. This party starts at 9 p.m. and benefits The TEA Phoenix, a place that welcomes young men of color and works to help end HIV. Head to Nu Towne Saloon, 5002 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix.

August 16

August 4

July 28

The 12th Annual Dancing for one•n•ten takes the big screen to the stage at this year’s event, as dancers perform live to movie soundtracks. Tickets are $25 to $75 and the doors open at 1 p.m. at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy. onenten.org 14

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Does Banana Hammock Sundays at Charlie’s really need a description?

Maybe not, but the details are certainly fun. There’s a Battle of the Bulge contest — get your Speedo ready. DJ Image will be spinning tunes and look for a go-go dancing show by Sinful Studs Go Go Boys. The fun starts at 4 p.m. Enjoy drink specials and nighttime shows from Pussy LeHoot & Friends, as well as Adriana Galliano’s Latin Explosion. Get to 717 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. charliesphoenix.com

Save the date: RipplePHX’s Summer Carnival Weekend is happening soon.

From 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. you can make awesome summer memories at this carnival extravaganza that includes games, prizes, delicious eats, and sideshows.

It’s fun for the whole family as you help support HIV programs and services. The two-day spectacular happens at Stacy’s @ Melrose, 4343 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. ripplephx.org

Mark Our Calendars

To have your event considered for Echo’s print and online calendars, submit your event details to echomag.com/ community-calendar *All submissions are subject to Echo’s discretion.

Flexible Start Dates Register Today! * Not an actual student.

enroll-maricopa.com

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M

y 9-year-old son is obsessed with cats. He doesn’t just love cats, he wrote-a-bookabout-cat-breeds-for-a-final-project loves cats. With this love in mind, we discovered La Gattara Cat Lounge & Boutique.

La Gattara is a unique place — a cat cafe where locals can relax and hang out with cats, use the free wifi, and potentially adopt a furry friend through their partner rescue, Lost Our Home Pet Rescue. (There’s no pressure to adopt though, which makes it so unique.)

They host regular yoga, movie, and other cat-themed events, and I recently discovered that they host monthly drag bingo nights. Cats and drag, what could be better? I had to learn more about how this one-of-a-kind combo got started.

“We started Drag Bingo + Cats in September 2017, just a couple of months after opening [in May 2017],” explains Missy Pruitt, owner of La Gattara. “I saw another cat cafe [in another state] doing drag bingo and it seemed so fun!”

To host the monthly event, Missy teamed up with local entertainers Felicia Minor and Freddy Prinze Charming.

“Felicia and I have been involved since its inception in September 2017,” says Freddy Prinze Charming. “We were the first people Missy came to about doing the event after she came to one of our Truth or Dare bingo nights at The Cash, and we’ve been there ever since.”

Missy shares that the events happen monthly on a Friday, cost $25 per person, and usually last 3-3.5 hours. Attendees can BYOB (or wine), and there is bingo, socializing, and, of course, cat-themed prizes (including a coveted Betsey Johnson cat purse). The bingo usually lasts four to five rounds and, while attendees can bring their own beer or wine, it is not exclusively a 21 and older event. “Kids can come, but we ask that their adults use their own discretion with that,” Missy says.

Drag Bingo + Cats La Gattara Cat Lounge & Boutique teams up with entertainers Felicia Minor and Freddy Prinze Charming for this monthly inclusive event

By Michelle Talsma Everson 16

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“Some of the fun [at Drag Bingo + Cats] includes chatting it up with guests, welcoming them to the cat lounge, selling raffle tickets and, of course, calling numbers and having fun,” says Felicia.

“We talk to them [the attendees] about the cat lounge, about ‘Let’s Have a Fefe,’ (the duo’s weekly podcast), and we make connections,” adds Freddy. “We’ve met so many people, so many of whom support us outside of bingo nights now, which is amazing.”

So, what’s the importance of blending two seemingly different audiences (cat rescue and drag performers)?

“We put up a sign at the cat cafe when we first opened that says everyone is welcome,” Missy says. “I grew always FEATURE STORY

feeling judged, and I want people to know they can come here and not be judged. This is a safe space. By doing the Drag Bingo + Cats event, people who have never been to a drag event can learn more about it. We have little old ladies who never went to a drag event in their lives and now they won’t miss one. Because of cats, two completely different worlds [drag and cat rescue] can have fun together.”

“We’re one of, if not the longest running drag bingo in Phoenix that takes place in a venue that isn’t an LGBTQ+ establishment or bar,” says Freddy.

“Being visible to audiences who may not often have a lot of contact with our community just means we get to help educate and expand the minds of the folks who come to see us. Bingo is all ages, so we get quite a few kids and teens that come, and they love seeing Felicia and I all dressed up. They get to interact with the type of people that maybe they’ve only heard about or seen on TV and, in return, we get to show them that drag artists are just normal people.”

Each Drag Bingo + Cats event also has a theme.

“It’s a great time for everyone to have a good time and be in a safe space, especially if you love cats and meeting new people from all walks of life,” Felicia shares. “Freddy and I love to have a good time. Each month there is a theme and we encourage costumes to fit the theme.”

The bond between the entertainment team and La Gattara goes beyond monthly bingo nights. This past spring, Felicia and Freddy joined La Gattara supporters on a float in the pride parade.

“I’m an ally and friend, and I want the community to know that La Gattara is a place of love and acceptance,” Missy shares. “Peace, love, meow.”

In addition to the monthly Drag Bingo + Cats event, Freddy and Felicia recently had a drag story time with the kids at La Gattara’s summer cat camp and a drag bingo event that welcomed the children and their families. “Drag artists aren’t often seen outside of LGBTQ+ spaces, so to show the children that, it helps them to understand and they bring that understanding back home to their parents,” Missy says.

“La Gattara is a wonderful, welcoming space for everyone,” Freddy shares.

“Drag Bingo + Cats is a great way to support a local, small business, that promotes animal rescue and educates along the way. There are few spaces that can be considered a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community outside of the bars, and Missy and her staff have always made sure that La Gattara is one of those spaces.”

To learn more about La Gattara Cat Lounge & Boutique’s Drag Bingo + Cats and other events, visit lagattaracatcafe. com/events.

Drag Bingo + Cats Upcoming Events August 23, theme: The 1970s September 27, theme: TBD October 11, theme: Felicia’s birthday bash!

All events start at 7 p.m. See website for most updated info and pricing.

Michelle Talsma Everson is a freelance writer, editor and PR pro. A graduate of NAU, she’s been writing for Valley publications for more than a decade. You can find out more at mteverson.com.

Felicia Minor and Freddy Prinze Charming grab the winning balls. Photo by Delia Johnson: Cronkite News.

FEATURE STORY

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Lounging at the Farm at South Mountain.

Dining with man’s best friend Dog-friendly restaurant patios

By Michelle Talsma Everson Photos courtesy of the venues

E

ating out is a social activity — one that you want to share with your family and friends. But, what if one of your best friends happens to have four legs? We rounded up some of the Valley’s most welcoming patios for pups.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list (you’d be surprised how many places you can bring your furry friend!), we hope it inspires you to not leave Fido at home next time you go for a meal out. Bone appétit!

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Taco Guild 46 E. Osborn Road, Phoenix tacoguild.com At Taco Guild, the Old and New World culinary traditions are celebrated.

Traditional Mexican techniques are utilized to offer the best of classic and modern flavors. Taco Guild is housed in a beautiful historic church circa 1893 that showcases original stained glass

windows, a wooden beamed ceiling, floor and other original mementos. Taco Guild serves lunch and dinner during the week with daily happy hour specials.

Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Taco Guild offers a dog-friendly patio with complimentary water bowls.

The Lola AZ 6770 N. Sunrise Blvd., Glendale thelolaaz.com The Lola AZ is a cocktail lab and eatery located at Westgate. Locally-owned and operated, The Lola takes its name from the mantra “Living Out Life’s Adventures” and serves up fresh, scratch-made menu items and inventive craft cocktails. The Lola offers happy hour Monday-Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and brunch TuesdaySunday. It has a dog-friendly, shaded and turfed patio. Water is provided for your furry friend and, beginning in September, FEATURE STORY

The Lola will have “Pawppy Hour,” which will include complimentary organic dog treats.

Salty Sow 4801 E. Cactus Road, Scottsdale saltysow.com

outdoor games like ping pong and corn hole. The locally owned brewpub is home to made-on-site craft brews and bites in the heart of Downtown Tempe with one of the largest patios in Arizona.

Since its establishment in 2015, Pedal Haus Brewery’s craft beers have been highly distinguished year after year and won multiple craft beer awards at the Great American Beer Festival, North American Beer Awards and Los Angeles International Beer Competition.

Farm & Craft 4302 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale ilovefarmandcraft.com

Cool pooches living their best lives at Pedal Haus.

With the tagline “Swine + Wine + Beer,” Salty Sow is described as “an American Gastropub that serves contemporary farmhouse fare.” The chef-driven menu features handcrafted cocktails and entrees with locally sourced ingredients.

The menu is full of clean, farm-totable eats and the setting is rustic but contemporary. Salty Sow is pet-friendly on their patio and offers dogs a bowl of water during their visit.

Pedal Haus 730 S. Mill Ave., #102, Tempe pedalhausbrewery.com Pedal Haus boasts a 6,000 square-foot, dog-friendly patio and beer garden with

Farm & Craft in Scottsdale not only offers healthy sustainable food for humans, it also offers it for dogs.

Their menu features a Dog Bowl with all natural grilled chicken and healthy grains. They also make sure the dogs are hydrated with refreshing ice water and free refills. The patio also features misters to keep your furry friends cool in the warmer months.

ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho 6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale hotelvalleyho.com/zuzu Whether you’re stopping by for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, the mid-century modern patio at ZuZu is open to all dogs, and each pup will receive a water bowl to stay hydrated during their visit. Just a few of the popular brunch menu items to enjoy include Green Chile Pork Arrepas with a sunny up egg, pickled onion and cherry tomato relish, grilled jalapeño, cotija cheese and cilantro or, if you have a sweet tooth, the Cereal Milk Stuffed

Brunch buddies at Farm and Craft.

French Toast includes pastry cream, fruit loop milk-crumb, maple syrup, and whipped cream.

The Farm at South Mountain 6106 S. 32nd St., Phoenix thefarmatsouthmountain.com The Farm at South Mountain has two dog-friendly patios: Morning Glory Café and The Farm Kitchen. A signature Arizona breakfast spot, Morning Glory Café serves house baked muffins and pastries, locally made sausages, seasonal omelets and more. It’s bike and pet friendly. The Farm Kitchen is the original restaurant at The Farm property.

With their walk-up counter, you can choose from an assortment of delicious sandwiches, fresh soups, seasonal salads and made-from-scratch baked goods. Don’t forget to ask about a variety of lawn games available at The Farm Kitchen pick-up window for customers to enjoy.

Red’s Bar & Grill at The Wigwam 415 N. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park wigwamarizona.com/dining The Wigwam resort has its very own on-property furry friend, Archie Von Wigwam, and welcomes pets to join Archie on the new pet-friendly patio and Bark Bites menu at Red’s Bar & Grill, which offers a delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner destination overlooking the elegant, arched palms and rolling greens of the historic Gold and Blue golf courses.

Pups go to Pedal Haus to party.

FEATURE STORY

Michelle Talsma Everson is a freelance writer, editor and PR pro. A graduate of NAU, she’s been writing for Valley publications for more than a decade. You can find out more at mteverson.com.

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Flagstaff Pride

June 22 at Thorpe Park, Flagstaff.

Photos by Gregg Edelman.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2019-photos.

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For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2019-photos.

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On the day we met to talk about his practice, Dr. Wright has already performed four surgeries and was enjoying a well-earned break in the middle of his day. A single dad to his mini-pinscher, Luci, Dr. Wright is old enough to know better, but clearly young at heart. It is obvious after meeting him that he is just a genuinely good dude (and what would Miss Manners say about referring to a doctor as a “dude”?) and to hear him talk about his work and his staff and the animals he cares for is inspiring. For Dr. Wright, it’s all about making sure he is doing everything he can to make his patients and their families heard, informed, and safe.

When did you know you wanted to be a vet?

It was one of those things that since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to do, like most kids. Thankfully, I just kind of stuck with it.

Lots of children express interest in veterinary science due to their love of animals but struggle with the idea of doing surgery on animals. What advice would you give to the budding vets out there?

In Good Hands Kaibab Animal Hospital’s Dr. Wright leads with compassion

By Tom Reardon

Many people think euthanasia is the hardest thing we do, and some people think that it is almost all of what we do (euthanize animals). Unfortunately, it is something we do a lot and it’s one of the harder things to do in medicine, but I always look at it as it’s a very kind tool.

It’s a gift you can give them to take away pain, to take way suffering, to give them the dignity that we just don’t get to do with people honestly. I always go into every euthanasia hoping it’s my last one, but it’s also a tool that I never want to be without because it is a valid treatment to take away the pain.

D

r. Darren Wright and his wonderful staff at Kaibab Animal Hospital have the right idea about how to help animals and the owners through what are often difficult and stressful times. In a simple, unassuming office on North 68th Street in Scottsdale, Dr. Wright has forged a safe haven for cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies to get the care they need while their “parents” stay fully informed about what is happening, why it’s happening and, most importantly, what options are out there for their beloved pet.

When you walk through the door at Kaibab, the first thing you notice is their motto in big letters above the receptionist area: The Little Clinic With The Big Heart. Instantly welcoming, this motto fits Kaibab to a T. The building is clean with well appointed rooms and the perfect mix of pet-related art, information, and cozy charm. In short, when visiting Kaibab, you’re going to feel comfortable, appreciated, and part of the 22

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Yes, you love animals and want to do the best for them. Some people, even friends who are vets, don’t like surgery. We all have to learn it to get through medical school and you have to do all the things and you have to be proficient in it. Once you graduate, you have the option of kind of doing what you want, though. For example, if you want to do just behavior and kind of be the doggy psychiatrist, you can do that.

It’s a fine line that every vet has to walk, I’m sure, to broach this subject.

How do you handle this?

Dr. Darren Wright

family. Dr. Wright has done an amazing job in creating a warm, nurturing space which is appropriate for puppy or kitty’s first check-up or a loving pet’s final moments.

It is hard to broach that subject. You have to read the actual client and say, “Okay, what are they looking for?” And some people are looking for that comfort, that validation saying, “I’m not doing the wrong thing or I’m not doing this too early” or anything because there are a lot of cases where people wait too late.

I never want the animal to suffer, but as FEATURE STORY

long as they’re comfortable, I’m going to support the owner and whatever decision they want to make as long as the animal is not being put in a bad position. I’m here as an advocate for the animal itself. There are times where I’m like, “Look, this is not going to end well.

We can go and do these thousands of dollars of testing, but what am I going to do with those results?”

My philosophy on it is you have to kind of take their top three favorite things in life and as long as they can still do two of them and are still having more good days than bad, then we’re probably still doing okay. We can modify medications; we can change things. But when you look in their (the animal’s) eyes and you see that they’re just not having fun anymore, that’s when you’re saying, “Am I keeping you around for you or keeping you around for me?” It’s a very hard personal decision.

What’s the best part of your job?

Of course, it’s just playing with the puppies and kittens. It’s a difficult job when you’ve got to come in and get licked by dogs and cats and play with them all day. That’s the best thing. I really enjoy working with my clients. I have a lot of fun with them. I had one this morning where the owner was panicking because their dog was coughing all night and she though her dog was dying of heart failure, but we found that he was just having some allergies, so we got him the right medication and I got to be the hero. It feels really good to do that.

Many members of the gay community like to support gay-owned businesses.

Do you feel some responsibility to help foster this in the gay community here in the Phoenix area?

As a community we have to lead and support each other and be out there, too, to help when there is an issue. As a community, we always want to be accepted. If we’re gay, we’re out there saying, “Hey, you need to accept me for who I am, love me for who I am,” and everything’s great. But then you get inside of our world, and again, we’re very cliquey and we isolate each other and that drives me nuts. Let’s kind of all be happy together.

So, we want to force everybody outside of community to accept our community, but within our community, we want to still isolate ourselves. That’s something that I’d like to change, but I don’t know how to change at this point other than just loving everybody. That’s something I would like to try and help foster a change in that because it does drive me nuts.

What is something you would like our readers to know about being a vet or veterinary science that people don’t know enough about?

Something I think that everybody needs to know that’s not really out there is the psychological issues we have in veterinary medicine. This is something that I am a big advocate for and something that I always try and talk about. A lot of people don’t realize that veterinarians actually have the highest suicide rate of any profession right now.

People don’t realize it, I think, because they see us here and we seem like we’re

Dr. Darren Wright

all just happy go lucky because of how they see us here but just like any case of depression, you often don’t see it until it is too late.

What would you like to see pet owners do more of?

Honestly, preventative care (for the pet) and getting your annual check-up.

I recommend every six months exams here. Pets are growing a lot older than we realize every year. I have wellness plans that help cover the costs so they can come in and I can listen to their heart (for example). Dentistry is huge, too.

If we can start with dental cleanings early, we can keep the teeth in their head. They spent a lot time making those teeth and if I can keep the teeth healthy, they’re going to be a lot healthier in general throughout their life.

Do you have any pets of your own?

I have a pet. A little min-pin named Lucy.

Her drag name is Diva Lucia DunneWright. She doesn’t realize she’s a dog.

What do you think she thinks she is?

She thinks she’s my queen. Okay. She lives in the house and I pay the bills. I mean, I sleep on her bed, all these kinds of things. She comes to work with me every day and is fine with the other dogs, but I think if I have another dog in the house, she’d be mad, so I only have the one.

Tom Reardon loves to write about people who are doing something to contribute to our community in a positive way. He also loves his family and family of friends, his pets, music, skateboarding, movies, good (and bad) TV, and working with children to build a better world. Tom’s favorite movie is Jaws, his favorite food is lasagna, and he loves to play music with his friends. He’s a busy guy, but never too busy to listen to what you have to say so tell him a story.

FEATURE STORY

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Insta-Pets Echo readers and staff share their most followable friends

Odie Bodie @I_am_odie

Muffinhead Cisco @muffinheadcisco

The Gorsky-Guerin Paws @lifewithtwentypaws

Charlie Chaplin the Cat @mrcharliechaplinthecat

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FEATURE STORY

Lady @Lady_Paw_Paw

Harlan Porterhouse & friends @harlan_the_hound

Hercules @hercules_the_huskymix

King Brody @sirking.brody

Amar’e Stoudemire Rowan @sherrizzlesbestbuddy

Willow DoodleCrush @willow_doodlecrush

Huck and Annie @huckandannie

Sebastein @sebasteinthecorgi

FEATURE STORY

Bunny the Kitty @bunnythekitty1

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Even insisting on interaction with your cat can be stressful if it’s more interaction than your cat wants.

Cat Psychology 101 How to coexist in harmony

By Kimberly Blaker

W

hat does it mean when your furry feline friend puffs its tail?

What’s the best way to handle your cat’s neuroticism? Why is your kitty scratching up all of your furniture?

The truth is, cats have darn good reasons for most of their behaviors, none of which are intended to punish you or drive you crazy. So, the trick to prevent or remedy problems is to better understand your cat. This will result in a more adjusted cat and a peaceful coexistence between you.

Five Personality Traits As most cat owners can attest, cats definitely have their own personalities.

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Like humans, every cat has a combination of traits that make up its unique personality. In fact, researchers from the University of Australia published their fascinating findings on cat personality in the journal, PloS ONE, in August 2017.

The researchers refer to the cat traits as the “Feline Five.” Dominance, agreeableness, extraversion, impulsiveness, and neuroticism are the traits that blend to form a cat’s personality. The researchers explained that understanding cat personality is helpful, so cat owners can better nurture their feline companions.

• Dominant cats tend to bully or act aggressively toward other cats. If you bring home a young kitten, discourage it from grabbing or biting you or playing aggressively. This will help prevent it from growing into a dominant cat. If you have multiple cats, feed them in separate areas to reduce competition. Also, give your cats equal time with you to reduce the possibility of jealousy. In addition, when your cats play together nicely, reinforce it by giving them plenty of praise, petting, and treats.

• Agreeable cats are gentle, friendly, and affectionate toward people. So, what more could a cat owner want? The truth is even an agreeable cat can have its drawbacks. Because of their friendly, affectionate nature, an agreeable cat might often paw at you for attention. If so, set up a routine for cuddling, which might help. Also, consider adopting an additional cat to keep yours company.

Just make sure it’s not too dominant.

• Extraverted cats possess self-control and are decisive and persevere. At FEATURE STORY

the same time, they tend to get bored easily and need plenty of stimulation.

Extroverted cats should have plenty of toys, human interaction and, perhaps, other cats to play and socialize with.

• Impulsive cats tend to be erratic and reckless. This often results from a stressful environment. Factors that can cause your cat stress include other pets in the home, young children, confinement, or lack of access to hiding places or a litter box. Even insisting on interaction with your cat can be stressful if it’s more interaction than your cat wants.

Resolving many of these issues is selfexplanatory. So, evaluate the situations that could be causing stress, and try to remedy them.

• Neurotic cats can be fearful of people, anxious, insecure, suspicious, or shy.

Offer these cats additional hiding places, as well as quiet spaces. Also, just like with impulsive cats, look for environmental stressors that might be aggravating your cat’s neuroticism.

Nonstop yowling can also be a sign of discomfort or illness. Cats yowl out of worry when their territory is threatened, or they want to mate.

Some cats even yowl when they’re bored. Many a cat owner has experienced this frustrating sleep interruption. Since cats are nocturnal, try to combat this by helping your cat adjust to a nighttime sleep schedule. Keep your cat awake more during the day, particularly in the evening before bedtime. You can also leave out food and water at night to pacify your bored cat.

Purring usually signifies contentment.

Although cats sometimes purr when they’re worried as well. You can decipher the meaning by looking at your cat’s body language. A tense posture and ears laid back most likely indicate worry.

Hissing, snarling, or growling is a clear warning to back off, or else. When a cat feels threatened, it might scratch or bite. So, remove the threat (such as your playful puppy or toddler) immediately.

Cat Behaviors

• Tails tell a tale

The following are a few of the common signals and behaviors every cat owner should understand.

A cat’s tail movement says a lot about what it’s thinking or feeling. When a cat sweeps its tail widely, it’s annoyed or wants to be left alone. If a cat becomes very agitated or frightened, its tail movement is intensified and sweeps back and forth rapidly. Either cue indicates the cat wants to be left alone.

The latter cue also indicates it’s ready to flee or attack.

• Feline vocalization When your cat meows, it’s usually asking for something. Although, it could just be saying ‘hello.’ The more frequent and intense the meows get, the more intent your cat is on getting you to respond. But, if the meowing is continuous, particularly after trying to satisfy your cat’s needs, your feline may be sick or injured and need to be seen by a veterinarian.

Cat’s tails can puff up too, which can be for several reasons. If your cat’s tail puffs up with its ears erect and whiskers

pointed forward, the cat’s usually happy or having fun. But, when a bristled tail points straight up or down, possibly coinciding with an arched back and flattened ears, the cat is fearful. When the fur on a cat’s whole body puffs up, the cat’s very angry and might even hiss.

Cats sometimes do this to intimidate. But it can also mean an attack is imminent.

• Those destructive claws If your cat still has its claws, you’ve probably dealt with the frustration of snagged upholstery, carpet, or drapes.

But this is instinctive behavior cats do for several reasons. First, it’s kind of like a kitty manicure. Cats do this to shed the dead frayed layers and sharpen their claws. It’s also one of the ways cats mark their territory. Finally, it’s a natural part of feline play and stretching.

To combat the problem, give your cat a scratching post. Cats each have their own preferences though. So, you might need to try a variety of shapes, upholsteries, and other characteristics. Also, keep your cat’s claws trimmed. When your cat does scratch on other objects, clap loudly so the cat stops.

Some cat owners opt for declawing.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends against this.

The procedure is much more invasive than most people realize and can result in infection and extended pain during recovery.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family writer.

She also does blog and content writing for a variety of industries and is an expert in on-page SEO.

Nonstop yowling can also be a sign of discomfort or illness.

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Rescue Roundup

Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA 25 N. 40th St., in Phoenix aawl.org

A look at 10 Valley animal shelters

By Tom Reardon Photos courtesy of venues Lucky Dog Rescue 4400 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 9-319, in Scottsdale (mail only) luckydogrescue.org

2nd Chance Dog Rescue Queen Creek, AZ 2ndchance.rescuegroups.org

Anthony from Homefurgood.

Petey-pete from Lucky Dogs.

This all-volunteer, non-profit facility specializes in rescuing dogs off of euthanasia lists and providing them with any needed medical care while looking for foster or forever homes.

Any and all funds raised go directly to the dogs and their care which makes Lucky Dog Rescue an excellent option for those looking to support an amazing operation. Dr. Darren Wright of Kaibab Animal Hospital is a veterinarian partner to Lucky Dog and provides his care pro bono.

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Toola from 2nd Chance.

2nd Chance Dog Rescue saves dogs that otherwise would be left on the streets to fend for themselves or brought to the pound and most likely placed on their euthanasia list. On their website they share that their “dogs are extremely loving and deserve a place to call home.”

2nd Chance is a non-profit shelter that helps dogs restore their faith in humanity.

The largest and oldest “no kill” shelter in the state, Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL) has been faithfully serving animals in Maricopa County since 1971, when it was founded by a group led

by Amanda Blake (“Miss Kitty” on TV’s Gunsmoke). AAWL provides shelter to cats and dogs until they are adopted to a forever family. All pets are spayed and/ or neutered and have been provided with medical care while sheltered.

Home Fur Good 10220 N. 32nd St., Phoenix homefurgood.org The staff and volunteers at North Valley non-profit Home ‘Fur’ Good provide cats and dogs with a clean and comfortable place to sleep, nutritious food to eat, excellent medical care, daily exercise, and an overdose of love and FEATURE STORY

affection. They work very hard to find each animal a ‘fur’ever home that best meets the animal’s needs, as well as the prospective adopter’s needs. Home Fur Good has dental and vaccination clinics available to pet owners at reasonable rates to meet any pet parent’s budget.

Arizona Small Dog Rescue 1102 W. Hatcher Road, Phoenix azsmalldog.org Arizona Small Dog Rescue (ASDR) provides shelter to dogs under 20 lbs. who are being surrendered by their owners, as well as on euthanasia lists from other shelters when space is available. The non-profit organization is supported completely by volunteers and provides medical care for all animals prior to re-homing. Adoption fees are on a sliding scale at ASDR due to the care involved with sheltering the dogs.

4 Paws Rescue Inc. 10807 N. 96th Ave. #1, Peoria 4pawsrescue.org Established in 1996 in Youngtown, 4 Paws Rescue Inc. is a cat-only shelter serving the Northwest valley. There are multiple locations, which are easily available on the website, for this non-profit, volunteer-led shelter whose mission is to find a home for unwanted kittens and cats. The adoption fees are set at $125, but this includes any applicable medical services that have been provided to your new kitty before adoption.

Lost Our Home Pet Rescue 323 S. Hardy Drive, Tempe lostourhome.org Founded in 2008 during the housing crisis, Lost Our Home Pet Rescue was created to provide some help and relief to cats and dogs impacted by thousands of Phoenix area citizens who lost their homes. The shelter has been able to find homes for 99% of the animals they have served over the past two years and offer families who may be in transition between homes a place to house their pets until they get re-established.

Healing Hearts Animal Rescue 6715 E. Peak View Road, Cave Creek healingheartsaz.org Healing Hearts Animal Rescue takes in unwanted and abused animals of all shapes and sizes. Horses, pigs, goats, llamas, sheep, and cows can all find a home at Healing Hearts until they are adopted from this “no kill” shelter. This unique shelter has educational programs for children and opportunities to volunteer, sponsor animals, and donate unwanted cars, boats, and trailers, as well.

FEATURE STORY

Fearless Kitty Cat Rescue 16832 E. Avenue of the Fountains, Fountain Hills fearlesskittyrescue.org Fearless Kitty Cat Rescue was founded because of a fearless kitty and their mission revolves around the idea that all cats deserve to hold their heads up high. They strive to place cats in loving, responsible homes and each of their cats up for adoption have received all of the medical treatment they need while in the shelter’s care. Created by two friends in 2012, Fearless Kitty is truly fearless when it comes to achieving their goals.

Sun Valley Animal Shelter 7150 N. 110th Ave., Glendale sunvalleypets.org Founded in 1991 by a group of Sun City residents, Sun Valley Animal Shelter was formed to give cats and dogs who were abandoned or at risk of being euthanized a new chance at having a loving family.

The organization provides shelter to these animals, medical care, and helps create a win-win adoption process. Sun Valley is able to home over 70 cats and dogs at any given time.

Foxy Brown from Sun Valley.

Tom Reardon loves to write about people who are doing something to contribute to our community in a positive way. He also loves his family and family of friends, his pets, music, skateboarding, movies, good (and bad) TV, and working with children to build a better world. Tom’s favorite movie is Jaws, his favorite food is lasagna, and he loves to play music with his friends. He’s a busy guy, but never too busy to listen to what you have to say so tell him a story.

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Carnival Latino

July 3 at Karamba Nightclub, Phoenix.

Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2019-photos.

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Out & About

NOT FOR PROFIT. FOR COMFORT.

ECHO Magazine 2017: Oct., Dec.; 2018: Feb., Apr., June, Aug. 3.375” x 4.75”

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GAGA for Scotty: A Drag Show fundraiser for one•n•ten July 6 at Kobalt Bar, Phoenix.

Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2019-photos.

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Out & About

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Let’s Get Better Together Conference

June 28 at Desert Willow Conference Center, Phoenix.

Photos by Bill Gemmill.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2019-photos.

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George Frasher, owner of Mrs. Chicken.

WITHOUT RESERVATIONS

Eat the Heat: Mrs. Chicken brings fire and flavor to the Phoenix food scene Story and Photos by Jeff Kronenfeld

N

ormally, signing a legal waiver before your meal is not a good sign. However, at Mrs. Chicken — established by the owner and namesake of Frasher’s Smokehouse — to try the hottest of their Nashville hot chicken, you’ll have to do just that.

Though the waiver is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, when it comes to fried chicken and barbecue, George Frasher is serious as a ghost pepper’s Scoville Heat Unit ranking of over one million. As a reference for non “pepperheads,” the term Frasher describes spice lovers with, that’s roughly 125 times hotter than jalapenos. Whether he’s traveling the country to judge barbecue contests or lighting his own mouth ablaze testing his chicken’s kick, Frasher’s passion for food and flavor are clear as my sinuses were after 38

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known icons, such as the 630-foot tall Gateway Arch and the steampowered paddleboats chugging along the Mississippi River. He refined his culinary game studying hospitality at the University of Missouri. After graduating, Frasher moved to Kansas City to manage a restaurant for the barbecue sauce manufacturer KC Masterpiece. He honed his meat roasting skills there while studying the four major regional schools of American barbecue: Texas, Memphis, Carolina and, of course, Kansas City. trying the hottest spice level at Mrs. Chicken.

For Frasher, running his own restaurant has been a dream since he was a teen washing dishes in his hometown of St. Louis. He worked in kitchens at the city’s most well-

Eventually, Frasher was lured to the Valley by a former boss’s offer to serve as area manager for a barbecue chain. After three years, Frasher was finally ready to fulfill his life’s dream.

Having secured a location in Scottsdale, he opened Frasher’s Steak House and Lounge in 1999. Though it closed in 2015 Dining Out

Yardbird sandwich w/ red beans and rice.

due to its building being sold, Frasher packed up everything he could and opened his eponymous smokehouse in Phoenix. Serving slow-cooked barbecue, Frasher’s Smokehouse quickly established itself as one of Phoenix’s premier meat markets, and one of the few places in the Valley where one can get brisket burnt ends. On Sundays, he filled a cast iron skillet with peanut oil, and served one of his personal favorites for the daily special: fried chicken.

Fried chicken holds a special place in Frasher’s heart, and stomach.

Unfortunately, it took 25 minutes to cook, while other dishes came straight from the smoker ready to go. Frasher reluctantly pulled fried chicken from the rotation because of this. Even so, while touring the nation to participate in and judge barbecue competitions, he also sampled the best fried chicken he could find. One fiery variety in particular was music to his gut. “I went to Nashville and fell in love with hot chicken,” he recalls.

Like a juicy chicken breast marinating in buttermilk brine, Frasher immersed himself in the fascinating history of Nashville Hot Chicken. He visited the capital of country music’s best chicken peddlers, such as Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, which helped popularize the dish nationally. Of course, he paid homage to the first restaurant to serve the now famous dish, Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack.

There he met André Prince Jeffries and learned how her great uncle Thorton Prince’s philandering led to the creation of the peppery poultry. “The way the story goes is that Thorton came home late one Saturday night. On Sunday, his lady friend got up and started cooking his favorite meal: fried chicken,” Frasher explained with a grin. “She thought she’d get even and threw a whole bunch of extra cayenne pepper in the chicken.

Well, it ended up backfiring. He lapped it up and asked for seconds. That’s how Dining Out

hot chicken was invented.”

While Frasher was at the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Tennessee, the landlord of a recently closed Mexican restaurant phoned. Located a few blocks south of Frasher’s Smokehouse on 32nd Street and Indian School, the building’s owner asked if he might be interested in leasing it. Though initially reluctant, Frasher realized it was the perfect opportunity to share his love of hot chicken with the Valley.

At various times an ice cream parlor, burger joint, Italian restaurant and others, Frasher completely remodeled the mid-century building to give it the feel of a true Southern chicken shack. He had custom windows installed, complete with chicken wire. The counters were made from thick slabs of alligator juniper and the walls covered in gleaming white subway tile. With the building ready, Frasher named the restaurant after one his father and uncle had once run, and thus Mrs. Chicken opened its doors on April 20.

Patrons can order all the classic cuts of chicken, with white or dark meat options, as well as wings, tenders and a sandwich. All these are available in a range of spice levels, from no heat to potentially harmful. While Frasher plans to increase the heat by incorporating newer varieties of peppers in the future — such as the Trinidad Scorpion Pepper and the Carolina Reaper — our party found it plenty hot as is. A word of warning to the brave few who sign the waiver and try the “Burn Our Face Off” spice level; don’t be fooled by the first bite! Though initially it didn’t seem so hot, I foolheartedly kept chowing down.

After a minute, it felt like I was using a stun gun for a lollypop. Luckily, there are free refills for drinks, plus Kool-Aid and milk are available. I recommend sticking to the mid-spiciness levels, as it lets the

Two-piece breast quarters with sides.

full range of flavors shine through the capsaicin burn.

Being a wimp, I ordered my yard bird sandwich mild. The breast was a fresh cut of Mary’s Free Range Chicken, made juicier by soaking in a brine and then dredged in flour, spices and buttermilk.

Served on a brioche bun with Provel cheese, mustard slaw, pickle chips and honky-tonk sauce, the texture and flavors just right. My dining companion, who fancies herself as heat-resistant as a Targaryen, went with the second hottest level. This proved just the right amount of fire for her.

Rounding out the menu are a range of sides drawn from Frasher’s southern culinary roots. Though sadly they were out of the baked potato salad when we came in, the collard greens and mustard slaw did not disappoint. The baconinfused collard greens were tender with a complex flavor, seeming to melt in the mouth. The slaw was particularly good, not drowned in bland mayo but crunchy and rich with tangy mustard goodness.

The crinkle cut fries, dusted in barbecue spices, were a fine savory companion, especially when dipped in the honkytonk sauce.

While the number of restaurants offering Nashville hot chicken throughout the Valley are proliferating almost as quickly as our governor’s attack on an insufficiently patriotic footwear manufacturer, Mrs. Chicken rules the roost in my book.

Jeff Kronenfeld is an independent journalist based out of Phoenix, Arizona. His writing has been featured in Java Magazine, the Arts Beacon, PHXSUX, and the Phoenix Jewish News, where he received the Simon Rockower Award for excellence in news reporting from the American Jewish Press Association. Links to his previously published work are available at www.jeffkronenfeld.com.

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AT THE BOX OFFICE

Four films in theaters this month

By Tuesday Mahrle

The Kitchen

In Theaters August 9 | Rated R | Action, Crime, Drama

Tiffany Haddish, Melissa McCarthy, and Elizabeth Moss star as mob wives in NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood; the movie is set in 1978. Based on the Vertigo comic book series, the story follows three women left with little to no resources after their husbands are sent to prison.

Armed with vengeance and wit, these mafia maidens take on the Irish mob with all the knowledge and instinct they learned from their incarcerated husbands.

Peanut Butter Falcon In Theaters August 9 | Rated PG-13 | Runtime 93 Minutes | Action Adventure

When is the last time you went on an adventure — a true adventure? Where you chased your dreams and enjoyed the ride? If it’s been too long or seems unattainable, then get ready to go on an epic journey. The Peanut Butter Falcon introduces Zak, a young man with Down syndrome who lives in a residential nursing home. Trapped, his only escape is watching pro-wrestling and his idol, The Salt-Water Redneck.

Zak breaks free and goes on a quest to join the wrestling school of his hero. Along the way he meets Tyler, an outlaw, and the two become unlikely allies in the hopes to fulfill Zak’s dreams. Nursing home attendant Eleanor finds them and threatens to bring Zak home but the two convince her to join their adventure. This film has heart, soul, comedy, and love.

The Informer In Theaters August 16 | Not Yet Rated | Runtime 113 Minutes | Drama

Good Boys In Theaters August 16 | Rated R | Comedy

In 5th grade, these boys knew everything about everything … except how to kiss girls. What better way to find out how then to steal a drone and spy on the neighbor making out with her boyfriend?

Things don’t go as planned when they break the drone and need to replace it before he gets home. Through hilariously bad decisions, these boys skip school in an effort to fix the toy and make it to the hot coed school party to practice their skills. These good boys are laugh-outloud relatable, endearing, foul-mouthed, pre-pubescent, and outrageous.

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A former special ops soldier is jailed after protecting his wife in a fight. The FBI offers him early release to become an informant for a sting on New York’s most notorious crime boss. When an undercover agent gets killed, the deal that was meant to set him free puts him in a tighter space than a prison cell. Fraught with impossible decisions, the informant must return to prison and find a way to escape the NYPD, the FBI and the mob in order to save his family’s lives.

Tuesday Mahrle is a film critic and host of “Whiskey and Popcorn,” a Phoenix-based movie podcast.

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OPENING NIGHTS

Colte Julian.

ASU alum launches Rocketman tribute

By Seth Reines Photos by Brett Breiner

I

n 1972 Elton John’s hit single “Rocketman” shot to No. 2 in the UK and No. 6 in the US. Earlier this summer, Rocketman, a gay cinematic romp through Elton John’s early years starring Taron Egerton, hit the big screen. Now, under the auspices of Arizona production company Showtune Productions, Rocketman, the Elton John Tribute, premieres at Gilbert’s Hale Center Theatre on August 26.

Rocketman’s creator and star Colte 42

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Julian was born and raised in southwest Oklahoma where he learned how to drive a tractor before a car and started piano lessons at age nine. In college, Julian studied piano and agriculture before deciding on a career in music. With a Bachelor of Arts in music from Oklahoma State University, Julian moved to Arizona to complete his Master’s Degree in Musical Theater Performance at Arizona State University.

After graduate school, Julian

performed as a lead production singer with Holland America Cruise Lines before moving to New York City. With numerous regional credits, recording projects and New York cabaret performances under his belt, Julian moved to Chicago where he appeared in critically acclaimed Next to Normal and won a Jeff nomination as Best Leading Male Performer for his adaptation of Curly in Oklahoma!

In 2011, Julian joined the Chicago company of Million Dollar Quartet as ENTERTAINMENT

Jerry Lee Lewis, continuing to perform with Million Dollar Quartet in the First National Tour, MDQ Vegas, and Million Dollar Quartet’s newest venture onboard Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Currently, Julian is music directing and featured in the new Vegas hit Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel in Concert.

Echo visited him there to discuss his Phoenix connections and upcoming Rocketman project.

Echo: What are your ties to Phoenix’s theater scene?

Julian: I became an Equity Membership Candidate at Phoenix Theatre in the Tony Bennett musical revue, I Left My Heart.

I played Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof (Zoni nomination) and the title role in Jekyll and Hyde at Arizona Broadway Theatre, Jesus in Godspell and Georg in She Loves Me at ASU, and Jaime in

The Last Five Years at the Mesa Arts Center. The two years I spent at ASU and in the Phoenix area gave me so many performance opportunities in a supportive theater community.

Colte Julian as Curly in a Chicago production of Oklahoma.

Echo: How are you approaching your Elton John?

Julian: I am not a fan of someone taking on a role of a person, especially a living person, unless it is in the context of a scripted show or performance.

I am approaching Elton John from a standpoint of a fellow musician with a deep and profound love and respect for his music. Will I wear fabulous costumes? Yes! Will I do fabulous things on and around the piano? You better believe it! Will I do my best attempt at a Middlesex accent? Sure! I want to take specific performance elements of Elton that make him unique and such a charismatic performer and expert Colte Julian as Elton John.

musician and share how this music makes me feel and share a common experience with the audience.

Echo: Have you played Elton before?

Julian: I have. Although, it was in a very specific context. I was in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Chicago that was set in Las Vegas. I played Jacob, Potiphar, and Pharaoh. Jacob was a mob boss, Potiphar was Wayne Newton, and Pharaoh was, you guessed it, Elton John. It was a riot! I had so much fun riding out on stage on a glitter piano with my “Tiny Dancer” boys as backup dancers.

Echo: What would you like LGBTQ audiences to know about your Rocketman tribute?

Julian: I believe a huge aspect of Elton’s performance and musical style is rooted in his sexuality, even if he wasn’t thoroughly open about it for a large portion of his career. While I identify as straight, I have a huge respect for this and see Elton as always being true to himself while on stage. This “truth” is a grounding principal of my own as I’ve navigated roles from Curly to Jerry Lee Lewis to Perchik. They all have an element of truth and honesty. The world needs more Elton and the LGBTQ+ community needs more allies now more than ever. I hope that my Elton can be a small part of that movement for those that come to see the show.

For more information on Colte Julian’s Rocketman performances in August at Hale Center Theatre and future 2020 Valley performances, visit showtuneproductions.com.

M. Seth Reines is an award-winning theater buff who has directed more than 500 productions nationally for stage and television, and formerly served as head of Roosevelt University’s musical theatre program.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Imperial Teen by Jonathan Grassi.

BANDS

Imperial Teen is back in action

By Tom Reardon

Y

ou know two members of a band are pretty cool when you start off your conversation with them talking about whether or not hummingbirds have feet. Then, of course, the band in question happens to be one of the coolest, yet most overlooked bands from the 1990s: Imperial Teen.

For those who are so inclined but aren’t sure where to start, you can really check out any of their records and get a great feel for what Imperial Teen is all about. Their first release, Seasick, came out in 1996 and is as strong of a debut record as you will find. Seasick set the tone wonderfully for this quartet that truly is the perfect example of musical balance. Imperial Teen’s blend of boy/ girl slightly fuzzy, but all killer and no filler indie pop with exquisite harmonies, 44

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is like a kiss from Glinda the good witch on your earholes. Once you get the first kiss, you’re only going to want more.

At one point, you could have called them “San Francisco’s” Imperial Teen, but now the members of one of the more underrated purveyors of beyond solid rock and roll are spread all over creation.

The same four people have comprised the band since their early days in what revered San Francisco Examiner columnist Herb Caen referred to as “Baghdad by the Bay,” Roddy Bottum, Lynn Truett (formerly Perko), Will Schwartz, and Jone Stebbins are now in New York City, Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, respectively.

One might think this would make it more difficult to continue being a working band, and it does, but this has

not stopped Imperial Teen from creating one of the more anticipated releases of 2019. Now We Are Timeless (Merge Records) is the 7th full-length LP from the band since 1996. While the pace of their releases is not exactly setting the world on fire, the members of Imperial Teen have continued to crank out highly entertaining, head-bobbing, and thought-provoking work throughout their career while finding time to work on other, and sometimes more lucrative, projects.

The most well-known member of Imperial Teen is Bottum, who plays keyboards for influential band Faith No More. When Bottum came out to the world as a gay man in the early ‘90s, there was some initial shock, especially as Faith No More was sharing concert Entertainment

lineups with bands like Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, but in the long run it hasn’t seemed to phase Bottum.

“It was a different world back then.

Amongst me and my family, it (coming out publicly) seemed like a big deal at the time. Once it was done, though, once that declaration was made, it never ended up being a big deal. I remember there was hesitance … a manager had the nerve to say, ‘Are you sure?’” says Bottum before continuing: “The bands we were playing with were super bro. You couldn’t get on a more straight platform. Looking back, I didn’t see it as such a big thing, but kudos to me (laughs).”

Schwartz chimed in, as well.

“I remember Roddy talking about it, before I knew him, on Dr. Drew on KROQ (the Love Line show). I remember thinking it was really cool to have an artist talking about that. It was an issue, too, with Imperial Teen in the 1990s. I remember our radio guy saying that there was a lot of push back from the big stations because “You’re One” was a queer song. I remember thinking, “You’re not embarrassed to be saying that?” says Schwartz.

“If that were to come up today, we would be like ‘Oh, hell no. How dare you even insinuate that this would make a difference to your listeners or to the music you would play.’ Then it was just a different time. It was very difficult,” says Bottum.

For Bottum and Schwartz, though, Imperial Teen was not about their sexuality. During our conversation, for example, they pointed out that they never wanted to identify as only a “queer” band as their bandmates, Stebbins and Truell, don’t fit into a particular box, or as Schwartz put it, “Lynn and Jone are queer in a sense, but also not. We were conscious of just trying to put it out there that we’re not any one thing and it was a hard line to drive in the ‘90s.”

This type of attention, though, was not new to anyone in the band as each member brings a certain pedigree to the mix. In addition to Bottum’s connection to the uber-famous Faith No More, Truell was formerly the drummer of infamous punk rockers, the Dicks, and later, Sister Double Happiness, which featured Gary Floyd on vocals who was one of the first openly gay punk rock musicians. Stebbins was active in the Reno punk rock scene as the bass player for The Wrecks, which were an early, all-female hardcore band that Perko also played drums in for a time before moving to San Francisco.

Schwartz broke his rock and roll cherry in Imperial Teen, but since has also Entertainment

played in Hey Willpower as well.

When the band started, one thing Bottum did not want to do was play keyboards, so he opened himself up to playing several different roles in Imperial Teen, as did each of the members of the band. Imperial Teen is known for switching instruments quite a bit during their live show, which has led to some confusion, at times, for fans in knowing who is doing what on any given song.

The first big “hit” for the band, “Yoohoo” from the What Is Not To Love album (1998) was prominently featured in the film, Jawbreaker, is a prime example of the true flexibility of this band to embrace anything that the world throws at them, especially when they play live.

“I like the songs where we switch instruments. We used to do that a lot when we first started, and people would talk about us in that regard. To go back and play drums, for me, is a real challenge and really feels different and weird and fun. A song like ‘Yoohoo’ which I go play on drums and Jone plays guitar, those songs are fun for me and I like that,” says Bottum.

Another example of this flexibility is that many fans assume Bottum does the majority of lead vocals due to his Faith No More notoriety, but it is Schwartz, actually, who does the lion’s share even though all the members have really

great voices. The vocal harmonies on Imperial Teen records are top notch. Case in point on the latest record, Now We Are Timeless, are songs like “Somebody Like Me” and “The Girl” which both feature some really nice vocal interplay. Heck, you can just about count on a killer vocal hook in just about every Imperial Teen chorus and that is not a bad thing at all.

While the band does not have any current shows booked for the Phoenix area, they will be playing in Palm Springs on Sunday, August 4th at the Alibi, which is a hop, skip, and a jump for Valley music fans. The band will also be playing some select dates in California over the next several months as well, so check out their Facebook page for more information if you want to get your Imperial Teen fix satiated. And if you go, be sure and bring them some pictures of hummingbird feet. They will love it.

Tom Reardon loves to write about people who are doing something to contribute to our community in a positive way. He also loves his family and family of friends, his pets, music, skateboarding, movies, good (and bad) TV, and working with children to build a better world. Tom’s favorite movie is Jaws, his favorite food is lasagna, and he loves to play music with his friends. He’s a busy guy, but never too busy to listen to what you have to say so tell him a story.

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RECORDINGS

I

t’s the dog days of summer here at the mighty Echo Magazine. One of the great things about summer hibernation here in Phoenix is the opportunity to listen to delightful summer jams that make you want to lounge around a pool and sip some atomic lemonade.

Here’s some records that might make your summer even more pleasant.

By Tom Reardon the fuse again and again (and again and again, just to get four in there one more time). My brain keeps coming back to “Song 2” by Blur, for some reason, when I listen to Power Chords. The energy and guitar sound are so similar and Krol, who is definitely keen on an overdriven guitar tone, does those little hooky things that Blur does so well. I’ve got to say that “Wasted Memory” is another one that makes me want to straddle a chaise lounge, drink super-powered vodka drinks, and appreciate a song that sounds like what The Strokes follow up to 2001’s Is This It should have sounded like. This record is chock full of rad.

Thom Yorke – ANIMA Mike Krol – Power Chords There is something so eminently familiar about the latest Mike Krol record. It’s got that cool, poppy, fuzzy, guitar-driven yet hook-laden sound that is perfect for summer. As I listen to “Little Drama,” which is the fourth track on Krol’s fourth LP, Power Chords, I feel as if I’m riding a rocket that has just been shot up into the Fourth of July sky. Will I explode before I cum or will it all be one big sparkly eargasm? The song just drives its point home so deliciously that I’ll happily light 46

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Is it me or does anyone else get confused when the lead singer of an iconic band puts out a solo record? As I slide effortlessly into the opening track of Thom Yorke’s ANIMA, I can’t help but feel that this is a new Radiohead record.

“Traffic” is the name of the track in question and for the life of me, I can’t tell the difference between this and about a dozen or so Radiohead songs. I also never noticed that, on occasion, Yorke slightly channels Jane’s Addiction front man Perry Farrell. To what extent this is good, I think it scratches an itch that was

forged in the late 80s and that makes it all right. As the album progresses, there is really nothing to dispel the feeling that this isn’t a new Radiohead record, with possible exception of Jonny Greenwood’s exceptional lead guitar work that would be there if it were. Now, before you go getting ready to send me out on the deck without any sunscreen, this is not a bad record … it’s just not what I was expecting. It’s kind of like going to the beach and getting sand everywhere.

You know it’s going to happen, but you don’t really care. ANIMA is like the sand.

You won’t mind bringing it home with Entertainment

you, but once you wash it off, you won’t think about it until the next time you hit the waves. This record is “Perfect for someone who has never heard Radiohead but would love them.” *Writer’s note — This one is more of a recommendation than a review:

Peggy Lee – The Best Of Miss Peggy Lee

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Nothing says (or sings, I should say) summer better than Peggy Lee. Fuck the Beach Boys, Peggy Lee is the true goddess of summer. For those of you aren’t hip to Peggy, pick up a copy of The Best Of Miss Peggy Lee, fill up your flotation device, and float away on the most underrated voice in pop music history. The second track, “I Don’t Know Enough About You,” is maybe the best song ever written. Dave Barbour wrote the music and Miss Lee herself wrote the lyrics and it has been covered by a number of people, including Diana Krall. The original, though, is sublime and it will make you feel cooler in more ways than one. “I know a little bit about biology, and a little more about psychology, I’m a little gem in geology, but I don’t know enough about you” are some of the most fun lyrics ever, and that’s just one track off this crazy cool record. Another summer fun and frolic song, “It’s A Good Day,” will have you tapping your toes, but it doesn’t stop there. “Fever” and “Golden Earrings” are also on this one, as is “I’m A Woman.”

Peggy Lee was a woman, that’s for sure, and this record rules.

Tom Reardon loves to write about people who are doing something to contribute to our community in a positive way. He also loves his family and family of friends, his pets, music, skateboarding, movies, good (and bad) TV, and working with children to build a better world. Tom’s favorite movie is Jaws, his favorite food is lasagna, and he loves to play music with his friends. He’s a busy guy, but never too busy to listen to what you have to say so tell him a story.

Entertainment

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BETWEEN THE COVERS

By Jason Kron

the rap group A Tribe Called Quest), the interviews in this book range from an early feature in Prince’s high school paper (written in an endearingly simplistic form) to his final interview months before his death (which concludes with the eerie “Presumably he’s gone home, wherever that is.”). His progression is represented well in these articles, from an up-and-coming Minneapolis hotshot in the late ‘70s, to an eccentric ‘80s star, to an even more eccentric ‘90s star with an indecipherable symbol for a name, to a celibate Jehovah’s Witness whose religion led him to stop swearing or playing any of his hypersexual songs (and that’s a lot of songs).

Prince: The Last Interview By various writers, forward by Hanif Abdurraquib March 2019 | Melville House 144 Pages | $16.99

A

ny book that tries to get to the bottom of Prince’s mystery seems doomed to failure, even when it’s largely comprised of The Purple One’s own words.

For someone so seemingly stoic, he sure liked to prank interviewers. He was fond of giving them responses that were either one word or riddles, making them dance or sing on the spot to determine whether they were worth his time, giving phone interviews while secretly in the same building as the reporters, etc. (all covered in this book). Similar to The X-Files, it seemed that any of Prince’s answers only created more questions.

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Musicphiles will be spending centuries trying to figure out what made him tick, how he was able to master so many instruments and write and record so many albums (39 in 40 years) and seem to do so with seemingly no regard for the outside world. While the discussions that comprise Prince: The Last Interview don’t answer any of these questions, they do a great job of conveying that he was the kind of over-the-top, earnestly weird genius that had never been born before and will never come again.

Featuring a forward by Hanif Abdurraquib (who released an incredible book earlier this year entitled Go Ahead in the Rain about

EchoMag.com

It’s interesting to see enthusiasm from this famously soft-spoken character, whether he’s discussing his veganism with The Vegetarian Times, his beliefs in conspiracy theories such as chemtrails, or musicians such as James Brown and Chaka Khan who impacted his life. For a Prince superfan such as myself, this book couldn’t fail no matter what. But even if you’re somehow unfamiliar or have never had more than a passing interest in him, it’s worthwhile to delve into these entertaining discussions with someone who seemed so superhuman and so fictional.

J

ohn Waters is a legendary personality amongst the connoisseurs of crassness, someone who makes a life out of fantastical filth while still being the most well-dressed and well-read person in the room. (His most famous quote may be, “If you go home with someone and they don’t have books, don’t fuck them.”) After 40 years as a filmmaker, which concluded with 2004’s A Dirty Shame, Waters has turned his energy toward memoirs and spoken-word performances, where the loudness of his carefree personality is even

more direct. I’ve read physical copies of some of his books and listened to audio versions of others, and the latter are definitely the way to go with his work, as his words reach their fullest effect when spoken with his voice (this book being no exception).

His newest book Mr. KnowIt-All has a little of everything one would expect from Mr. Waters. The first section goes over behind-the-scenes info about most of his movies chronologically, and this may not be of much interest to someone who hasn’t seen his films, but you’re probably a Waters fan if you’re considering reading this book in the first place.

The book’s personal stories are surprisingly touching, such as when he discusses his friendship with and admiration for Andy Warhol, or when he brings up the deaths of his parents, his brother, and his close friend and collaborator Divine (the drag queen star of most of his early films).

Death is a recurring theme in the book, at one point he even expresses fear of his impending demise. But in typical form, he also treats the subject with a lot of oddball humor. The strongest part of the book by far is the closing chapter “Grim Reaper,” where he ponders his funeral service, the afterlife, and his belief that his zombie corpse will return to the streets of Baltimore. It is simultaneously bizarre and beautiful.

Considering his roots as a filmmaker who has thrived on making some of the most offensive movies ever made, it makes sense that Mr. Know-It-All is full of grueling moments, tidbits best avoided by the easily offended. But once again, you’re probably picking up the book because you know and enjoy his work, and if you can handle Pink Flamingos, you probably have a high tolerance for the repulsive. It’s this dichotomy between the appalling and the whimsical that has come Entertainment

Mr. Know-It All: The Tarnished Wisdom of a Filth Elder

By Jared Yates Sexton

May 2019 | Farrar, Strauss and Giroux

May 2019 | Counterpoint

384 pages | $27

288 pages | $26

to define Waters’ movies and his charm, something that this book displays proudly, something that explains the lines at his meet-and-greets, where fans flock just to see what it’s like to be near someone who radiates so much X-rated magic.

J

ared Yates Sexton’s The Man They Wanted Me To Be is a fitting book for these times, an age where the world’s most bigoted, most macho white men have become empowered by their president to come out of hiding and hate freely, causing a needed reaction on the opposing side against toxic masculinity.

Many men on the left who believed themselves to be effeminate and enlightened have realized that they’re a big part of the problem, that they unconsciously carry the influence of the patriarchy, that they still exhibit thoughts and actions Entertainment

The Man They Wanted Me To Be

By John Waters

linked to the idea of “being a man” (closed-off emotions, the need to prove oneself through work and providing, etc.). Sexton challenges men on all sides of the political spectrum to recognize these thought patterns and try to move past them for the betterment of society.

The Man They Wanted Me To Be outlines the history of this mentality, how men are trained to try living up to unattainable ideals of masculinity, and when they fail in this pursuit, they express their frustrations in the form of inexcusable abuse against their families, friends and themselves.

Sexton eloquently argues that this male anger is misdirected, that this fury should really be directed toward the masculine archetype that makes them and the non-white-males around them miserable.

This book outlines how the World War II era’s “greatest

generation” created identities revolving around labor, how white males immersed in the patriarchal system felt left behind when integration and industrial progress became more prominent, leading to their support of those politicians who would stump that progress. As Sexton points out at length, there is an obvious link between this mentality and the rise of Trump, as white males latched onto a man who embodied all the traditional traits of what it means to “be a man”, and who, like them, is clearly riddled with traditionally unmasculine traits such as fear and insecurity.

Sexton’s book is largely a memoir as well, as he writes at length about his father and step-fathers, people

who lived their lives feeling self-destructively inadequate due to what they considered to be their shortcomings as soldiers, providers, etc. For a long time, the pressure of living up to what Sexton thought he needed to prove was causing him to seriously contemplate suicide. With the help of therapy (which our culture deems “unmanly”), he was able to escape from the grasp of toxic masculinity enough to gain the perspective to write a beautiful book about it. As he repeatedly points out in this writing, trying to overcome this societal brainwashing will be a lifelong battle. But as younger generations move past gender conformity and challenge the ideals of the old guard, Sexton states that there is hope.

Jason Kron is a Phoenix-based writer, music teacher, Devo cover band singer and VHS enthusiast. His work has been published in YabYum and De’Lunula.

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TALKING BODIES

consider hiring a pet sitter/dog walker to play with your pets for you. Dogs might want to walk, to run, to play fetch with a ball or frisbee, to wrestle, to socialize with other dogs at the dog park, to swim, to hike, and more! Cats definitely want to run, climb, scratch, hunt, dig, and chase. Get creative in the ways that you keep your pets active — they want, need, and will be overjoyed with variety, consistency, and careful thought into ways to keep them moving.

Pets, health, and fitness

By Tia Norris

W

hether it’s cats, dogs, birds, horses, reptiles, or otherwise, almost all of us can say, at least, that there’s an animal out there we identify with — or, if you’re like most pet owners, there’s an animal or several that our world revolves around.

The unique bond between us and our animals is as old as time and has the potential to enrich our lives in incredible and countless ways. It may seem like a no-brainer to some, but the interplay between our health, our pets’ health, and how we affect each other is something worth discussing. Here are some talking points about how it all fits together:

Ways pets improve our health: Interaction with pets releases endorphins, which produces an amazing biological chain reaction of good health: having higher levels of endorphins has been linked to lower cortisol, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and a myriad of other positive health markers.

Many universities, workplaces, and therapy-focused institutions are already incorporating the power of animals to deliver happiness by including them in wellness-focused initiatives. Personally, I make time every day for my cats, not only for them, but also because of the stress-busting benefits for me, too. Ask any pet owner how they feel after spending quality time with their fur babies – it’s undeniable that the unconditional, simple nature of our pets 50

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can give us all the feels.

Taking care of pets can provide accountability for our fitness programs.

Now, this point mostly applies to dogs, horses, and other animals that you can actually exercise with … but, this is a big one! Dogs are easy on this point, and of course some breeds are better suited for this than others, but heading out on a W-A-L-K or run every day or multiple times per day can obviously help to keep us on track with our own goals.

They love it, and it helps keep us moving without the choice to skip — that’s a winwin!

Pets and other animals can provide interesting variety for new fitness ventures. Cat yoga, dog yoga, equestrian, and more — if you haven’t tried them yet, what are you waiting for? There are plenty of ways to pursue your own fitness while in the company of the animals we love. When you exercise with pets, it’s like doubling your benefits: you get the mental and emotional payoff from endorphins while also working on yourself physically along the way. Yes, please!

Ways we can improve our pets’ health: Pets need physical and (usually) social activity in the same ways that we do.

Make playing with them a priority — don’t forget! If you have a busy schedule where you’re not around as much, buy toys to accomplish a similar goal or

They also need good food, hydration, and recovery just like we do. Talk to your veterinarian and do some research on your own, too. While pet nutrition may not be quite as complex as human nutrition, it does matter. There are crappy, cheap foods out there for our little babies just like there are tricky, garbage options for us humans. Find some trusted resources who can educate you on what your pets actually need and follow through just as much as you would on your calories and macros for yourself.

Phoenicians: be as heat-conscious for your pets as you do for yourselves. This means that if your pet goes outdoors, they might need extra water, cooling towels, foot pads/booties, special formulas for heat exertion, and more.

Don’t you dare leave your pet in a hot car or make them walk on hot asphalt/ rocks without adequate protection! And don’t forget about your pets indoors, too. I know we’re all trying to cut corners by not running the A/C during the day, but be mindful about the indoor temps, amount of shade, access to water, access to cool tiles/floors, etc., to keep your loved ones cool during the annual heatwave.

Don’t forget about regular check-ups, too. It’s easy to ignore or forget about taking our little ones to the vet when they aren’t complaining. Remember, they can’t speak for themselves — whether they’re showing subtle signs of distress or not, they need to be monitored by your trusted team of docs and specialists at just as regular intervals that you do, with your dentists and doctors.

With all the benefits of owning or interacting with pets, it’s no wonder that so many of us are so attached to our animals. Remember that making time for them also is making time for yourself, as well — and take care of them the same way that you treat yourself to ensure a long, happy, healthy life for you both.

Tia Norris is the president and head trainer at FitPro, LLC, a local fitness company. Find out more at fitprollc.com.

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AUGUST 2019

51

NOT THAT YOU ASKED

Sleeping single in a queen-size bed

By Buddy Early

I

am approaching a monumental milestone at the end of the year. No, I’m not talking about a birthday with a zero at the end; nor am I standing on the precipice of a major life decision; and I’m certainly not referring to the anniversary of the time I tried shrooms — which is a sensation I’d love to get back, but without the added component of thinking I can fly and wanting to jump off the roof of Long Wong’s bar. (If that feeling could be obtained by chugging chocolate milk and experienced in a safe, controlled environment, like a padded room or a Jamba Juice, then I’ll give it another whirl.)

I’m actually referencing the 20-year marker of being single. That’s right, 20 years since I tried sharing my life with another human. It’s been 20 years since I was legitimately able to leave someone a note that read “Your truck was blocking my car, so I took your keys.” And it’s been 20 years since I found myself lying in bed next to a person who threatened to kill me. (Spoiler alert: he didn’t.)

This doesn’t mean I haven’t had dalliances and trysts during that time.

I’ve had brief relationships that lasted a month, a few weeks, a night, or the time it takes to hold off the line that has formed outside the ladies’ room door.

But the stars aligned for me in this new millennium so that my decision to not date perfectly coincided with the rest of society’s decision to not date me. It could have something to do with how I use pompous words like dalliance and tryst and acquiesce. (Read further for that last one.)

Still, at the risk of being laughed out of the Gay Mafia, I will confess that, in addition to celebrating 20 years being single I have also recently passed the five-year mark of being celibate. (Insert gay gasp here!) For the most part this was a conscious decision, made when I decided I no longer wanted to have sex outside of a relationship, and exacerbated by not wanting to be in a relationship.

(I guess I sort of painted myself into a corner with that, huh?)

Like a lot of us — gay, straight and bi — I am a practitioner of self-sabotage.

I never have a shortage of reasons for not dating: I don’t like my appearance right now; I’m in transition in my career; I have huge debts that prevent me from wooing another human in spectacular fashion; my home is a mess (and I don’t

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want to clean it); it’s football season; nobody deserves to date me and I don’t deserve to date anyone. I probably struck a nerve with some readers with that last one.

Yes, I am a charter delegate of the “I Wouldn’t Belong To A Club That Would Have Someone Like Me As A Member Association.”

With that in mind, I will acquiesce (see, I told you!) that I am my own worst enemy.

But honestly, as soon as people find out I once described myself as a “conduit” in a job interview, I figure that’s a dealbreaker.

With these two anniversaries weighing on me and a true milestone birthday approaching in a few years, however, I’ve started thinking about dating in more practical terms. You know, thinking about finding and settling down with someone, well, tolerable.

Dog bless the folks who can find that perfect mate, or who are at least able to believe they will find that perfect mate. But I think most of us, as we get older, accept that may be unlikely. Sometimes you just decide you need companionship, and not necessarily the person who completes you. Sometimes you just want a person who will split the cost of groceries and change lightbulbs because your mom once had a light bulb explode and it left a chard of glass in her hand … and not necessarily someone who will sweep you off your feet. Sometimes you just want to see if there is another person who might give you additional purpose, because you are afraid that thus far your only legacy is having

been introduced on Hollywood Squares as “the irascible Buddy Early.” And sometimes you just want an assurance that someone will be there if you choke on your own vomit and die in your sleep, rather than waiting eight days for your boss to finally have the authorities conduct a welfare check. (I know, but I’m dishing out hard truths this month.)

Point is, it’s never too late.

Nonetheless, I will still draw the line at folks who intentionally spell words like “favourite” and “colour” when they 100% know that’s not how we spell it here. I mean, what’s that about anyway?

Buddy Early grew up in Tempe and has been involved in various communities across the Valley since. He is a former managing editor of both Echo Magazine and Compete Magazine.

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WE THE PEOPLE

Free expression is being criminalized in Phoenix

By Steve Kilar

A

recent episode of the podcast Making Gay History included archival interviews with LGBTQ civil rights icons Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson about life in New York City before the Stonewall rebellion. The excellent podcast released a mini-season in June to honor the 50th anniversary of the uprising.

Both Rivera and Johnson, who together organized the post-Stonewall group Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, spoke about how police routinely harassed queer people in the pre-Stonewall era — and the law encouraged them to do it.

“When I was growing up, if you walked down 42nd Street and even looked like a faggot, you were going to jail,” Rivera said in the interview from 1989. “Oh, I went to jail a lot of times.”

Johnson shared similar experiences when interviewed in 1989 by historian Eric Marcus, the host of Making Gay History and author of a book by the same name.

“Yeah, they’d say, ‘All you drag queens are under arrest,’” Johnson recalled. “You know, we were just wearing a little bit of makeup down 42nd Street.”

Marcus, giving context to their comments, explained the law at the time.

“Back then, if you were wearing fewer than three items of clothing that aligned with your legally assigned gender, you could be arrested,” Marcus said. “That gave police broad authority to harass and humiliate people who didn’t conform to the gender norms of the time.”

Over the decades, many laws like this, which were certainly not unique to New York, stopped being enforced, were struck down as unconstitutional violations of freedom of expression, or were repealed.

But in some places, including Phoenix, laws remain on the books that give police an excuse to target queer people because of how they look.

Listening to Rivera and Johnson describe the police abuse they endured reminded me of a case the ACLU worked on several years ago challenging a

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Phoenix law intended to curtail sex work.

In the case, Monica Jones, a trans woman of color, was accused of “manifesting” prostitution.

What is “manifesting” prostitution, you ask?

According to the Phoenix City Code section covering “Offenses Involving Morals,” manifesting “an intent to commit or solicit an act of prostitution” includes things like trying to “engage passersby in conversation,” hailing or waving at a vehicle, and trying to determine through words or conduct whether someone is a police officer.

That definition clearly limits constitutionally protected free expression. It also creates an opportunity for police to engage in profiling based on gender identity.

It is not likely that an officer would confront a white, cisgender man trying to speak to people on the sidewalk.

But a transgender woman, especially a transgender woman of color, waving at cars? You can safely bet she’s going to be approached.

The “vagueness of the law allows officers unfettered discretion to profile transgender women and presume that they are engaging in criminal conduct when conducting constitutionally protected activities such as walking down the street with friends, going to a grocery store in their neighborhood, flagging a cab, or greeting friends,” the ACLU argued in a brief supporting Jones.

At Jones’ trial, the officer who arrested her testified that he initially suspected her of “manifesting” an intent to engage in sex work because she was wearing a “black, form-fitting dress” in an area he said was known for prostitution, which happened to be near Jones’ home, according to court records.

The charge against Jones was eventually dropped but Phoenix’s manifesting prostitution law is still being used against a lot of people. A review of Maricopa County booking information from 15 recent months (all of 2017 and the

first three months of 2018) shows that 41 women and two men were arrested for “manifesting” prostitution.

More than half of these people, 24 women, were black. Just about 7% of Phoenix’s population is black, according to the Census Bureau. One person was identified in the data as Hispanic and the rest, 18 people, were identified as white.

“The difference between ‘innocent’ and ‘criminal’ behavior often comes down to how a person looks,” Chase Strangio, an ACLU LGBT & HIV Project staff attorney, wrote in a blog in April 2014, when Jones’ case was ongoing. “Transgender women of color are often profiled by police as engaging in sex work for simply being outside and going about their daily routines.”

It’s time for Phoenix to repeal its outdated “manifesting” law. Like the New York laws that decades ago allowed police to abuse Rivera, Johnson and other queer people, Phoenix’s law restricts free expression and encourages police profiling of individuals who do not conform to gender norms.

Trans Queer Pueblo, an organization that fights for the rights of queer migrants of color, is working to get Phoenix’s manifestation law repealed. They recognize the threat it poses to members of their community. You can learn more about Trans Queer Pueblo’s repeal campaign at www. facebook.com/transqueerpueblo/

Steve Kilar, is the communications director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona (acluaz. org). If you have questions about your rights that you would like addressed in a future issue, write him at skilar@acluaz.org.

COMMUNITY

HISTORY

The Past I Heard …

Kaye’s of our lives: Happy Landing was Phoenix’s first lesbian bar

By Buddy Early

T

o celebrate Echo’s 30th birthday, this year I will be catching up with some of Arizona’s LGBT personalities from past and present to revisit the people, places and events that helped shape our community.

When I started writing this series earlier this year my intention was to focus on my own memories of gay Phoenix, or at least people, places and times I had heard of. I came out in the 1990s and have some fond memories.

But that was not that long ago. Through people in my circle I learned a lot about gay Phoenix in the 1980s. And sometimes Steve Schemmel and Miss Ebony would even tell me stories about the 1970s. Details of anything before that always seemed scant and fuzzy.

Recently, however, I was made aware of a lesbian bar on Phoenix’s south side.

Not only was this bar pre-Stonewall, it was pre-Everything. Thanks to a tip from Arizona’s unofficial gay historian, Marshall Shore — screw that, I’m just going to make that title official — I have been made aware of Phoenix’s first-ever lesbian bar. Kaye’s Happy Landing Buffet opened in 1941 and operated at two different addresses on south Central Avenue: 3815 (an address that no longer exists) and 4405 (now a bus stop).

Kaye Elledge and her girlfriend, a married and soon-to-be-widowed Violet Brand, opened the bar and ran it together for several years before Violet remarried and left Arizona. Of course, you didn’t expect this severing of a relationship to be drama-free. Violet attempted to recoup her investment, lawsuits were filed, blackmail letters were written (supposedly), a large bouncer named June cold-cocked Violet (allegedly), and somewhere along the line one woman slept with another woman’s girlfriend (undoubtedly … although I just made that part up myself).

Nonetheless, Kaye’s Happy Landing Buffet — no one is certain if the place actually served food or, as I surmise, if the “Buffet” part references lesbians’ fondness for potlucks — stayed open into the 1960s serving a surprisingly large underground lesbian scene in Phoenix. At one point Kaye even ran

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advertisements in The Arizona Republic; the ads were vague and wholesome, touting piano artists and what I’ve learned was a very robust shuffleboard circuit in town.

“During that time, it would’ve been the only lesbian bar in town,” Marshall told me, adding that it was basically a beer joint that didn’t attract a professional clientele. “It was not people coming in in business attire. People came in

dungarees and a flannel shirt.”

The bar, like the other gay bars of the era (among them: The South Seas at Central & Monroe; Roy’s Buffet, the precursor to 307 Lounge, on Roosevelt; Captain’s Table at 7th Street & Missouri, which was the outskirts), survived thanks to a strong word-of-mouth.

According to Marshall, pretty much all the folks around during that time who he interviewed said “There were only two bars in town.” It was usually two different bars they mentioned, however, since apparently each person was only aware of the ones they frequented.

Kaye’s benefited from visits by celebrities, such as famous softball player Dot Wilkinson and nationallyrenowned female impersonator Ray Bourbon, who brought his act to the bar. Bourbon was known for risqué material, including songs like “Mr. Wong Has Got the Biggest Tong in China,” and toured hundreds of clubs from coast to coast. Landing at Kaye’s would’ve put the bar on the map. (Bourbon listed Kaye’s on one of his albums, and even let the eponymous owner sit in with his orchestra.)

Kaye Elledge, a bull dyke who romanced numerous lipstick lesbians before and after Violet came along, died in 1977. Not much is known about Violet Brand, except that she remarried a few times and never collected more than $200 from Kaye, a reimbursement for the hospital visit after June knocked her to the ground.

Weird thing is, we have only one more true lesbian bar in Phoenix in 2019 as we had in 1941. At least, as far as the wordof-mouth tells us.

Buddy Early grew up in Tempe and has been involved in various communities across the Valley since. He is a former managing editor of both Echo Magazine and Compete Magazine.

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PHOENIX BARS

Phoenix Bar Guide

18 19

7 6

21 22 45 24 25 17 18

16 9 10

14 15 25

20 21 15

5th

8

32nd St. St. 32nd

7

Bethany Home

24 23 2 19 3 20

e.

Av

5 6

1 13 22 14

2

23

9

11 12 43

16 17

12 13

11 10 *MAP IS NOT *Map is notTO drawn DRAWN SCALEto scale

60 92

AUGUST FEBRUARY 2019 2018 | | EchoMag.com |EchoMag.com EchoMag.com OCTOBER 2017

LOCAL BUSNESSES

111

ANVIL ANVIL

2424 E. E. Thomas Thomas Road Road 2424

602-334-1462 602-334-1462

M, D, D, L L M,

3 2

BAR 1 NIGHT CLUB AQUA

3702 E. N.McDowell Sixteenth Road St. 1730

602-266-9001 602-253-0682

M,N, E,E, ND F,

3 4

BAR 1 eBAR BLISS/R

3702 16th St. 901 N.N.Fourth St.

602-266-9001 602-795-1792

M, MF,N,N,ER

4 5

BLISS REBAR BOYCOTT BAR

St. Ave. 901 N.N.Fourth 4301 Seventh

602-795-1792 602-515-3667

M, MF,N,D,EE

5 65

BOYCOTT BAR BS WEST

4301 N. Seventh Ave. 7125 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale

602-515-3667 480-945-9028

MF, D, E MF, D, E

6 76

BS WEST BUNKHOUSE

7125 E. Fifth Ave. 4428 N. Seventh Ave.

480-945-9028 602-200-9154

MF, D, E M, L, N

7 87

BUNKHOUSE CARAVAN TAP ROOM

4428 N. Seventh Ave. 4835 N. Fifteenth Ave.

602-200-9154 602-592-9386

M, N, L MF, E, N

8 98 9 11 9

CHARLIE’S CHARLIE’S

727 W. Camelback Road 727 W. Camelback Road

602-265-0224 602-265-0224

M, C, E, D M, E, D

CLUB VOLT CRUISIN’ 7TH

3108 E. McDowell Road 3702 N. Seventh St.

602-244-1465 602-212-9888

MF, D, E M, E, N

10 10

CRUISIN’ 7TH

3702 N. Seventh St.

602-212-9888

M, E

2 10 11 11

DICK’S CABARET DICK’S CABARET

3432 E. Illini St. 3432 E. Illini St.

602-274-3425 602-274-3425

M M, G

11 13 12 12

FEZ FEZ

105 W. Portland St. 105 W. Portland St.

602-287-8700 602-287-8700

MF, R R

12 14 13 13

FLEX SPAS PHOENIX FLEX SPAS PHOENIX

1517 S. Black Canyon Highway 1517 S. Black Canyon Hwy

602-271-9011 602-271-9011

M, A M, AO

15 13 14 14

KARAMBA NIGHTCLUB KARAMBA NIGHTCLUB

1724 E. McDowell Road 1724 E. McDowell Road

602-254-0231 602-254-0231

D, E D, E

14 16 15 15

KOBALT KOBALT

3110 N. Central Central Ave., Ave., Ste. Ste. 125 175 3110 N.

602-264-5307 602-264-5307

MF, MF, E, E, N N

17 15 16 16

LOS LOS DIABLOS DIABLOS

1028 E. Indian Indian School School Road Road 1028 E.

602-795-7881 602-795-7881

MF, R MF, N, R, N

17 16 17 18

TOWNE SALOON SALOON NU TOWNE

5002 E. Van Buren St.

602-267-9959

M, N, L L, N

18 18 17 19

OFF CHUTE TOO TOO OFF CHUTE

4115 4115 N. N. Seventh Seventh Ave Ave.

602-274-1429 602-274-1429

M, MF,AA

19 19 20 18

OZ BAR OZ BAR

1804 Bethany Home 1804 W. W. Bethany Home Road Road

602-242-5114 602-242-5114

MF, N MF, N

20 20 21 19

PLAZMA PLAZMA

1560 E. Osborn Road 1560 E. Osborn Road

602-266-0477 602-266-0477

MF, N, E MF, E, N

21 21 22 20

ROYAL VILLA INN ROYAL VILLA INN

4312 N. 12th St. 4312 N. Twelfth St.

602-266-6883 602-266-6883

M, AO M, A

22 23 23 21

STACY’S @ MELROSE STACY’S @ MELROSE

4343 N. Seventh Ave. 4343 N. Seventh Ave.

602-264-1700 602-264-1700

MF, D, N MF, D, N

23 24 24 22

THE CASH NIGHTCLUB & LOUNGE THE CASH NIGHTCLUB AND LOUNGE

2140 E. McDowell Road 1730 E. McDowell Road

602-244-9943 (602) 244-9943

F, C, D F, D, N

25 24

THE CHUTE

1440 E. Indian School Road

602-234-1654

M, AO

25 23 26 25

THE CHUTE THE ROCK

1440 E. Indian School Road 4129 N. Seventh Ave.

602-234-1654 602-248-8559

M, A M, N, E

27 24

THE ROCK

4129 N. Seventh Ave.

602-248-8559

MF, E, N

MAP CODES: 25 2601 ON CENTRAL 28 A Adult Retail & Entertainment M Mostly Males F Females MAP Mostly CODES: MF Mixed Male/Female M Mostly Males F Mostly Females MF Mixed Male/Female

LOCAL BUSNESSES

2601 N. Central Ave. N Neighborhood Bar R Full Restaurant D Dance Club C Country Dancing A Adult Retail & Accomodations D Dance Club E Entertainment (Karaoke, Drag)

602-466-2074 MF, E, R L Leather/Bears E Entertainment (Karaoke, Drag) G Go-Go Dancers AO Accommodations/Other L Leather/Bears N Neighborhood Bar R Restaurant

EchoMag.com | OCTOBER AUGUST 2018 2019 EchoMag.com | | FEBRUARY EchoMag.com 2015

61 93

BAR SPECIALS

Foam Party

July 3 at Charlie’s, Phoenix.

Photos by Bill Gemmill.

BUNKHOUSE S HH and $1 Drafts all day. Indian Fry Bread with Joe Jackson Thames 12 - 9 p.m., Live Jazz with Kenny Thames 7:30 - 10 M 2-4-1 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., HH 2 - 8 p.m., Pool tournament 9 p.m.

T 2-4-1 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., HH 2 - 8 p.m.

W 2-4-1 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., HH 2 - 8 p.m., Karaoke 9 p.m.-close T 2-4-1 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., HH 2 - 8 p.m., Underwear/Gear night $1 off drinks if in gear or underwear 8-close, WMW dancers 10-12 F 2-4-1 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., HH 2 - 8 p.m. $2.50 Miller 8- close S 2-4-1 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., HH 2 - 8 p.m., $2.50 Bud 8 - close

CHARLIE’S S Super HH 4 - 7 p.m., $3 pitchers; $3 Long Islands open - close M 2 - 8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 8 p.m.-close, 1/2 off drinks for wearing underwear, $3 Jack Daniels T 2 - 8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1 cocktails & beer 8 p.m - close W 2 -8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; $3 Three Olives vodka, 8 p.m. - close T 2 - 8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1 drinks open - close F 2 - 7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics, $3 pitchers; HH 7 - 9 p.m.; $1 well & domestics, $1 drafts 10 p.m. - midnight S Noon - 7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics; HH 7 - 9 p.m.; $1 well & domestics, $3 Absolut & Bacardi 10 p.m. - midnight

STACY’S @ MELROSE S $1.50 Rolling Rock & Wells, open - 7 p.m.; Showtime 7 - 10 p.m.; $1 Rolling Rock & Wells; $2.50 Bud Light; $3 Fireball shots 7 p.m. - Close; Happy Hours 10 p.m. - сlose M Happy Hours; $2.50 Rolling Rock ALL DAY T Happy Hours; $5 Martinis & $2.50 Rolling Rock ALL DAY W 2-4-1 all day*; *no shots T Happy Hours 4 - 8 p.m.; $1.50 Rolling Rock & Wells 8 p.m. - midnight F Happy Hours 4 - 8 p.m.; $2.50 Rolling Rock all day; $2.50 Bud Light, $4.50 Pinnacle vodka & Fireball 8 p.m. - close S Happy Hours 4 - 8 p.m.; $2.50 Rolling Rock all day; $2.50 Bud Light, $4.50 Pinnacle vodka & Fireball 8 p.m. - close 62

AUGUST 2019

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EchoMag.com EchoMag.com | | AUGUST APRILE 2019

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