YOU DESERVE TO BE PAID.
F re e Con su lt a t io n • C a ll U s 24/ 7 w w w. b a r td u r h a m.c om | 6 1 5 -2 4 2 -9 0 0 0 4 04 Jame s Ro be rtso n Pa rkway, S u ite 1 7 1 2 , Nas h ville, T N 3 7 2 1 9
discover
This fall, your pause button.
Take a moment and listen to the Gulf waters gently lap the shore while warm breezes wash over you. Fall just feels different on America’s best beaches. Blue sky above. White sand below. And wonderment everywhere you look. See you soon.
VisitStPeteClearwater.com
Contents 4235 Hillsboro Pike, Ste 300, Nashville, TN 37215 Phone 615-596-6210 OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM STAFF Publisher: Aequalitas Media, LLC
Group Publisher for Aequalitas Media Bill Gemmill Founder and Publisher Emeritus Jerry Jones Group Editor Aequalitas Media: Merryn Johns merryn@outvoices.us Managing Editor: James Grady jgrady@outandaboutnashville.com Sales & Marketing: Keith Chamlee Keith@outvoices.us Design, Layout and Production: Saul Santos fsdemianhades3@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Writers: Lee Hatcher, Merryn Johns, Joe Morales, Jason Shawhan, Chris Spear, Brian Sullivan Photographers: Donny Evans Cover: Cody Belew & Brooke Eden. Photo by Donny Evans National Advertising Representative: Aequalitas Media 3023 N Clark St #732, Chicago IL 60657 312-600-8823
CORRECTIONS
We regret that the February LGBTQ Business Directory and Travelers’ Guide listed an incorrect phone number for Karuna Therapeutic Solutions. Their correct phone number is 615-669-6621. We apologize for the confusion.
OPPORTUNITIES
Out & About Nashville welcomes volunteer writers, photographers and videographers throughout the year. If you’re interested in contributing to our publication, send an email to editor@outandaboutnashville.com with a resume, contact information and samples of your work if available. Our volunteer staff is unpaid, but contributors do receive credit for their work in our print publication and online. Those seeking an internship in journalism or mass communications are strongly encouraged to apply.
LEGAL
Out & About Nashville strives to be a credible community news organization by engaging and educating our readers. All content of Out & About Nashville is copyrighted 2017 by Out & About Nashville, Inc. and is protected by federal copyright law and shall not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. All photography is licensed stock imagery or has been supplied unless otherwise credited to a photographer and may not be reproduced without permission. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representations does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of the person or persons. Out & About Nashville accepts unsolicited material but cannot take responsibility for its return. The editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit submissions. All rights revert to authors upon publication. The editorial positions of Out & About Nashville are expressed in editorials and in the editor’s notes as determined by the editor. Other opinions are those of writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Out & About Nashville or its staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged but may be edited for clarity and length. There is no guarantee that letters will be published. Out & About Nashville only accepts adult advertising within set guidelines and on a case-by-case basis.
4
August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
09
Artists in Love, Destroyed
06
The Special Shelf 1986’s GOTHIC
08
Cyclorama by Polo & Pan
10 12
Catching Up With… Andrea Breanna
RNBW – Showcasing Queer Music in Nashville
14 My Top 5 Favorite Canned Cocktails
Destroyed
Artists in Love,
Book Review
A Review of Indestructible Object, by Mary McCoy Lee Hatcher This is the first novel I have read from Mary McCoy, but Indestructible Object will not be my last. Lee Swan, an incredibly bright, talented teenager from Memphis, Tennessee, is facing the most upsetting time in her life so far. Her parents are separating just as she’s planning to leave for college. Her podcast, Artists in Love, her longest and most important work as a sound engineer has come to an end as her second half, Vincent, moves on to an internship with NPR. And he is planning to leave her. In a single week, Lee Swan’s life is both a fairy tale and a nightmare. Not only is she trying to come to terms with her heartbreak, her now broken home, but her entire life as an artist is turned upside down. The first hundred pages or so of Indestructible Object is quite the back-and-forth of drama and teenage angst that McCoy beautifully orchestrates. Although I am not the biggest fan of dramatic young adult (YA) literature, I have to give props to McCoy as she truly made the read not only interesting but enjoyable. Her realism shines in her work, making the characters lovable, hateable, and quite simply relatable. I cried along with Lee, as if that girl-with-the-same-name-as-me was actually me. Her struggles, so completely overwhelming, gave me anxiety at every turn of the page. Honestly, McCoy’s writing could not have been a more accurate portrayal of what teenagers have to grapple with today.
Most importantly, I think, is how McCoy incorporates Lee’s conflicts with sexuality and relationships. It isn’t the sensationalized experience you get from watching Glee, or the heartwarming adventures from Hallmark movies. It is a gut churning, real-life story about being a ‘messy’ bisexual, polyamory, and whatever the f***ed-up thing people call love is. The best thing about Indestructible Object is its ability to be unpredictable while remaining true to the tribulations of this generation. Honestly, the most impractical part of the story is how well Lee is able to handle her situation: given that she only just graduated from high school, she is extremely well adjusted to the adult life she is thrust into. Yes, she has her misguided moments, but she is so in tune with her emotional state and mental well-being throughout the process, which is perhaps also the most valuable aspect of her character as written. If nothing else, anyone could pick up this book and learn a little something from Lee Swan’s life. Indestructible Objects by Mary McCoy (Simon & Schuster, 2021) is now available anywhere books are sold. Mary McCoy is a writer and a librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library. Lee Hatcher (he/him) is a trans man from Nashville, Tennessee, currently studying at New York University.
August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
5
The Special Shelf
1986’s Jason Shawhan It’s summer, and everything is still chaotic and strange. So why not explore one of history’s best pansexual freak-outs, as told by one of the greatest directors of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s? The weather will still be sweltering outside, summer foods will still be in abundance, and you’ll have some good dirt about the history of romantic literature to share at your next vaccinated social event. Because Gothic is the story of how society got both Frankenstein and the modern conception of the vampire out of wet hallucinating renegade aristocrats on the run from decency. The year is 1816, and kinky rake/legendary poet Lord Byron (Gabriel Byrne, haughty and horny and the withholding daddy of literature students for two centuries) is having an epic party at the Villa Diodati. On the guest list is poet Percy Shelley (Julian Sands, A Room With A View), his bride Mary Wollstonecraft (Natasha Richardson, from the OG Handmaid’s Tale), her sister/Byron’s exmistress Claire Clairmont (Miriam Cyr, Species II), and physician/ drug dealer/closet case Dr. Polidori (Timothy Spall, the Harry Potter movies). And on deck is a weekend of torrential rain, keeping the quintet inside, where sex, drugs, and storytelling will keep them occupied. Everyone is horny and the borders between the real and the monstrous are especially thin. Director Ken Russell was pretty extensively heterosexual, but his work is suffused with queer sensibility and characters and an energy that shook up complacent audiences for several decades. If you’ve never seen Women in Love, The Rainbow, or The Music Lovers, I suggest you take a languorous dip in their sensual overload. This film is an exquisite nightmare of heaving bosoms, tight butts, body horror, and respectable society watching from the banks of the other side of Lake Geneva in titillated shock. Sands is a particular
6
August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
delight, finding a himbo take on Shelley that finds the mid-point between his Merchant Ivory collaborations and his presiding turn in the Warlock films. And Spall, always there with the deprecating remark or the refill of the required liquor or pills, finds the truth at the center of what could be a stereotype, groping at glory without a clue of the legacy his creation would find. A fever dream of historical fanfic and literary history, Gothic is such a profoundly weird film that I can’t imagine how the straight world greeted it in 1986. Every aspect hits hard (especially Thomas Dolby’s deliberately anachronistic score), and it speaks to the lit goth in all of us. Russell’s instinct for blending the classy and the trashy is peerless (see also The Lair of The White Worm), and with the late Natasha Richardson’s exceptional performance, we’re allowed a window into one of the nineteenth century’s most intriguing and ardent feminist icons. The Villa Diodati still stands, though it’s been converted into luxury housing, because there’s nothing so wild or sensually unhinged that can’t be acquired and commodified. Though Ken Russell and Natasha Richardson are no longer with us, Julian Sands, Gabriel Byrne, and Timothy Spall are all still acting regularly. Miriam Cyr has raised a family and is doing her own thing. Thomas Dolby helped develop polyphonic ringtone technology and made a killing by actually making the world a better place in the aughts. Gothic is available on Blu-ray from Lionsgate and streams on Tubi, Vudu, and Plex. And the legacies of Frankenstein and vampires endure, stronger than ever in a world enriched by that rainy weekend of psychedelics and sexual experimentation.
The Special Shelf
GOTHIC
August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
7
Album Review
Cyclorama Chris Spear
A few years ago, my husband discovered the French duo Polo & Pan through Pandora. The song “Dorothy” caught his attention so much that he looked them up. He found the music video for it and instantly grabbed me to show me how funny and clever it was. I really liked the music video, but the song was so catchy I started listening to them the next day. The entire album was fantastic, and it grew on me over the years. To this day, it is one of my most-listened-to albums. When I saw Polo & Pan were releasing a new LP, Cyclorama, I was ecstatic, and my excitement was rewarded with a beautifully crafted album that I have been listening to a ton over the past month. The album starts out with a beating heart and gradually introduces us to the song “Côme”. It feels like you are standing at the edge of an enchanted forest and there is a door of magic that takes you to a faraway land. The guitar and horns in “Ani kuni” make me think of old-time westerns. I really like the vocals on this track, especially at the end of the song when they get chopped up. The way the bounce back and forth between the vocal and bells is so playful. I always enjoy when old songs get sampled and sound completely different. “Magic” uses part of the chorus from Pilot’s song of the same title. I love how light and airy the song feels throughout, especially during the build ups. There is some really clever sound design with how they make some of the background voices sound like strings. The arpeggios in “Attrape-rêve” are so beautiful. I love how they change their groove and get layered as the song progresses. The beats on this song are simple but well done. The kick is so bassheavy while sitting under the track it creates a really nice deep effect without being overbearing. The first single from the album, “Tunnel (feat. Channel Tres),” is a bit on the darker side for them, and I really like how it feels. It’s more of a deep house song than most of their music, but it retains their feel with all the echoing swells and metallic arpeggios jumping all over the background. The intro on “Requiem” gets my attention every time. It’s so dark and beautiful it really makes me excited to see how they are growing as musicians. The strings and piano really draw you in throughout and the strange, warbled echoing pads pick you up. “Feel good” is one of my favorite songs on the album. The guitar and organ just make me want to dance every time I hear it. The vocals are sweet and catchy, and I find myself singing along almost every time the song pops up in my playlists. This is definitely one of their more tropical-feeling tracks. Another fantastic track is “Melody”. Polo & Pan’s songwriting has only improved with each release. The way it flows together so seamlessly is making me rethink what needs to be used for
8
August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
by Polo & Pan
Album Review transitions in my own productions. I love how light and airy they make the vocals, especially during the build ups. I really like the North African feel of “Oasis”. The different bells and guitars have a wonderful mystic feeling to them. The vocals are layered in a way that makes them sound haunting and fit perfectly with everything else in the song. The layers of male and female voices on “Artemis” are entrancing. The creeping sparkling arpeggios create a wonderful layering of strange and sublime, making a deceptively simple song feel so much deeper. “Jiminy” is such a fun upbeat song. The way the bass, bells, and drums play off each other at the beginning of the song always puts a smile on my face. In the middle of the song there is a long build up and it uses tons of birds singing. It feels like you are being pulled into an enchanted forest. The vocal comes in calling for you and fades off into the distance before the beat comes back. The flute in “Bilboquet (Sirba)” is really fun. I love how playful the bouncing bass and drums are when there is little going on in the song. When there isn’t a flute playing, there are some beautiful sparkling pads. I enjoy how unique a lot of their sounds are, not enough producers go the route of making something sound pretty and magical. Every aspect of “Les jolies choses” is remarkable. The sound design is perfect, and all of the transitions give that magical feeling that so many of their songs invoke. The vocals are beautiful and compliment all the other aspects of the song so well. My favorite song of the album is “Peter Pan (feat. Antonin)”. Like many of their other songs, they pull from childhood stories. The vocals are so clever and the way they flow with the guitar matching creates a longing for more. This song really reminds me of Air’s first album Moon Safari. Polo & Pan, the magical duo from France, has done it once again. The entire album is spectacular. If you have a chance to see them while they are touring worldwide, I would highly recommend it.
August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
9
Interview
CATCHING
UP WITH…
Andrea Breanna 10
August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
Interview Merryn Johns This past year many of us have spent more time in front of screens and on our devices than ever before, endlessly scrolling through content. But who is creating content that matters? And what is the future for LGBTQ content creators? The inaugural Aequalitas Content Creators Association convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa August 22 25. One of the featured speakers at ACCA will be Andrea Breanna, Founder and CEO of Rebel Mouse. What do you think you will be speaking about at the Aequalitas Content Creators Association convention in Cedar Rapids? This is an important moment for independent media. Google has realized that the open web became a pretty bad place for consumers in comparison to the highly optimized and well thought out products that social media offers. But having a web property is more important than ever. This was the founding principal of RebelMouse: to make websites as fast, clean and usable as the social products like Facebook and Twitter that they not only feed off, depend on — but compete against. With Google's Core Web Vitals update, websites that are slow, have bad ads, have bad experiences are going to drop out of rankings. Savvy indy media is going to not only survive this but use it as a David and Goliath moment against the big media which can't get out of its own legacy problems to solve this. The idea of content creation is somewhat new compared to the history of publishing — and it is rapidly evolving. What do you see as the main challenges today for anyone in this space, which some people say is already oversaturated and highly competitive. There is this huge arch in history from a scarcity of information (so people would pay for good information) to an abundance of information (so people didn't need to pay for information — it’s all free!!) to an overabundance of information (people pay for good information they can trust again). Smart media companies are collecting membership revenue in exchange for giving information from a particular perspective on a particular topic and it's a thriving revenue source. The narratives of "fake news" are resonating because people are unsure what they can trust. And it turns out they are willing to pay for streams of content they can trust. We also see a huge opportunity for innovation in ads that the Google Web Vitals update requires. There are better ways of advertising — how Facebook, Twitter and Instagram do it. Not with a takeover and pop-ups but by being smart about how the sponsored content is promoted within a stream. We are helping our clients at RebelMouse make the most of this trend and opportunity, which does require a great product to make happen.
unbelievable so ideas (and websites, and content) can spread faster and more efficiently than ever before. You are part of the LGBTQ community (trans, non-binary). Our community is known as being early-adopters and creative people. Do you believe that content creation plays a political role in the protection and advancement of our community? YES. I believe the queer community holds the keys to using technology for good instead of just putting profits first and ignoring evil. We have every native, natural reason in the world to use media to help society progress to a more kind, empathetic, and beautiful culture. Our own lives and happiness depend on it. And we are more powerful, more connected and more united than ever. What digital media content platforms do you most enjoy these days? I am very impressed by TikTok, obsessed with Twitter, in love with Chess.com, and very long on Facebook/Instagram being here forever (like it or not). Find out more at facebook.com/aequalitasmedia
Any trends in this space that you think will take off? For example, blogging was once hot but has been left behind by influencers, YouTubers and podcasters; what will come after these content creators or are they here to stay? Trusted news sources that aggregate highly valuable audiences for advertisers and that collect direct consumer revenue from memberships. Legacy media brands are absolutely in crisis because of their own legacy and it's a dream innovator's dilemma for savvy new media companies. You have an incredible career in digital media and content, building HuffPost, The Dodo, Axios, Avaaz and other ventures. What drew you to this sector originally and what do you consider to be your major achievement? I have always loved where the right content is, in the right product, at the right time and becomes something that is massively popular and a household name and topic. There has never been a better age to build these things — the distribution channels we have now are just
August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
11
Music
Donny Evans (IG @iamdonnyevans)
RNBW
Showcasing Queer Music in Nashville Tuesday Shows at Lipstick Lounge Give Platform to Upcoming & Established Artists
Brian Sullivan Lipstick Lounge’s Tuesday nights are rapidly becoming LEGENDARY— RNBW offers new, up-and-coming LGBTQ+ artists a stage and an eager, friendly audience. RNBW also offers these artists the opportunity to share a stage with Nashville LGBTQ+ music royalty like Ty Herndon and Shelly Fairchild. Recently, stars Cody Belew and Brooke Eden dropped in to share a little music—Belew even tested out some new, as yet unreleased work! While there, they spoke with OUTvoices’ Brian Sullivan about RNBW, their music and upcoming projects. Belew’s visit to Lipstick highlighted what makes RNBW so special. “So that's one of the exciting things about this little show tonight,” Belew said. “I'm going to debut everything I've been working on! We're going to be dropping singles starting next month, all the way through the end of November. So, this is like a test run. We're going to see what everybody thinks of 'em!” Besides working on his new album, Belew has kept busy recently. “I was lucky enough to get invited to the CMT Concert for Love & Acceptance. And that was a hugely impactful moment. I've looked up to those people, especially Ty Herndon, all these years, and to get asked to perform for that was a big honor. And then this just kind of popped up. We've not been … focused on shows because we've been focused on building the momentum and getting the singles out. There's some really cool stuff coming up in October that I can't talk about yet, but it's just gonna be a huge splash! And so I'm hoping that all of that rolls into show opportunities.” Brooke Eden has built a big name for herself in the Nashville music scene. While it may have really started to pay off recently in terms of name recognition, she’s been climbing this mountain since she was a kid. 12
August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
“I mean, I've been in Nashville for nine years. But I started singing in the honkytonks with my dad's band when I was like five years old. So I've been doing this for a really long time. I've had a record deal for seven years now.” Coming out has reshaped her experience, and she attributes recent successes to the freedom it has given her—the freedom to be out and about and living her best life, doing shows like RNBW. “When I put out my first music, I didn't get to be myself, I didn't really get to put out the music that I wanted to put out. And now five years after putting out that music, I'm finally getting to put out the music that I love and the music that means something to me, and also getting to be my authentic self. And to me that changes everything. So I think that what you're seeing is probably just like me getting to finally be myself.” This is probably the most special thing about RNBW—it gives artists like Eden and Belew, and those coming up behind them a place to shine as the LGBTQ+ diamonds that they are. And they find an audience eager to embrace them as they are! And if they lose some fans in the process? “Oh, there were definitely some like some weeder-outers. There were definitely some people that unfollowed. And I was ready for that to happen. And I was totally cool with that… I was like, ‘Good! I don't want those people at my shows anyway…’ Nobody wants that homophobic energy at my shows!” And at RNBW shows at Lipstick Lounge (free every Tuesday, with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. and shows starting at 7:00 p.m.) you’ll find LIVE LGBTQ+ music, a friendly audience, and none of that homophobic energy that sometimes creeps into other music venues.
Donny Evans (IG @iamdonnyevans)
Music
August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
13
Food & Drink Lifestyle
M Y T O P 5 C A N N E D C O C K TA IL S Joe Morales Summer isn’t over yet. If you haven’t heard, there is another heatwave that is about to strike the U.S., and this time, it’s going to be nationwide. That means near record-breaking temperatures and finding ways to stay cool and refreshed. Some will retreat to air-conditioned rooms while others will head to the nearest beach or swimming pool. No matter where you decide to hang out to beat the summer heat, you’re going to need to stay hydrated. Yes, drink plenty of water. However, should you choose to grab something a bit stronger, here's a list of the best canned cocktails out there. You don’t have to worry about mixing anything together because they’re premade! They’re easy, they’re portable, and they are delicious. All you have to do is grab a cooler, put them on ice, and go. Just make sure you have a koozie
KETEL ONE BOTANICAL SPRITZ PEACH ORANGE BLOSSOM I do love a good Ketel and soda. This cocktail in a can is pretty good. You get the peach orange blossom flavor mixed in with the sparkling water. This non-GMO vodka is only 3.6% ABV which is around 7 Proof it’s also only 73 calories. Seems there’s a theme with the 4-packs because you guessed it, it comes in a 4-pack. You can also find Ketel One in Cucumber and Mint or Grapefruit and Rose, all flavors are 0 Carbs, no added sugar or artificial flavors.
CANTINA ESPECIAL TEQUILA SODA
BACARDI MOJITO
These drinks come in a 4-pack and are 5.6% ABV which is about 11 Proof per can. These carbonated tequila cocktails come in 3 flavors: Grapefruit Paloma, Watermelon Margarita, and Ranch Water. If you’re not familiar with Ranch Water, it’s tequila, soda water, and a squeeze of lime. The best part besides the taste? They are only 99 Calories, 0 Sugars, and 1 Gram Carbs! They are made with blanco tequila harvested from Mexico and are available in over 40 states. Find your nearest outlet with the Drizly app. If I had to pick just one flavor, I would go with the Grapefruit Paloma, it’s refreshing and crisp.
Who doesn’t love a Mojito? The mint, the soda water, the sweetness…it’s so refreshing. These are also found in a 4-pack and are slightly more potent with 5.9% ABV which is about 12 Proof per 12-ounce can. Made with Bacardi Superior Rum, these cocktails come in five different flavors: Rum Punch, Mojito, Bahama Mama, Limon & Lemonade, Lime & Soda, Sunset Punch. The Mojito, Rum Punch, and Sunset punch are available in a variety pack if you can’t decide what you like best. These ready-to-drink cocktails are Gluten Free, 19 grams Sugar, 19.2 grams Carbs, and 198 calories.
14
August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
Lifestyle Food & Drink
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE GIN AND TONIC Gin. You either love it or you hate it. Bombay Sapphire makes a pretty good cocktail. They’re relatively new to the market but they’re definitely catching up. This 4-pack is ready for some ice and a slice of lime! It’s the Bombay Gin you have come to know and love, the same botanical and citrus flavor, now in a can. The G&T regular is 5.9% which is 12 Proof while the light tonic version is 98 calories and 0 sugars.
MONACO VODKA & SODA LEMON LIME
Email marketing that works for you.
If you haven’t heard of the Monaco line, you definitely need to check them out. They are available in vodka or tequila and they have so many flavors to choose from. I’ll talk about my two favorites: the Lemon Lime and the Mango Peach. First, let me tell you that each Monaco has 2 shots of vodka or tequila in it. They have 9% ABV and is about 18 Proof. That’s quite the amount of alcohol compared to the rest of the premixed cocktails I told you about. The Mango Peach is sweeter and has more calories and carbs because of the sugar. The Lemon Lime is a Keto-friendly drink because it has 0 sugar and 0 carbs. All in all, there are about 12 different flavors; some come in “light” versions with only 69 Calories but still 0 carbs and 0 sugars. Pretty good if you’re a little more calorie-conscious. Most of the Monacos are available through alcohol delivery as well. Really, the only question that is left unanswered is which are you going to choose? Or, you could buy them all and put them into the ice chest or refrigerator. Each 4-pack is under $15.00 excluding any delivery but I’d say the next time you’re at the grocery store or a liquor warehouse, pick some up. You won’t be disappointed. The best part about it is that you don’t have to get up from your chair by the pool or stand up from the blanket on the beach. All you have to do is reach over to the cooler and grab a drink and quite possibly a cup filled with ice. Imagine sitting there listening to the waves crash as you hear that unmistakable crack of the tab and the hiss from the fizz being released; the can ice cold and you take that first sip and realize how amazing it tastes and how it’s refreshing in this sweltering summer heat. Don’t worry, if you don’t make to the beach or that swimming pool. You’ll be able to enjoy these canned cocktails year-round!
myemma.com
Also, one more thing. Please drink responsibly. August 2021
nashville.outvoices.us
15
16
June 2021
outandaboutnashville.com
