\ VERMONT BREWERS ASSOCIATION 3 5;» .\ V‘ \¢§uv-" .\\\\ Friday July 19, 5-10 prri Saturday, July 20, 12-4 pm and 5-9 pm Waterfront Park, Burlington, Vermont $20 GENERAL ADMISSION $5 FOR DESIGNATED DRIVERS Special “Early Brewed" and Group Rates Until July ’lst www.vermontbrewers.com 802.244.6828 20 Charming Rooms Peace & Privacy ‘ 633 ‘H1 Iandg ‘Inn P.O. Box 118 Bethlehem, NH 03574 603-869-3978 1-877-LES-B-INN (537-2466) A LESBIAN PARADISE 100 Acres 0 Pool Hot Tub -Trails wwwhighlandsinn-nh.com vacationahighlandsinn-nh.com °<'5>°°<%>-=<'s>°<£<>°<§>°<1<>°<§>°%>°® Clifford D. Troll, Jr., Ph.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist - Doctorate I68 Battery Street Burlington, Vermont O540l 802.862.0836 ctrot’r@together.ne’r °<§>°~°<§<>°<§’>°<}>°G<>°<‘:<>°<’.<>°<’£¢>°<§<> Joseph Kress, M.A. Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Individual and Couples Counseling. Adults and Adolescents 802-895-4993 55 Seymour Lane, Newport, VT g The Stone Hearth Inn & Tavern -Vermont "A Great Escape from Beach Traflic & Crowds _ v Circa 1310 Inn with 10 Guest Rooms, ‘ "‘7" 44.. ‘ All with Private Bath, Some with AC ‘ " V In Chesber Midwlay Between Brattleboro _ & Rutland and Close to Sunmer Playhouses in Weston 8: Saxtons River 17 Full Bar &Casuc'l Menu in 0.Ir Tavern or on the Outdoor Patio . 7 Your Hosts Chris Clay & Brent Anderson Civil Unions, Weddings 8:. Events from 2 to 2&1 Rate from 59 to $139 with Full Breallast The Stone Hearth Inn VI’ Route 11 West, Chester VT 05143 802-8755- 2525 888-617-3656 www.thesl:onehearthinn.com Susan McKenzie MS. Jungian Psychoanalyst Licensed Psychologist — Master Specializing in issues of Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexua/ and Transgendered individuals and couples Quechee — White River Junction (802) 295-5533 Insurance Accepted Cowboy Music By A Guitar Girl Steph Pappas Grants “.3 Wishes” with intense Vacate, misting Guitar, and Seamless Sides BY TANIA KUPCZAK s a long-time dyke musician in Burlington and around the region, Steph Pappas is the stuff of legends. So I was eager to get a chance to review her newest album, 3 Wishes (on her own Guitar Girl label). I have to confess that I’m a sucker for packaging. 3 Wishes fell into my hands and I was immediately enchant- ed. I appreciate the printed lyrics and well-chosen photos. And there’s noth- ing like spurs to get my attention. Any brief conversation with Steph will let you in on the intense conviction with which she lives her life. Hearing 34 minutes of it, when you pop the CD into your player, will convert you to the Steph Pappas Experience if nothing else ever has. It’s a ride on the ferris wheel, a drive on a back road, a trip across the lake, a climb up a mountain. Familiar and intimate, the album speaks to some dusty memories we forgot we had. This is definitely cowboy music, and any brief glance at Steph will tell you she’s got a cowboy soul. As I read through the liner notes, I was a little leery of how often the trumpet was featured on many of the songs. However, this album and the talents of trumpeter Jennifer Larsen make one of the best cases that l’ve ever heard for the horn as a solo instrument with subtlety. I play this game called “Instant Radio Hit” when I get a new album. I try to pick out the track most likely to get airplay on the radio. Nearly always, this is an obvious choice. 3 Wishes had me stumped. I_couldn’t decide which one would get the nod because the intelli- gent arrangement of tunes — beginning with a five-minute instrumental intro on “Somervi1le Maria” and winding up with the final sweet moments of “Crescent” — speaks of a concept rather than a simple collection of songs. The undeniable thread that moves from track to track is a combi- nation of Steph’s remarkable vocals and her deliberate choices of accom- panying musicians. Steph’s press package acknowledges the close ties she felt with her collaborators, but I really did- n’t need to read it to know. There’s cohesiveness in the recordings that can only come from the kind of musi- cal relationships that move beyond the studio. The movement from melan- choly ballads to rockin’ guitar—driven songs is effortless, because everyone seems to understand Steph’s vision and subtle story-telling. . It’s this particular feeling of personal investment that drew me to put to 3 Wishes on endless repeat on my stereo. My personal highlights include “Ferris Wheel,” a piece about a watershed realization at the Tunbridge Fair. It’s a bittersweet song about release, and as Steph croons her way through a couple of refrains of “Man, what letting go feels like ...” I feel like I’ve been let on the universal carnival ride of moving on. I found myself stomping my Men. in Love and Loss hears: Weighs Ways fiat and fitressa fieaestrg-Fain tstnsie BY TIM EvANs t is rare to find a gay male musician who is open and forthright about who he is. Sadly, so many musicians and actors feel they must dodge, hide and hint at their sexuality when they could do much more of a service by being honest. Californian singer/song- writer Mark Weigle is one of the courageous few to sing about same- sex love, loss andjoy among men. His three CD5, including the most recent release, Out of the Loop are testimony to all the emotions that two men in love go through. Add to that commen- tary on coming out of the closet, body image and making a difference and you have a good idea of what Weigle is all about. Mark started playing music early. At the age’ of five he played piano and later sang in school chorus- es. The influence of country music was all around; his parents and broth- ers listened to Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. His sisters turned him on to the early 70’s country rock of Dan Fogelberg and Jackson Browne. Afier high school Mark lived in Montana and not having a piano available bought a guitar and taught himself to play and write his own songs. Those early musical influences spill over to his music today and his CD’s, while not being strictly country music, are a happy mix of folk, rock, and country. “Have I Told You in the last 5 Minutes ...” Opens Out of the Loop with a bouncy, country, acoustic guitar hook that would be at home on a Jerry Garcia album. It is a straightforward declaration of love from one man to another. ‘‘I Remember” may be the CD5 most beautiful and bittersweet song. Russ Gautier’s violin playing on this cut is outstanding, adding to it a haunting Appalachian Mountain sound. Its lyrics deal with the loss of friends and loved ones and the inevitability of change: Gramma ‘s the only one back home / Who really understands / We've both lost a husband now / And so many friends / But its looking like I might have a lifetime / Still ahead of me / A life I never dreamed I'd see. “Bears” is a rollicking coun- try tune driven by banjo and tongue- in-cheek lyrics about bears. Lyle Lovett also covered this tune, written by Steven Fromholz, although not with same slyness that Weigle does. This is a CD of mostly country-folk tunes, but one standout tune “Love Your Body” is a major departure from the rest. Mark explains the title “Out of the Loop” comes from being “fed up with the hype and who’s hipper.” “The ‘gaystream’ seems particularly to hinge their iden- tity on being the latest fashion. I am feet at my desk during “Vintage Pappas,” while Steph displayed her mean harmonica skills. Then there’s “Val,” the tale of a girl who knew exactly who she wanted to be. Accompanied by some of the best gui- tar and violin playing on the album, we witness a woman who’s living out her fantasy of driving a garbage truck and dancing with girls. I can’t help nodding my head in agreement when Val says, “I feel like the grandest, coolest boy in this man’s world.” She’s a hard-won success story, like Steph herself. I’m left wondering, though, exactly what Steph’s 3 wishes are. Knowing her solid politics, l’m guess- ing they’re something noble. But if she hoped for a beautifully crafted album, she’s received her wish. Having spent some time with 3 Wishes, it’s absolutely clear Steph Pappas is far more worthy of sporting a cowboy hat than Madonna. If you want to hear Steph Pappas play some tunes from 3 Wishes, come to the release party at 135 Pearl, Saturday July 13th at 7:30 p.m. Itfs $5 to get in but Steph prom- ises no one will be turned away. V Tania Kupczak plays banjo — and [is- tens lo cowboy music — in Jericho. so happy tojust be doing my thing, being real with myself.” “Love Your Body” deals directly with this subject ’-and has a trance-like, electronic sound. The lyrics deal with loving yourself the way you are and not falling into the trap of plastic surgery, drugs, or body enhancement to find happiness: “My brother you are not your muscles, tattoos, piercings, lipo- suction or collagen injection.” Mark’s friend, singer Lonnie Tuck from San Francisco, lends a distinct R&B vocal to the track. “Love your body like it is” goes the refrain over and over, sending forth a good positive message backed by a funky dance beat. Anyone looking for folksy, country music by an out, gay male singer this CD is for you. “I’m inspired by stories that are new, that haven’t been told in a song before,” says Mark. “There are a lot of gay experiences that haven’t been told.” Mark Weigle has made three very consistent CDs of gay affirming, thoughtful and melodic songs. He tours mostly in the west and southwest region of the country, playing bars. Bear events, pride and folk festivals. Out‘ of the Loop is available at Burlington’s Peace and Justice store or get it through Mark’s website: www.markweiglc.com. V Tim Evans listens to "Bears" and other countri/ied folk in Burlington.