(Originally Published on The Huffington Post on 5/7/2012)

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be a hero lately, spawned mostly by my recent involvement in a project called Queer Heroes NW, created in partnership with Q Center (Portland’s LGBTQ Community Center) and GLAPN (the Gay & Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest). The idea behind the endeavor was to focus in on individuals who have helped shape the local LGBT movement here in Oregon and southwest Washington, honor them for making our community safer over the years, and teach a new generation about how we got here from there.

Often, when I think of the history of the gay rights movement, only of a few select big-name activists come to mind. It’s easy to forget about all the people who didn’t make the papers or have a movie made about their impact, and in so doing, we skip over the people who have put their neck on the line for our local communities, with little or no recognition in return. Part of the goal in creating Queer Heroes NW was to secure these brave souls a permanent spot in our queer history, and also to thank them for the work they have done to make us free and keep us free.

Over the years I have had many people touch my life in heroic ways. I was always picked on for being perceived as “girly” or “gay” growing up, and by the time I reached high school, the bullying was unbearable (like it is for many gay kids). I had one teacher who stepped into the role of queer hero #1 on the first day of my freshman year. His classroom instantly became a safe haven for me, and I knew that I could always count on him to stand up for me, shut down the meanness, and help cultivate allies with the other kids in my class through his teachings of acceptance around diversity. He was not gay himself, and I’m sure this was not a popular role for him to take on with other teachers or the administration, but he never backed down. Every day from the time I arrived in his classroom to the time I left, he was in my court. There were times when he would watch to make sure I was safe during lunch, and there was a whole year when he walked behind me as I went from his classroom to the next one. We made a deal that he would walk far enough back that none of the other kids would know, but close enough that people would be on their best behavior, thus creating a hedge of protection of sorts around me. This was a brave move on the part of this kind man. The safety and support he provided me was enough to keep me in school and earn him the title of “queer hero” then, and still to this day.

Years later, as I was struggling to make it in the music industry, another kind man named Perry Turcotte reached out to me and offered to place my music videos in a new show he was producing for MTV, called NewNowNext, which would air on a brand-new network experiment aimed toward the LGBT community, called Logo. I of course jumped at the chance. From there, he basically took me under his MTV-artist-development wing, flying me out to New York City to be interviewed, airing my videos in heavy rotation on the channel, and eventually having me host the show and appear in commercial spots for the network. He believed in me, in my music, and in my then-unknown ability to speak publicly about my experience as a gay man in a straight world. He saw something in me that I had yet to look at, and in doing so he really set me up for every bit of success I have had in the years since. His efforts to honor my queer voice and push me out into the mainstream as myself were heroic not just for me but for queer people everywhere who had, up to that point, not seen my kind of queer on their TV screens. What Perry did for our movement in helping to create and cultivate Logo (which, in the years since, has become a cultural force to be reckoned with), and what he did for me both professionally and personally, has earned him the #2 spot on my queer hero list.

At the end of 2010, a third queer hero landed in my world. After years of loneliness and isolation following years of sorrow and disappointment, I met a sweet, gentle, beautiful man. For the first time in my life, another living creature was able to touch me physically in ways that did not freak me out, trigger or confuse me, or in any way resemble the horrors of abuse that I had endured as a young child. This man could really see me, and he was able to meet me where I was right then and honor that space, something no one else had been able to do before (or had even tried to do). A great sense of calm came over me the first time we were naked together. I was not afraid to be close to him, and I actually enjoyed feeling vulnerable with him. The experience of letting go and trusting this person to take me somewhere new during those initial encounters was both healing and spiritual. His patience with me, his willingness to wake me up from the living nightmare I had been playing out for decades, and his continued love, patience, and compassion since have changed me forever. To be kind is one of the most heroic things a person can do. It seems so simple when you think about it, but it’s actually quite rare to find someone who is willing to kiss your scars. This is the stuff queer heroes are made of.

Who are your queer heroes? Have there been people in your life who have celebrated your existence in ways that have left you changed, made your world safer, or helped you along in your journey toward freedom? I encourage you to honor these people however you can, even if it’s just by paying the kindness forward and stepping into the role of hero to someone else now.

You don’t need superpowers to save someone’s life. Sometimes all it takes is being there.

Watch my PSA for Queer Heroes NW:

(Originally Published on The Huffington Post on 4/26/2012)

This week I had the pleasure of meeting up with famed New York cabaret songstress Lady Rizo on the eve of the first of two Portland, Ore. shows along her in-progress West Coast tour. We chatted backstage, and I took some photos while she transformed herself into the glamorous creature she was clearly born to be, a sultry, seductive woman whose stage presence, voice, and quick wit rendered me (and the rest of the room) completely speechless for the duration of the evening.

Lady Rizo is stunningly herself onstage, in one of the most authentic ways I have ever experienced. It is a gift possessed by few in this world, so if you have the opportunity to share in it with her, take it! I feel transformed by the spectacle of love, passion, and pure, unbridled talent I witnessed onstage that evening. I mean, who needs drugs with Rizo around?!

Do yourself a favor and get to know her right now. Mark my words: This woman is about to take over the entire world.

Here is our chat.

Hey, pretty lady! Thanks for taking some time to catch up with me before the show. For readers who may not already be familiar with you and your work, how would you describe what you do?

I am a singer, comedienne, chanteuse-y diva who performs in glamorous gowns and lashes. I theatrically explore pop and rock songs, write my own arrangements for them, and perform them in intimate cabaret settings. I have a dirty mind but usually deliver my humor bathed in a vague class that distracts you from the filth. I now also sing my own songs.

I enjoy your dirty mind very much. How is it being back on the West Coast? You’re from around here, correct?

I love the West Coast. Yes, I was raised in an intentionally artistic community by a troupe of theater hippies on the Oregon beach. It always takes me a second to readjust to the slower, relaxed pace here and the fact that waiters will smile at you. But I love it — and I love being a bridge between.

Right. Friendly servers is a real treat that comes with living here for sure. When did you move to New York? Did you move there with a mission, or has all of this come about organically?

I moved to N.Y.C. in 2004. Oh, yes, I had a mission: to continue my work as in the theater. However, when I moved there, I found that I needed to have a different game plan. I was not willing to play the role as a pleading actress, blindly sending out headshots and résumés in hopes that I could get an agent. I knew that bitterness and lack of control over my career would creep in and destroy what spark I had. I thought maybe I could perform in a cabaret setting, producing my own shows and showing my skills under my own terms. Then they would all be begging for me to come join projects. It worked eventually, but it took seven years.

Seven years is a long time to stay focused on a particular vision. I’m really glad you stuck it out! Do you have plans to tour more this year, or are you staying put once you wrap up this coastal adventure you are currently on?

I’ll be in Europe quite a bit this year. All of August I’ll be at the Edinburgh Festival at the Assembly Room. I’m very excited, because it will open me up to a whole world market. Global domination! Also, I’ll be there for Young Jean Lee’s provocative theater piece The Untitled Feminist Show that I was a co-collaborator on last year. It premiered at the Walker Center and then had a sold-out run at Baryshnikov in January.

I can’t wait for you to take over the world! Frankly, the world needs you and your spirit (fingers). Speaking of spirit fingers, you have quite the gay following. Do you consider yourself a queer performer?

Yes. Absolutely!! I don’t often subscribe to heteronormative thought patterns. I surround myself with others who consider themselves queer. I don’t rally against the mainstream as much as just live along side it… and the truth is, Lady Rizo is a decadently healthy temptation for all genders and persuasions.

Truer words have never been spoken. You starred in legendary performance artist Taylor Mac’s The Lily’s Revenge in 2008. How was the experience of working with him?

Taylor Mac is an American treasure. The Lily’s Revenge was so bold, smart, inclusive, and enjoyable. Taylor asked me to do the show based on listening to my band rehearsal while he was taking a nap when we were both performing in the Motherlodge Festival in Louisville, Ky. When he said it would be a five-hour play — to build the feeling of community — I laughed with disbelief and said, “Maybe.”

I really never thought it could be as amazing, wildly popular, and moving as it was. There was a palpable feeling in the rehearsals that every one of the 45 collaborators who worked on the N.Y.C. premiere knew they were working on something special. Is it obvious that I love Taylor? He is one the people that you suffer all the crap of New York City to be near.

I love Taylor, too… but I would add that you are also an American treasure, so maybe it takes one to know one. You’ve been the inspiration behind many successful singers coming out of New York recently. How does it feel to be in that role?

I didn’t fully know this. I know that the work inspires many people but not specifically singers. The only thing that constantly pushes me forward is the thought that I artistically free up anyone. It makes me so happy. I know I need other brave souls to do that for me.

Nice. Well, now you fully know. While we are on the subject of singers you’ve inspired, Taylor Mac has been very open about how he feels about a certain pop singer also self-styled “Lady.” What are your thoughts on Gaga? Is imitation the sincerest form of flattery, or do you wish she would knock it off already?

I applaud those pop artists that commit to a look outside of the box, but Gaga’s music and stage performances don’t excite me. It’s hard to pinpoint what it is about her that makes me yawn, but I don’t think my resistance to her is jealousy or possessiveness about the “Lady” title. (Though let’s get one thing straight: I was a “Lady” when Gaga was a girl.) She doesn’t perform in a way that inspires intimacy or connectedness with the audience — or at least it doesn’t connect to me. You can be a diva and reign on stage, but for adults, you usually have to earn it with respecting them first.

You are very gracious, and I couldn’t agree with you more. Enough about Gaga, though. Who are some of the people who have inspired you over the years?

Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Fran Lebowitz, Aretha Franklin, Marilyn Monroe, Peggy Lee, Lucille Ball, Jeff Buckley, James Brown, Prince, Etta James, Freddie Mercury.

That is a lovely list of names. I can see parts of you in all of them, actually… or them in you. While we are on the subject of lovely things, what’s love like for a supertalent like yourself? Are you singing about anyone special at the moment?

Love is good. My bed is warm. Always.

Warm beds are so important. Talk to me a bit about the new record you are currently touring. Who did you work with on the album?

The record is exciting. It contains a mix of new originals that I’m loving and arrangements of other songs I’ve performed in the last years. The feeling attempts to capture the varied styles I’ve been playing in while remaining true to my vocal signature. It ranges from cabaret stylings to ’60s rock to Klezmer to old-fashioned R&B. I’m working with Yair Evnine, who I’ve collaborated with for many years now as a musician and songwriting collaborator. It’s exciting to push our artistic relationship into the production side. We are recording the bulk of the album at a fantastic, old, carriage-house Brooklyn studio run by Ian Pai and Le Chev, who also work with Fischerspooner and Ssion.

That sounds amazing. Any music videos on the way?

Oh, yes, of course. You can’t survive these days without some solid content for the Interwebs. We have exciting videos in the works.

Yay! I am officially waiting with bated breath. If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be?

[Laughs.] Surely this is a joke question lifted from Teen Beat. I wouldn’t ever want to be anyone else than Lady Rizo.

Good answer. I do read a lot of Teen Beat, so it creeps in every so often. I can’t think of a single person I would like you to be, either… just hundreds of people I wish were more like Lady Rizo! Thanks so much for spending some time tonight, my dear. I should probably let you finish getting glammed up for the show and take my seat front and center. I wish you the best of luck on the rest of your tour and can’t wait to see what the coming months bring your way! Any famous last words for our readers before you take the stage and dazzle us with your sparkle?

Spread your span. Raise your hands. Sing this song of freedom. Thank you for supporting live entertainment.

For more on Lady Rizo, visit LadyRizo.com.

Hope everybody is having a great new year so far. We are just 2 days in and I am already announcing exciting stuff! I was recently asked to come on board as a blogger for The Huffington Post and they published my 1st piece today in the Gay Voices section HERE. It’s called “Unhappiness Is A Strange Muse“. Please comment, share and click the “Like” button…and you can subscribe to my future posts on my official HuffPost author page HERE.

Cray Cray, huh?

Whoa! Portland Monthly Magazine picked my record “I Killed Tomorrow Yesterday” as one of their top 15 records to give as gifts this holiday season and had some really nice things to say about me! So cool.

Check it out HERE.

I love it when my songs are used in cool stuff! This promo for ESPN, Mutiny Bikes, and Etnies is called “Battle Los Angeles” and has the instrumental of my track “Velocity” (taken from my 2010 record “I Killed Tomorrow Yesterday” and produced by Bryan Cecil) in it at the 5:10 mark. I once told my basketball coach brother Landon that ESPN would never want to use my music for anything but apparently I was wrong.

The video stars adrenaline junkies Brandon Hoerres, George Boyd, Andy Martinez, Matt Roe and Justin Simpson and was filmed, edited and directed by Joe Simon. Holy shit. They are all completely NUTS.

Here:

+ Logan Lynn // “Velocity” for ESPN & Mutiny Bikes (2011) – at 5:10

At the end of 2010 I created The Q Center Concert Series in an effort to showcase LGBT musicians, dancers, comedians, actors, filmmakers and performance artists from around the world and locally at Portland’s LGBT community center. I am pleased to report that, due to the mega success of this 1st year of the program, we will be back in 2012 for another round!

This year so far I have featured Matt Alber, John Cameron Mitchell (Rabbit Hole, Hedwig & The Angry Inch, Shortbus), Taylor Mac, Tom Goss, Amber Martin, Shannon Grady, Sook-Yin Lee (Hedwig & The Angry Inch), Paul Dawson & PJ Deboy (Shortbus), Jenna Riot, Kaia Wilson (Team Dresch), Adventures! with Might, Leviticus Appleton, DJ Beyondadoubt, DJ Lunchlady, Swagger, Rose City Sirens, Drag Mansion, DJ Bruce LaBruiser, ChiChi & Chonga, Fannie Mae Darling, Belinda Carroll, Hugo Orozco (Rock & Roll Camp for Girls) and many more. Thank you to everyone who performed, attended or helped me pull these shows and events off! Without all of you none of this would have been possible.

You have one last chance to catch some killer queer acts before the 2011 Q Center Concert Series takes a bow! The 5th Annual Queer Quistmas Variety Show is happening on Saturday, December 17th at Q Center. Tickets are on sale now. CLICK HERE to get yours! This year’s raunchy holiday shitshow promises to be the filthiest yet! Come get down and dirty with hosts Splendora Gabor (Lee Kyle from “Sissyboy”) and Fannie Mae Darling while we welcome another group of incredible performers to the stage: Austin Tautious, Jam N Toast, Queertet, Nico Bella, Anthony Hudson, Angel Hanson, The Julian-ettes, Eric Sellers, Korin Schneider, Daniel Thompson, Jamie Treadwell, tons of surprise guests and the incomparable Glenn Goodfellow on piano all night!!!

This is the only holiday party that has ever mattered, and it’s for a good cause! See you there…and yes. That’s me in a onesie on the poster.

Happy holidaze, everyone!

LL

Click the poster for more details:

Oh god. Watch my new video on MTV below or on their website HERE.

MTV is so fucking cool still.

It’s been a REALLY big couple of weeks since the release of “Live From Nowhere Near You” (the charity record I’m on with The Strokes, Pearl Jam, Spoon, Sleater-Kinney, Elliott Smith, The Decemberists, The Dandy Warhols, Wilco and dozens of other killer bands). Not only is the record blowing up radio (and selling out everywhere in-stores) but the press has been all up in it since the beginning of July!

After being featured by Pitchfork Magazine, Under The Radar Magazine, and a TON of other awesome media outlets all praising the record, it was picked as #3 on this week’s Must-Have list in Entertainment Weekly! Pick up the current issue on stands everywhere now or click the front cover below to check out the electronic version! YEAH BUDDY!

To get your copy of “Live From Nowhere Near You” go to any record store anywhere or CLICK HERE.

For those of you who missed it, John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig & The Angry Inch, Shortbus, Rabbit Hole), Portland-gone-NYC performance queen Amber Martin, Sook-Yin Lee (Hedwig & The Angry Inch, Shortbus), PJ DeBoy (Shortbus) & Paul Dawson (Shortbus) partnered with me on a Q&A meet-and-greet event in Portland this month while they were in town throwing their Mattachine dance party! It was really fun. They are all lovely. I’ve included a couple of shots here but you can look at the whole batch of photos on my Facebook page HERE if ya wanna!

Thank you John, Amber, Sook-Yin, PJ & Paul for being sooooooooooooooo awesome!!! See you all again soon.

Love,

Hey folks! Saturday, August 6th at Q Center in Portland I’m throwing an ALL AGES Q&A Meet-and-Greet with John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig & The Angry Inch, Shortbus, Rabbit Hole), Portland-gone-NYC performance queen Amber Martin, PJ DeBoy (Shortbus) & Paul Dawson (Shortbus)! They are in town for their traveling Mattachine dance party spectacle that evening but will be spending some of their afternoon with us at Q Center before the show!

You are all invited. Spread the word. RSVP to the Facebook Event Page HERE.

Now watch John Cameron Mitchell in “Hedwig & The Angry Inch”:

“Live From Nowhere Near You” is a benefit record I was a part of for homeless youth at Outside In and it was released today. Actually, last night at midnight. By 1:00am they had sold 5,000 CD’s and were sold out. Good times, right?! OMG.

New songs by me, Elliott Smith, The Dandy Warhols, Pink Martini, Spoon, The Helio Sequence, The Strokes, Wilco, Bright Eyes, The Decemberists, Gang of Four, Sleater-Kinney, Viva Voce, Modest Mouse & so many more!!! You can read the full list HERE.

Here’s my contribution to the project:

Logan Lynn: “Movies” (2011 Greyday Records)
Words and Vocals by Logan Lynn.
Programming by Carlos Cortes.
Horns: Chris Frazier.

Logan Lynn: “Movies” (Taken from “Live From Nowhere Near You” – A Benefit For Homeless Youth) by LoganLynn

This psycho little song sure is in good company with this one. Geezuz.

The Boy In Static remix of my song “Alone Together” (from my new record “Blood In The Water” available on iTunes HERE) was used in Trent Finlay‘s promotional video for the Q Center, Basic Rights Oregon, Cascade AIDS Project & Pride NW “Hands Across Hawthorne” anti-gay bashing event.

Read what The Advocate had to say about the event itself HERE, then watch the video below.

Together we can stop the violence. To get involved with LGBT community safety in Portland, CLICK HERE. To find the LGBT community center closest to you, CLICK HERE.

I contributed to this epic collaboration record called “Live From Nowhere Near You” & it’s about to be released on 7/19 by Greyday Records. The project paired street musicians with professionals. All profits go to homeless & street youth programs at Outside In. The pre-release is happening NOW. Order yours today by clicking HERE or on the album cover below. All the songs on “Live From Nowhere Near You” are previously unreleased. More info on the release HERE.

Here’s the full list of contributing artists on this 3 disc set:

Aaron Trueb (of Tango Alpha Tango)
Adrian McEldery
Aimee Nash (of The Black Ryder)
Aja Kim
Albert Hammond Jr (of The Strokes)
Alex Barwick
Anita Robinson (of Vive Voce, Blue Giant)
Archi Read
Arion Salazaar (original member of Third Eye Blind)
Benjamin Weikel (of The Helio Sequence)
Bill MacBeath
Bob Graham Mild (of The Upsidedown)
Bosko
Brad Hargreaves (of Third Eye Blind)
Brandon Summers (of The Helio Sequence)
Brant Taylor (of Pink Martini)
Brent DeBoer (of The Dandy Warhols)
Brett Hartenbach:
Brett Kron (of The Upsidedown)
Brian Sage
Brian Winkle
Britt Daniel (of Spoon)
Carlos Cortes
Carlos Guitarlos
Carlos Vamos
Catherine Kamei
Chris Ballew (of The Presidents of the United States of America)
Chris Denham
Chris Frazier
Chris Friel (of The Rockfords)
Chris Funk (of The Decemberists, Blue Giant)
Christian Zammit
Christine Zieverink
Cole Peterson (of Sweetwater)
Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
Corin Tucker (of Sleater-Kinney)
Courtney Taylor Taylor (of The Dandy Warhols)
Dan Reed (of The Dan Reed Network)
Dan Wienstien
Dand Lee Strickland
Daniel Johnston (solo, himself))
Dann Gallucci (of Modest Mouse)
Danny Seim (of Menomena and Lackthereof)
Danyel Smith
Dave Allen (of Gang of Four, Faux Hoax, and Shriekback)
Dave Dederer (of The Presidents of the United States of America)
David Black
David Brown
David Maverick
Dirk Wallace
DJ Sirround
E.L. James
Eddie Vedder (of Pearl Jam)
Elliott Smith (solo, formerly of Heatmiser)
Erik McDowell
Evan Railton (of Swords)
Evan Stroum
Fabrizio Moretti (of The Strokes)
Freddie Thomas
Goldie Davich
Goldxilla
Greg Montplaisir (of Station Zero)
Greg Oden (of The Portland Trailblazers)
Greg Snell
Imani Coppola
Isaac Brock (of Modest Mouse)
James Mercer (of The Shins)
Jason Adams (of The Upsidedown, Pete International Airport)
Jason Finn (of The Presidents of the United States of America)
Jay Bennett (of Wilco)
Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco)
Jeremiah Green (of Modest Mouse)
Jeremy “Jem” Cohen (of The Ettes)
Jerry Carnathan
Jill Wilson
Jim Talstra
Jodi Huffman
Jody Linscott
Joe Berardi
Joe Purdy (solo, himself)
Joe Whaley
Joey Morales (of Top Jimmy and The Rhythm Pigs)
John Askew (of Faux Hoax, Tracker, FILMguerrero)
John Doe (of X)
John Moen (of The Decemberists)
Jonathan Maron
Jordan White
Josh Brown (of The Robots)
Joshua Homme (of Queens of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures)
Julian Casablancas (of The Strokes)
Kachina Dechert
Keith Schreiner (of Dahlia, Suckapunch)
Kevin Moyer
Kevin Robinson (of Vive Voce, Blue Giant)
Leah Shapiro (of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Raveonettes)
Licky Noir
Lindsay “Coco” Hames (of The Ettes)
Lindsay Buckland
Lisa Lengwenus
Logan Lynn (solo, himself)
Marc Cappelle
Maria “Poni” Silver (of The Ettes)
Matt Brown (of The Robots)
Matt Moore (of The Upsidedown)
Max Butler
Mic Crenshaw (of Hungry Mob, Suckapunch)
Michael Childers
Mike McCready (of Pearl Jam)
Mike Sweeney (of Criteria and Bright Eyes)
Mike Watt (of The Minutemen, fIREHOSE, reunited Stooges)
Mirabai Carter-Trueb (of Tango Alpha Tango)
Mr Ricky Maymi (of BJM and The Imajinary Friends)
Nathan Jr (of Duover, M Ward)
Nathan Trueb (of Tango Alpha Tango)
Neal Clark (of Station Zero)
Neil Gust (of No. 2 and Heatmiser)
Nicholas Crosa (of Pink Martini)
Nick Valensi (of The Strokes)
Nikolai Fraiture (of The Strokes)
Otto Papasadero
Patrick Kempfer
Paul Cobb
Paul Immanuel Owens
Paul Lingas
Pete Droge (solo, himself)
Pete Mazich
Pete Miser (solo, of The Five Fingers of Funk)
Peter Hayes (of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)
Peter Holmstrom (of The Dandy Warhols)
Phillip Dieter aka Skeeter
Portland Street Elvis AKA John Schroeder
Rich Milock (of Station Zero)
Robert Been (of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)
Rory Merrit Stitt
Ryan Adams (solo, formerly of Whiskey Town, The Cardinals)
Ryan Bernstein
Sarah Jane (of The Upside Down)
Scott Von Ryper (of The Black Ryder)
Seth Lorinczi (of the Golden Bears)
Shawn Smith (of Brad and Satchel)
Skeeter
Stephan Jenkins (of Third Eye Blind)
Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree)
Stic.man (of Dead Prez)
Stone Gossard (of Pearl Jam)
Street Freddie
Street Keith
Streetkid SkunkE,
Suzy Coté
Thomas Lauderdale (of Pink Martini)
Tim Jensen (of Pink Martini)
Tobin Herrera
Tom Fabre
Tristan Evans (of The Upsidedown)
Tyler Coyle
Vince Meghrouni
Vini Miranda
Walker Beckman (of Tango Alpha Tango)
Wally Hendrickson (of Station Zero, The Hip Replacements, Sinus Rhythm)
Woodie Guthrie
Various anonymous street musicians and artists

HOLY SHIT, RIGHT??? I’m in some REALLY good company with this one.

Watch my new video “Quickly As We Pass” in all its censored for TV glory on VH1 below or CLICK HERE to watch it on the VH1 website!

So awesome!!!

My new video “Quickly As We Pass” is featured on AfterElton.com today! Check it out HERE or keep reading below!

From AfterElton.com: (6/23/2011)

“Logan Lynn channels the 80′s with “Quickly As We Pass”: Out artist Logan Lynn has been producing music for over a decade, but I confess to somehow having missed him until now. But as a huge fan of 80s music, I’m quite pleased to have made his acquaintance through his new video “Quickly As We Pass” which reminds me of what was best about early 80s music. This song wouldn’t have been out of place in the dance clubs being played along side the best bands of the 80s, including New Order, OMD and Eurythmics. But take a listen yourself and see what you think!”

Hey kids! “Hip to be Q” is Q Center‘s theme for Pride weekend this year, with the all-ages kick-off party on Friday, June 17th being the 2nd in the Q Center Concert Series I’ve developed for the organization. As the overall theme, “Hip to be Q” is a throw-back to the very 1st pride parade in 1970 on Christopher Street in NYC. We are going vintage this year, bringing it all back to the roots of our mission as queer people.

The 1st show of the Q Center concert series (an acoustic extravaganza with Matt Alber, Tom Goss & Shannon Grady) was a huge success and this one is sure to be even bigger. Tickets went on sale yesterday and are available on the Q Center website. With this 2nd show I wanted to feature a variety of electronic, pop and dance acts from the queer and allied community. I figured since we wanted to have a pride kick-off party as well, combining the two events made sense. So…what we have is one giant mini-festival of emerging talent and acts. Some national, some local…ALL incredible.

Headlining “Hip to be Q” on Friday, June 17th are the following:

Jenna Riot
Adventures! with Might
Kaia Wilson (from Team Dresch)
Leviticus Appleton
BEYONDADOUBT
DJ Lunchlady

The show starts at 5pm and goes until 2am. In addition to a bunch of killer DJs we have the following supporting acts booked for short sets throughout the evening, before and after the main program listed above:

- Swagger
- Rose City Sirens
- Drag Mansion
- DJ Bruce LaBruiser
- ChiChi & Chonga
- Fannie Mae Darling
- Dexter Flowers
- Belinda Carroll
- Hugo Orozco

…and much, MUCH more!

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH EVERYBODY! Get your tickets or sponsorship now by CLICKING HERE.

Logan

The kids over at Portland Newsweekly Just Out ran a mini-interview with me this week about a whole mess of messy stuff and posted my new video on their site! You can check it out by clicking the current issue cover below or keep reading under that for the transcript…

From Just Out: (4/4/2011)

“Unless you’ve been living under rocks and/or endlessly napping the past few weeks, you’ve probably heard/read about Logan Lynn‘s excellent new video, the visually intriguing (stunning, even) “Quickly As We Pass.” A nostalgic blend of live action people and more two-dimensional, still cut-out counterparts (oh, how art mirrors life) make their way through cityscapes, streets, buildings, living rooms, bedrooms–and even get naked. Fitting for a song that talks about waking up “clothed in our right minds and nothing else.” As usual, Lynn takes the ordinary, the banal, mixes it all up, and turns out five minutes of salacious sensory overload. Like us, you’ll probably have to watch the video a few times before catching everything that’s happening–and even then you’ll be hard-pressed to soak up every bit, every quirk.

The video and song, both vintage Logan Lynn–you’ll recognize the first beat and lyrical declaration, “no good deed will go unpunished”–are refreshing returns to electronic-pop form and the visual stylings fans know and love. (Read: there’s no band this time around.) So, dear readers, grab your best headphones and cozy up for awhile with “Quickly As We Pass.” Pay attention to the lyrics. You’ll be surprised by how well Logan Lynn gets you. And although we’re super sad he didn’t pop out of any cakes–we’re glad he’s “back.”

-Daniel Borgen, Just Out Newsweekly

So…as you all know I am taking a break from playing shows myself but have created a concert series for Q Center (featuring all sorts of queer artists) which started this past week. The 1st installment featured Matt Alber, Tom Goss & Shannon Grady. Portland newsweekly Just Out profiled the show HERE. I’ll be announcing the 2nd installment of the concert series (happening Friday June 17th) soon but for now you should watch Matt Alber‘s beautiful new video “End of the World” just below!

Hooray for queer music!

OMG. The 5th annual Queer Documentary Film Festival (sponsored in part by Q Center) is happening June 2nd through June 5th at The Clinton Street Theater in Portland. “The Advocate for Fagdom” (the doc about our dear Bruce LaBruce) is showing at this year’s QDoc alongside a bunch of others. You can check out the full list of films playing at the 2011 festival HERE.

For tickets & passes CLICK HERE.

Now…watch the official QDoc trailer:

My new video “Quickly As We Pass” premiers in the UK this week and GT Magazine (the UK’s largest glossy GLBT Magazine) had some lovely stuff to say about me (and the video) today!

To redirect to their site to watch the video, click the current issue cover below or scroll just below that for the complete transcript…

From GT Magazine (3/21/2011):

“Logan Lynn’s music rides a bright green fixie bike through the same non-prescription specs and skinny jeans hipster soundscape as the likes of Death Cab For Cutie and Owl City; Except he’s not as whinily self-deprecating as Death Cab, and not as much of a twat as that guy from Owl City. Relaxed synths and deliciously soothing vocals bring to mind perhaps a laid back bar in Amsterdam that’s too cool to have a name but has an artsy clientele who wear their hair in dreadlocks and pretend they’re too poor for the designer clothes on their backs.

And with MTV and Logo already interested it’s set to be a big ‘un, so braid you hair, take a cycle ride to your nearest too-cool-for-school bar, sit back with your organic cocktail, and enjoy.”