"THE FREAK SHOW -- YEAR THREE" IS ON IT'S WAY
A compilation of all the bands who performed at "The Freak Show" from Aug, 2002 through Aug 2003 is being put together right now! In the past we have produced large runs of the CD so everyone who wanted to buy one could do so. This year we can only do a small run -- so if you want one, don't wait around. E-mail us now and let us know you would like to pre-order a copy. We will arange a payment method and hold a copy for you. The CD will cost as a pre-order and you will get into the final Freak Show party for half price.

Some of the bands featured on the CD will be Pansy Division, IAMLOVED, Shugawhipped, Insecto, The Skin Jobs and more. The first two years are still available through Spitshine Records.

e-mail us at:

freakshowinfo@yahoo.com

This compilation of performances from the first year at the monthly club event "Freak Show" has plenty to recommend it, functioning as a solid overview of the newly blossoming queer rock scene in Los Angeles. After local heroes Extra Fancy were dropped by Atlantic Records, the atmosphere has been grim for local out artists, and in the wake of that disappointment few have dared to make new challenges to the prevailing hetero stance and court career suicide. But these days there are plenty of queer artists ready to deliver the goods to a small but fervent audience willing to support the dirty fun of shaved heads, beers and boots. Standouts on this release include the nasty and über-sexy Nick Name and the Normals' track "I Fucked Your Boyfriend" and local faves Best Revenge, who offer "Rockabilly Boy" and "Cock Ring for Christmas," two examples of just why folks feel they might be the next generation's answer to Pansy Division. There's plenty more homo punk action on hand with tracks from Syc Boys, "Porn Rock Star" Joe Romero, 3Way, Youth Gone Wild and the White Trash Debutantes, and relative newcomers I@MLov3d ("I Am Loved"), whose "Slacker Century" certainly makes them the dirty new kids on the block. It's not all thrash here, either, as some of the other standouts include the '30s, cabaret-meets-rock of Butcher Holler's "Lush Vegas," the dark electro-pop of Exhibition's "Stranger," which features the glorious voice of Sean Niles and some throbbing synth programming, and Dean Littner coming on like a queer boy Siouxsie Sioux on "Vampire Vs. Butterfly," the ideas of which are great but beg for higher production values. The fun little vignettes from club impresarios Eddie Hibbs and Steve Lozier in-between tracks nicely recreate the "carnival of sin" atmosphere that happens the first Friday of every month, when "Freak Show" takes over the Gauntlet II in Silverlake. --Barnes