INTERVIEW: Singer Aiden James Gives Accidental Bear the Scoop on New Album and Life

Singer, song writer Aiden James is no small town honky-tonk.  Aiden craved more than his upbringing had offered him and he took off for Philadelphia where he embraced urban life, got himself a big serving of the local music scene and found himself an audience to play for, which quickly turned into a large crowd.  Folk music and singer song writers inspired Aiden and gave him the platform to go after his musical dreams. Aiden has added a healthy dose of electronic music to his personal listening roster and says it has most definitely rubbed off onto his current projects. He leaked to me that his new album will be a pop record.

“Currently working on his 3rd studio album due out fall 2011, this self-taught musician was pulled from obscurity when his first music video “On the Run” had its television broadcast debut on Logo’s NewNowNext PopLab in Febuary 2010. A buzz quickly followed on all the big blogs like AfterElton, Joe My God and so on.. saying “Aiden James has stolen our hearts with his video for “On the Run” -AE. You can watch that on MTVmusic.com, VH1.com or his Youtube page.

Aiden added, ” I’ve written, arranged, engineered and performed everything on this new record which is a HUGE undertaking. I am psyched and blown away that I was actually capable of accomplishing.”  We see a musicians life on stage, let me do some digging for you and find out about the man behind the music.

Interview with Aiden James:

by Mike Enders

Accidental Bear: I was doing a little Aiden stalking online last night and see that you have folky roots but then starting listening to more electronic music. How would you describe the music on the new album you are working on?

Aiden James: It’s going to be a pop record. More an electronic singer songwriter kinda thing. Big hooks, catchy..cool sounds, beeps, beats, and some hot vocal stacking harmonies. Not often found in electronic music. You will still find my acoustic guitar in there ’cause after all, that’s my thing (smiles), it will still have the substance that you expect from a singer songwriter but with a very modern feel.  “po-ro-tronic” pop rock electronic (laughs)

A B: Do you come from a musical family?

Aiden: No. Most times my family would tell me to turn down my lil keyboard. So I’d go outside and play it on the rock behind my house. 

A B: As teenager, who might have you had a poster of on your wall and danced frantically to you your room?

Aiden: Well, I didn’t have any posters on my wall, but I remember doing all the Backstreet Boys choreography to like “larger than life” does that count? 

A B: Oh, busted. That totally counts. Which one of these terms described your high school years: Musical or a mosh pit?

PSA Video: Evolution of the Hipster

Holy cow, this is morning brilliance. The best thing I’ve seen since yesterday.

“A hipster, a terrifying genetic hybrid.”

(Thanks Daily what)

President Obama: Don’t Force Lt. Dan Choi and Other Gay Soldiers to Pay for their DADT Discharges

Please sign this petition at change.org. Why is common sense so hard for some people?

OVERVIEW

Lt. Dan Choi served his country with honor in Iraq as an American infantry officer in the U.S. Army. But in June 2010, Lt. Choi was officially discharged from the Army, after coming out as gay on an episode of the Rachel Maddow Show. Now, months after being discharged for violating the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, the Department of Defense wants to charge Lt. Choi more than $2,500, to make up the cost of “the unearned portion” of his enlistment bonus.

Accidental Bear’s “It Gets Better… Mmmm Cupcakes” Video

Accidental Bear’s owner Mike Enders joins the It Gets Better troops and talks about the many different types of gays you can be. He expresses the celebration of Bears love for men who are fuzzy, husky and tattooed and their appreciation for CUPCAKES!!!

I’m Walking as Straight as I Can – A Memoir By: Geri Jewell

Born with cerebral palsy, Geri Jewell inspired a generation of young people when she became the first person with a disability to appear in a recurring role on prime-time television, with her groundbreaking character, Cousin Geri, on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life.

The book’s title — I’m Walking As Straight As I Can — has a double meaning, referring to both Jewell’s sexuality and her extraordinary struggle growing up with cerebral palsy. This candid memoir details her experiences from her traumatic birth in Buffalo, New York, to her rise to stardom as a stand-up comic to becoming a television star. She documents the harsh realities of show business by recounting the relentless discrimination and abuse she suffered at the hands of people she trusted. Her experiences in the shark-infested waters of Hollywood led her on a journey from the Comedy Store to the White House, followed by a downward spiral, tax problems, drug addiction, marriage, and an accident that nearly claimed her life.

When Deadwood creator David Milch recognized Jewell at a pharmacy, he offered her a role in his new HBO series on the spot, and she began to find hope and happiness once again. I’m Walking As Straight As I Can is an inspiring story, told with grace and self-deprecating humor, one that gives readers a rare glimpse of true courage and perseverance.

http://www.gerijewell.com

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Bank of America Grants S.F. Gay Orgs $130K

BOA putting their money where it counts. If you were a school girl, I’d carry your books home for you. BOA, I’m sweet on you. AB

Local entertainer Donna Sachet (left) and Bank of America’s
senior vice president Patrick D. Strieck (second from left)
award $130,000 to nine local LGBT nonprofit organizations.

Bank of America, the sponsor of San Francisco’s Pride celebration for the eighth year, earlier this week presented nine Bay Area LGBT organizations with a check for $130,000.

The gift from Bank of America will benefit the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center, Our Family Coalition, the National AIDS Memorial Grove, San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center, Horizons Foundation, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Project Open Hand, San Francisco Pride Celebration, and San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

San Francisco Pride takes place this weekend with the theme of “In Pride We Trust.”

via Advocate

Gay Bachelor Blog asks: What was your worst date ever like?

A fun site to keep your eyes out for if you are single and wanting to mingle.

What is this site all about?
Good question. This is just a simple site where guys can tell the world a little bit about themselves. Show some pics, and maybe meet someone along the way. Who knows? There are a lot of hunk-sites out there, but GayBachelorBlog.com allows you to connect with them! All these guys are real, single, and willing to meet new people!

So, all these guys are real?
Without getting existentialist, yes.

 

http://www.gaybachelorblog.com/

Why we published “Dawn of a new gay” BY: THE GRID

We Homosexuals and friends of homosexuals are all ears.

BY: THE GRID
About two months ago, Paul Aguirre-Livingston, a 24-year-old writer and blogger, approached The Grid with an idea for a personal essay about what it’s like to be part of the first group of gay men to come of age in Toronto in the era of legalized gay marriage. He had coined a term—the Post-Mo—to describe himself and the extended group of men he socializes with in downtown Toronto.

15 Minutes of Anti-gay Hypocrisy by Men with Bad Toupees| Video

The Family Research Council A Hate Group?
This is a montage of video clips of Tony Perkins & Peter Sprigg spewing outrageous claims and false information about the gay community. Hate comes nicely packaged in old, privileged, white guys.

Night Volunteer Patrols a Welcome Sight for LGBT Couples in Portland, OR

All for one and one for all.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Many feel the timing is right for volunteer patrols to help protect people from hate crimes.

The patrols have started up after the attack of a gay couple just over a week ago.

Brad Forkner, 23, and Christopher Rosevear, 25, were attacked by three of five men who followed them over the Hawthorne Bridge eight days ago. The reason for the assault seems to be that the pair were holding hands. Now it seems holding hands — if you are gay or lesbian — is not always accepted on city streets.

Angela Biggs and her girlfriend were holding hands Sunday in Portland. They’re concerned that violence could reach them for just being who they are. They welcome patrols to prevent that kind of trouble.

“I don’t want to walk around Portland and not hold her hand, OK?” Angela said. “This is Portland and I’m allowed to do that. Let’s keep it up, can we please because then I feel a lot more comfortable walking around with my girlfriend. Although, I gotta say I’m not a guy, so we don’t get that sterotype, that stigma that a lot of the guys get.” READ MORE @ southeastportland.katu.com

Matt Alber Will Perform to Benefit Larkin Street Youth Services; SF CA 6/3 (INTERVIEW)

Story and Interview by Mike Enders

Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Matt Alber will be performing on June 3rd at the Hotel Utah in San Francisco with proceeds benefiting Larkin Street. “Seattle-based singer/songwriter Matt Alber has been writing about that same sliver of hope since he quit his day job and started making records at home. Alber’s first full-length album, Hide Nothing, does just that. He sings openly about a boyhood crush on a Field-trip Buddy. In Beotia, he sings both parts of a duet (one in coloratura soprano) between male lovers in an ancient army. He even plays a 1960’s crooner in the music video for End Of The World finding love in a barbershop with a gentleman getting his shoes shined. Sonically he culls everything from chopped-up beats to children’s choirs– and did I hear a real bassoon? But Alber’s songs, while keeping the pronouns honest, seep deeply into the heart of any listener who’s ever wondered if things were going to work out.”

Out Athlete & Coach Help Campus Diversity

I am an Athletic Supporter, Spread the Word

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By Michelle Garcia @ advocate.com

Bowdoin College tennis coach Colin Joyner

A group at Bowdoin College in Maine is making headway in helping student athletes feel like part of a community when they decide it’s time to come out.

Men’s tennis coach Colin Joyner said that when he was a student at Bowdoin (he graduated in 2003), he felt somewhat isolated after he gradually came out. He left to play semipro tennis, but when he returned to campus as a coach, he went back into the closet, which also proved to be difficult, so he came out to his team in 2009.

READ MORE

Gays, They’re Everywhere and Growing; 9 Million to Date

9 million Americans estimated to be gay or bisexual, but solid figures elusive

via Washington Post

In an attempt to encourage more research into the health and well-being of gay people, a California demographer has estimated that more than 9 million Americans are gay, lesbian or bisexual, a number equivalent to the population of New Jersey.

Gary Gates, who studies the demographics of the gay community for the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, said in a report released Thursday that about 3.5 percent of Americans identify themselves in surveys as being gay, lesbian or bisexual.

But those who said they have had same-sex encounters are almost evenly divided between gay people and bisexuals, leaving just 1.7 percent who say they are gay or lesbian. The percentage more than doubles, however, if it includes people who say they have engaged in same-sex sexual behavior at some point.

READ MORE

Key findings from the research brief are as follows:

• An estimated 3.5% of adults in the United States identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual and an estimated 0.3% of adults are transgender.
• This implies that there are approximately 9 million LGBT Americans, a figure roughly equivalent to the population of New Jersey.
• Among adults who identify as LGB, bisexuals comprise a slight majority (1.8% compared to 1.7% who identify as lesbian or gay).
• Women are substantially more likely than men to identify as bisexual. Bisexuals comprise more than half of the lesbian and bisexual population among women in eight of the nine surveys considered in the brief. Conversely, gay men comprise substantially more than half of gay and bisexual men in seven of the nine surveys.
• Estimates of those who report any lifetime same-sex sexual behavior and any same-sex sexual attraction are substantially higher than estimates of those who identify as LGB. An estimated 19 million Americans (8.2%) report that they have engaged in same-sex sexual behavior and nearly 25.6 million Americans (11%) acknowledge at least some same-sex sexual attraction.
• Understanding the size of the LGBT population is a critical first step to informing a host of public policy and research topics. The surveys highlighted in this report demonstrate the viability of sexual orientation and gender identity questions on large national population-based surveys. Adding these questions to more national, state, and local data sources is critical to developing research that enables a better understanding of the understudied LGBT community.

 

Finally; Red Meat – A Monthly Party for Gay Redheads and the Men Who Love Them/ SF CA

A monthly club night for gay redheads and the men who love them… The 2nd Saturday of each month beginning May 14th, 2011
Address : 1151 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 · Get Directions
Phone: 415-431-1151
Website: http://www.facebook.com/redmeatsf
Hours: Sat 9pm – 3am

Related Articles

• Redheads Anonymous (ourpoetrycorner.wordpress.com)
• Why redheads feel more pain (imryanhouston.wordpress.com)
• Top 5 with Lisa Foiles: Top 5 Cutest Redheads (escapistmagazine.com)

San Francisco Movie Bears; Fur Gatherings

Unless you are opposed to mingling with chaming, bearded men (potential ex-bf’s), enjoying smashing films, going out on a school night (not booze focussed, a plus), eating movie theater food for  dinner and a gay old time,

San Francisco MovieBears is for you.

Coordinators:

Dave and Drew

Up coming fur ball gatherings:

All movies are Wednesday, unless otherwise indicated
Click the movie poster for the trailer!
Schedule subject to change!

	Join SF MovieBears….
	Monday, April 4th AMC Metreon 7:20pm Pick up tickets 6:15 – 7:00pm RSVP	Wednesday, April 6th AMC Metreon 7:50pm Pick up tickets- 6:45 7:30pm RSVP

http://www.sfmoviebears.com/