WSGKSG: Erin McCarley Reading Playboy

In the realm of Ways the Straight Girl Knows She's Gay (WSGKSG), it doesn't get much clearer than reading Playboy. (Maybe watching lesbian porn?)

Thank you for making my day Erin McCarley! I wish I could have made it to the Madison show, I heard it was amazing.

Confession: I have a crush on Meghan McCain

This has been escalating for awhile now. It started when I read her plucky response to other less enlightened right wing female pundits when they criticized her (gorgeous) curves. Then I started seeing gays and lesbians I follow on Twitter re-tweeting her tweets supporting same-sex marriage and defending equal rights for all. Curious, I decided to follow her too and that just fueled the fire. I'm a sucker for a girly girl and fellow blonde who is both political and fashionable, compassionate and (a bit) silly. If she comes out as pro-choice - actually, just make that if she comes out in general - I'll ask her to marry me. (Too much? lol) Swoon.

Her photo shoot for the No H8 campaign sealed the deal though. She looks absolutely beautiful in this picture and it couldn't be for a better cause. And BTW, if anyone knows what nail polish she is wearing do tell cause I want it! If this is the future of the Republican party in the next decade (and god, I hope it is), it bodes extremely well for the gay rights movement. And for bringing young people to the party. And for ending the culture wars. And...okay, you get the point, it's a good thing.

So there it is, I have a full on crush on the lovely and talented Meghan McCain. My family would disown me if they knew (cause she's a Republican, not cause it's a girl crush - we're that kind of family) so I share my deep dark secret with you, blogosphere.

Uber Mega Riot Grrrl

So call me Captain Negligent for my lack of posting. It's been kind of a weird transitional month for me. I have to tell you about the amazingness that was Summerfest in Milwaukee on Monday night.

I'm honestly not a big concert goer because other people (teeny boppers, drunks, obnoxious people in general) tend to ruin them for me. But a particular line up for Monday got my butt from Madison to Milwaukee for a great night of music.

Erin McCarley

A Texas native, Erin McCarley got experience playing in San Diego. She has distinctly country undertones (she covered a Patty Griffin song) but mostly a pop singer/songwriter feel. Her first album Love Save the Empty debut in January with a lot of support (I heard about her through plugs on iTunes and at Starbucks) and a spot on the soundtrack for He's Just Not That into You. Her voice was just as bright and lovely live as on her album, but she could use a little practice working the crowd. A great moment was her and the pianist's beat box cover of Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" which she asked the crowd to sing along to if they knew it (none of the teeny boppers did).

Girl in a Coma

These are contemporary riot grrrls if I've ever heard them. The trio hail from San Antonio, Texas (are you noticing a theme?) and were recruited to the Blackheart Record label by Joan Jett herself. The group is queer friendly, having opened for Tegan and Sara and featured on Afterellen.com. Being totally legit and having played for 8 years, they definitely didn't get the show they deserved. The crowd sucked (mostly drunk men waiting for the Guffs later on, with a handful of punk lesbians and latino folks) and it started raining almost as soon as they started playing. But the girls were rockstars, and lead singer Nina's expressions during the show were priceless (and combined with a wifebeater and red lipstick, completely sexy).

Sick of Sarah

This all female quintet from Minnesota was the real treat of the night. I'm a sucker for a saccharine sweet voice backed by an emo sound a la Veruca Salt, Letters to Cleo, Metric, and Rocking Horse Winner. Very late 90s in the best way possible. With such a sweet voice I wouldn't have expected the group to be as badass as they were - especially lead singer Abisha Uhl - cussing, spitting beer and messing with the security guards. Bonus. Again, the crowd was less than stellar, mostly teeny boppers staking out a spot to see Spoon who would be following. The queer girls in the crowd stood out like beacons, mouthing the words with their eyes fixed on the hotness that is SOS (particularly the slender blonde Jamie on bass :-). This band was definitely the queerest of the night, getting heavy exposure on Afterellen.com and playing on an Olivia cruise. I can't wait to see them again in August with Addy Janes!

More rocking chicks playing @ Summerfest:

Grace and Julian - cool jazzy vocals

Geri X - indie folk rock

Sarah VonderHaar - pop acustic

Melismatics - indie punk

Shiny Toy Guns - electronica

honeyhoney - pop folk rock

Lita Ford - lead singer for the Runaways (a riot grrrl legend!)

The Veronicas - pop rock