Elyse Haren 

Performing as one of the headliners at this Fall’s Donna Jam on Saturday night at Jovita’s, we wanted to get to know Elyse a little better and help introduce her to the rest of our lovely community of women who will be in attendance Saturday night!

LGA: Tell us a little bit about yourself, where are you from, and how you got into the music industry.

Elyse:  ”A little about me…  I’m a night owl, but not an all-nighter. I love bike riding, the rain, a great real-life TV mystery, good food and better company.  I’ve always been a little fish in a big pond. I’m originally from New York City, but moved to Los Angeles when I was little because of life-threatening asthma attacks. Both my parents sing. My Dad attended the High School of the Performing Arts (The Fame School), so music runs deep through out my lineage. I danced and sang in musicals growing up, wrote poetry, and then after high school, I started writing my own songs.”

LGA: Who are you biggest influences?  Is there any particular event or stage in your life or place you lived that really inspired you to get into music?

Elyse:  ”Musically: Alanis Morissette, the Pretenders, Fleetwood Mac, Heart, U2, The Killers

              Personally: Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, and Lucille Ball”

LGA: For those who haven’t heard your music before, how would you describe your style?  What other artists past or present would you compare yourself to?

Elyse:  ”Intense pop rock with the intimacy of a singer/songwriter. I’ve been compared to the best of the non-drippy girls of the 80’s and more modernly to Florence + the Machine.” 

LGA: What is your favorite year in terms of music?  Meaning throughout the decades, which year in particular do you think produced the best music to date?

Elyse:  ”I’m going with 1977, which had “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Queen),  “Dreams” & “Go Your Own Way” (Fleetwood Mac), “Hotel California” (Eagles), “Breakdown” (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), “Barracuda” (Heart) , “Maybe I’m Amazed” (Paul McCartney and Wings) and Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are”.”

LGA: What is the craziest show you have ever played?

Elyse: “Craziest show will definitely be one of the shows on the current tour with Dave Schulz. Stay tuned, but Greg Pajer (guitar) and I once played a MySpace Records show where we had to sit in tandem. It was like playing on a school bus!”

LGA: Besides music, what else are you passionate about?  What are your other hobbies? 

Elyse:  ” I’m passionate about the environment, equal rights, suicide prevention, and helping the homeless.  I volunteer at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, but after I saw a man strip-searched on the side of the freeway in LA, it occurred to me how everyone donates clothing, but no one donates undergarments. So, in the next year I plan to start a non-profit organization, which will provide clean underwear, boxers, bras, tanks, and socks to the homeless.”

LGA: Describe a typical week in the life of Elyse Haren.

Elyse:  ”Typically my day starts with walking my Border Collie mut , Melrose, and a soy latte, and of course can’t forget to feed my hefty Orange Tabby cat, Harrison.  Then I’ll move onto email and band biz stuff, most likely picking up the guitar for a break, somewhere along the way.  I spend my days either recording in the studio, rehearsing with the band, writing new songs, or working as the band’s manager.  I am always inspired to write on walks, so after Melly’s late night walk, I’ll usually come back inside and write at least a verse or chorus on the guitar or piano.”

LGA: Have you found that lesbians compromise a large part of your fan base?  If so, why do you think that is? If not, why do you think that is?

Elyse: “I have found that lesbians compromise a decent part of my fan base and I hope it’s because I represent a real woman, who isn’t a size zero, who writes her own songs and plays an instrument.”

LGA: What is your impression of Austin, Texas?

Elyse:  ”Austin feels like home to us. It’s the first place we ever toured outside California and it’s truly the best city for live music. The people of Austin are so unbelievably supportive of the independent music community and it gives me hope for independent artists everywhere.”

LGA: If you could spend a day with any musician past or present, who would it be and why?

Elyse: “I’d love to spend the day Freddie Mercury because he was an original. His songs, his voice, and you just know he knew exactly how to host a party.”

 LGA:  We all know that even straight girls have girl crushes.  Who is yours?!

 Elyse:  ”Rihanna.”

On Saturday, September 4th at the usual hot spot – Jovita’s on South First St., Donna Jam will be showcasing an entirely new line up of both local AND world-wide talent!  We get to tune into some of Austin’s own talented artists, as well as some acts touring across the globe…it’s the best of both worlds!

We know you want the scoop on who is performing, so here it is:  

Savanna Kate Russell
Hannah Hagar
Elyse Haren
Dave Schulz

Savanna Kate Russel and Hannah Hagar are both home-town, ATX, talents, as well as “family!”  So, you know definitely do not want to miss out on their acts early on in the night!  Elyse Haren is an amazing touring artist from LA, while Dave Schulz — formerly of the GOO GOO DOLLS –  will be performing last as our “honorary Donna” of the night!  

We have to tell ya, we are absolutely pumped for this show.  It’s going to be new and different and just as fun (if not MORE) than previous Donna Jams!  So come one, come all!  Lots of great Mexican food, beer, and margaritas as usual!!

Tickets are $8 in advance (email info@lezgoaustin.com to get your name of the pre-sale list), and $10 at the door – same as always!  Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts SOON after that, so don’t be late!

And in case you forgot the date already, it’s SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH – so put it in your Google Calendars!!

This is an ALL WOMEN’S flag football league, so no having to worry about those ball hoggin’ boys and silly co-ed rules – it’s just all girls, all fun, all the time!

Here’s the scoop:  Games are every Monday night, anywhere from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, at the fields on Robert E. Lee off Barton Springs Rd. (right across the street from Zilker Park).  There are usually 4 – 5 teams in the league and the season lasts for 10 weeks (or 8 games)!

The games are fun and light-hearted, but there is definitely still some great competition out there!  So, ladies gather your friends – more importantly, step up and be a CAPTAIN and get a team together.  It’s easy, just find 8 people or more, get them to hand over about $40 a piece and register online right here: http://www.capitalcityflagfootball.com/

No practicing necessary, just show up on Monday nights with your coolers and folding chairs and get ready for a great time.  If you don’t necessarily have a group of friends in mind to play with, just use LezGoAustin’s Facebook page to put yourself out there as a free agent and have some team pick you up!  There should be plenty of room for everyone to play!

Again, registration starts today, August 2nd and goes ONLY until August 6th – so you have to HURRY!  Go to http://www.capitalcityflagfootball.com/ print fill out the registration form and get your team IN!

This year’s 2^nd Annual East 6^th Pub Crawl is next Saturday, July 17^th, and is expected to be bigger and better. Last year over 250 people attended this outrageous lesbian-dominant crawl, but we’ve got more venues to hit up, and more shenanigans to partake in, including:

Iron Gate Lounge
Cheer Up Charlie’s
The Good Knight
The Brixton
Shangri-La
The Liberty
La Perla
ATX
Club Primo’s
Plus more TBA…

This event will help send Softball Austin’s Women’s Division team, Blind Sided, to their quest of victory at the ASANA World Series in Las Vegas. What’s even cooler is that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Texas Mamma Jamma Breast Cancer Bike Ride in September (www.mammajammaride.org).

Pub Crawl Registration starts at 7p.m. at Cheer Up Charlie’s. Last crawl group leaves at 8 p.m. SHARP Don’t be late!

But today is the last day for early discounted $10 registration online—Just go to PAYPAL and send you $$ to blindsidedsoftball@gmail.com. $10 reserves your Pub Crawl t-shirt (be sure and note shirt size!!) and includes entrance to the end of the crawl DJ/Dance party at Club Primo’s at approximately 10:30 p.m. or 11 p.m. Day of event price – $15 (t-shirt not guaranteed) so register early.

Sponsors include your beloved LezGoAustin, and also these great folks:

DebbieKnowsAustin.com
Kitty w/ FoodiesAustin.com
Goldstar* Promotions ATX
BoothBooth.com
TabbedOut.com

Any questions can be directed to blindsidedsoftball@gmail.com. Check out the event on Facebook.

Yes the reference to Lady Gaga couldn’t be more perfect, since this party is truly going to be different. Girl-on-girl… boy-on-boy… girl-on-boy… all are welcome. It’s not a lesbian takeover, per se, but an infusion. No one’s checked at the door. It’s a whole new vibe.

Get a view of the city at LANAI on 5^th Congress while you shake it for the crowd. It’s a pretty cool venue if you haven’t been before. Live DJs will be spinning it for you—Luis Ramirez, Filthy Rich and Silver will be in rotation.

And of course, the always magnetic bartender Jessica Wimpy will be hooking us up at DISCOSTICK with $3 wells and frozen drinks (ooh la la!) and $2.50 beers. The ladies love their Wimpy, yes they do!

And if you miss it this Sunday, I’ve got news for ya—it’s happening EVERY SUNDAY! Goldstar Promotions is giving us something to look forward to every week from 9pm – 2am. And there’s no cover, either!

Looks to me like this rooftop scene is the new “edge.”      See you Sunday!

LezGoAustin is working our ass off to pull off one of the biggest events of the summer for a personal friend who is launching a bad-ass fashion line called Bruonis [brew - on - is] out of San Francisco!

More details will come soon about the fashion show, however, now that the show is a little over a month away, we are putting out the bat signal to all of you ladies for some dance crews to compete in our dance off!

The dance off will begin shortly after the runway show, and we are seeking THREE more teams to sign up to compete!  OK, OK, when we say “compete” we really mean just get out there and shake your asses and have fun.  The winner will most likely be decided by audience applause.  But if anyone kn0ws a way to get Ellen to come and judge, we’d be OK with that too.

Besides the chance to boast, and also be on TV (yes we will have a film crew at the event), the winning team will definitely get a cool-ass prize!

Here’s how to enter:  Send us an email at info@lezgoaustin.com and let us know your interested. Dance history is a plus, but it’s not a requirement.  If you’d like to include a video, a story, or a dream that you have of being a famous dancer/choreographer – go for it!  The dance crews have to be t least 2 people and can be as many as 5 (the stage is only so big!), and can be comprised of both males and females – we don’t discriminate!  Teams will be picked by June 16th, so you’ll have exactly a month to prepare.

If you have any other questions, just shoot us an email.  We look forward to meeting and working with our 3 teams!

Festivities start next week: Thursday June 3rd through Sunday June 6th. You like music? You got it. 5k Running and Yoga? Sure thing. Movie Screenings? You betcha! Celebrities and block parties? Yup. And of course a big gay parade.

Here are some highlights for the big day on Saturday…

PRIDE 5k
Register online for this Saturday run at 9am that starts at the Long Center.  Betcha can’t spot your favorite Front Runner while you’re at it!
http://www.austinpriderun.org/

PRIDE Expo & Festival
From 10am to 6pm, check out games, entertainment, music (and even a Pet Parade) at the Long Center. Open to kids and adults alike!
http://sites.google.com/a/aglcc.org/austin-pride-2010/festival-information

PRIDE Theatre
Check out “Connect” a series of four short plays at the Rollins Theatre starting at Noon. Yes, there will be nudity. Yes, you should check it out. Your general  admission Pride Pass will get you in the door.
http://abbyproductions.com/

PRIDE Parade
Saturday night at 8:30pm, join the crowd downtown from South 1st up to 4th, between Congress and Guadalupe. And don’t forget to bring plenty of spirit!
http://sites.google.com/a/aglcc.org/austin-pride-2010/parade-information

PRIDE 4th Street Block Party
After the parade, get ready to party. You need to get your general admission Pride Pass to enter, but once you’re in, you’re IN! Entertainment includes, Blake Lewis, Frenchie Davis and Jayden Grey.
http://sites.google.com/a/aglcc.org/austin-pride-2010/Block-Party

To see the entire weekend list of events or to purchase your $10 General Admission tickets, visit www.AustinPride2010.org!

(and don’t forget to be an AUSTIN PRIDE 2010 fan on Facebook!)

That’s right – Donna Jam is back again!  If you’ve already got plans for the weekend…no worries!  Donna Jam is on a Thursday night this time around, and it will be a great fluffer into what’s sure to be a crazy, Rainbow- flagged-filled weekend in the ATX.

Come on down to Jovita’s, our friendly little Mexican food restaurant down on South First street at on June 3rd at 6 pm and grab a table…Donna Jam is presenting all a whole new line-up from the last showcase!

Opening up will be Boys On the Inside, fronted by Ryan Kelsey who brings some soulful lyrics to the stage.  Some would say her style is very Melissa Etheridge-esk.  Robin Smith who has already proven very popular among the lesbian community graces the stage next, and the night ends with a band new to the Austin lesbian scene – The Blue Hit with lead vocals by Grace Rowland.

To get pre-sale tickets for only $5, email info@justbmused.com, otherwise just show up and pay $8 at the door!

Here are the details one more time:
WHEN – Thursday, June 3rd – Doors open at 6pm
WHERE – Jovita’s Restaurant on South First

We’ll be there with our Pacifico’s in hand – hope to see you ladies at the show!

This is a weekly blog listing fun and interesting things to do during the week in Austin.  Please, as always, feel free to comment and leave your ideas and suggestions! ***Denotes places that usually draw a lesbian crowd!

MONDAY, May 17th:

Trivia:
***Trivia at Shangri-la – Austin Gay and Lesbian Couples Meetup***
WHEN – 7pm
WHERE – Shangri-la

TUESDAY, May 18th:

Networking:
***Austin Gay Professionals Happy Hour***
WHEN – 5:45 pm
WHERE – Sago Modern Mexican

Socializing:
***Newbie Tuesday’s Dykes n Doggies***
This Foodies event welcomes the ladies and their pooches to mix and mingle – meet other dog lovers like yourself!
WHEN – 6pm
WHERE –  House Wine

Comedy:
***Sour Grapes Comedy Show featuring Holly Lorka***
WHEN – 8pm
WHERE – Cap City

Movies:
Girlie Night – Pretty Woman
WHEN – 7pm
WHERE – Alamo Drafthouse Ritz

Music:
*** Gay Karaoke***
WHEN – 9pm
WHERE –  ‘Bout Time, 9601 North I-35

Sports & Rec:
***Capital City Front Runners’ Run***
Run, jog, walk, or skip!  This Tuesday the crew will be having a 2010 goals meeting before the run.  Dinner and networking always follows after…this time it’s at the Screaming Goat (7 pm)!
WHEN – 6 pm
WHERE – Underneath Mopac bridge on Lady Bird Lake Trail, by the water coolers

WEDNESDAY, May 19th:

Music:
***Grrlz will be Boiz***
WHEN – 8pm
WHERE – Lucky Lounge

***The Spazmatics***
The Ultimate New Wave 80’s show!
WHEN – 9:30 pm
WHERE – Cedar Street Courtyard

Books:
***Reading and signing of Amie Klempnauer Miller: She Looks Just Like You***
Part love story, part comedy, part quest, Miller’s candid and often humorous memoir is a much-needed cultural roadmap to what it means to become a parent, even when the usual categories do not fit.
WHEN – 7pm
WHERE – BookWoman

Socializing:
***Hang Out Coffee Time***
Hang Out is one of the University of Texas’ LBGT social groups.  They meet to have coffee and hang out every Wednesday night at 10 pm onward.
WHEN – 10 pm
WHERE –  Cafe Medici on Guadalupe

Sports & Rec:
***Austin LGBT Basketball Pick Up****
Been itching to get back on the court and shoot some hoops – come for some good, friendly, and free competition!
WHEN – 6:45 – 9 pm
WHERE – Oswaldo A. B. Cantu Pan American Recreation Center, 2100 East 3rd Street

***Austin Valkyries Recruiting & Training***
This all-women’s rugby team is invites new ladies with an interest to come to practice every Monday and Wednesday. Contact recruiting@austinvalkyries.com for details.
WHEN – 7 pm
WHERE – Burnet Middle School in North Austin

THURSDAY, May 20th:

Networking:
***Austin Gay Professionals Happy Hour***
WHEN: 6 pm
WHERE: Malaga Tapas & Bar on 2nd street

Music:
***L.A.X. CD Release Party***
Super fun, local Austin band! $8 at the door
WHEN – 9pm
WHERE – The Parish

No Shame – The Soft Rock Sing-Along
WHEN – 10:00 pm
WHERE – Alamo Drafthouse Ritz

Sports & Rec:
***Capital City Front Runners’ Run***
Every Tues/Thurs at 6 pm – Jog the Lady Bird Lake trail with the CCFR crew!  Dinner and networking always follows after…this time it’s Galaxy Cafe on West Lynn (7 pm)!
WHEN – 6 pm
WHERE – Underneath Mopac bridge on Lady Bird Lake Trail, by the water coolers.

FRIDAY, May 21st:

Nightlife:
***Kings N Things 8th Birthday Bash***
$8 at the door
WHEN – 9 pm
WHERE – Elysium

Movies:
Master Pancake – Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves
WHEN – 7 pm & 10 pm
WHERE – Alamo Drafthouse Ritz

SATURDAY, May 22nd:

Homo Revolution:
***Harvey Milk Day – March and Rally at the State Capital***
March from City Hall to the Capital! To honor the legacy of struggle of Harvey Milk, the Equality Across America network has called for actions across the country on May 22, Harvey Milk Day. In that spirit, the Saturday of the Texas Conference will culminate with a march and rally in downtown Austin.
WHEN: 6:30 pm
WHERE: City  Hall and The Capital

Socializing:
***Our Body – The Universe Within Exhibit – Lesbian Coffee House Meetup***
WHEN – 10:00 am
WHERE – www.meetup.com/austinlesbiancoffeehouse

Sports & Rec:
***Austin Outlaws Women’s Football vs. New Orleans Blaze***
WHEN – 7pm
WHERE – Westlake High School Football Stadium

***Capital City Front Runner’s Run***
WHEN – 10 am
WHERE –  Underneath Mopac bridge on Lady Bird Lake Trail, by the water coolers.

Movies:
Master Pancake – Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves
WHEN – 7pm & 10pm
WHERE – Alamo Drafthouse Ritz

SUNDAY, May 23rd:

Fundraising:
***Charity Bikini Car Wash***
This here spectacular car wash is benefiting Team for Kids – a program designed by adult runners who raise money for running programs for children in underprivileged areas of the United States – A New York Marathon sponsor. Also benefiting The Austin Pride Foundation – raising the bar for celebrating diversity in our community. All proceeds will be divided equally between both charities. Your donation will also get you a proper white trash meal. It is BYOB though
WHEN – 11 am – 3 pm
WHERE – 2003 Glen Allen

Socializing:
***Foodies’ 2nd Annual BACKYARD EXTRAVAGANZA!***
Play tennis or volleyball.  Bring snacks and drinks to share with fellow lezzies.  Don’t forget to bring your own coolers with ice.
WHEN – 1 pm – 5 pm
WHERE –  Amy & Deb’s: 11506 Boulder Lane

***May’s Not Yo’ Momma’s Book Club Meetup***
The Lesbian Book Club will be meeting up to discuss Bow Grip by Ivan Coyote.
WHEN – 11 am
WHERE – Russel’s Bakery and Coffee Bar

Spirituality:
***Metropolitan Community Church***
A Christian church proudly serving the LGBT community in Austin for over 30 years. Take part in any of the 3 services on Sunday. www.mccaustin.com
WHEN: 9am; 11am; or 2pm
WHERE: MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks, 8601 South 1st St.

Plans for Sunday, May 16th?? Feel like dancin’, cruisin’, and sippin’ on some free drinks…on the lake?!  Well, jump on this 2 story historic boat because it’s settin sail at 6pm!  Lace up your dancing sneakers because this dance cruise will talk you on a 3 hour excursion down Lake Austin to the 360 bridge for a Sunday sunset showdown between some of the best DJ’s Austin has to offer – Orion, Klassen, and the TMC!

Why are we promoting this event to the lesbian community, you may ask?  Well, the dance cruise is being put on by LegitArt, a part lesbian owned and operated company.  There are bound to be some single ladies lookin’ for ladies on the cruise!

Need more convincing?  Check out what all this party has to offer:

The night heats up with a swimsuit contest sponsored by Cream Vintage.
Cool off with complimentary vodka Red Bull all night and Five kegs of
Pyramid Beer. Put on your sexiest rock-star face for the LegitArt
Photobooth, and dance your way into summer on a river cruise.

-Two stories of indoor dance floors
-Three hours of fat beats and free drinks
-Five DJ’s spinning on the Red Bull DJ tables
-$150 Swimsuit contest sponsored by Cream Vintage
-Sexiridiculous nautical-themed LegitArt Photobooth
-6,000 watts of delicious bass in ya face!
Each contestant will win one of six featured Swimsuits from Cream
Vintage, and the winner will receive a $75 gift card to Cream Vintage
and a $75 gift card to Massage Envy!
Featuring: Orion and Klassen vs. Table Manners Crew
-DJ Orion
-DJ Prince Klassen
-DJ Digg
-DJ Tats
-DJ Kid Slyce

Need we say more???  Want to grab you ticket now?  Just go to http://dancecruise.legitart.com.  Get to the boat dock (1600 Scenic Drive Austin, near Hula Hut) at 6pm because the boat sets sail at 7, and you’ll party till 10!