Metro Weekly - 03-17-16 - Duran Duran

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Randy Shulman

MARCH 17, 2016 Volume 22 / Issue 45

ART DIRECTOR Todd Franson MANAGING EDITOR Rhuaridh Marr

NEWS

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SENIOR EDITOR John Riley  CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Doug Rule

LESSONS

FROM SOUTH DAKOTA

by John by  John Riley Riley COMMENTARY

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INTO THE FUNHOUSE

by Sean Bugg 

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim

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COMMUNITY  C  CALENDAR 

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TOP OF THE POPS

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Scott G. Brooks, Christopher Cunetto CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gordon Ashenhurst, Sean Bugg, Connor J. Hogan, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield

FEATURES

by Randy by  Randy Shulman Shulman

WEBMASTER David Uy 

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DURAN DURAN’S SIMON LE BON

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Julian Vankim

 Interview by Todd Franson 19

SALES & MARKETING

DURAN DURAN’S NICK R HODES HODES

 Interview by by Randy  Randy Shulman Shulman

PUBLISHER Randy Shulman NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 OUT ON THE TOWN

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DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Dennis Havrilla 

INSTRUMENT FREE

by Doug by  Doug Rule GAMES

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 F AR C RY  P  P RIMAL

by Rhuaridh Marr PATRON SAINT Bernard Edwards

GAMES

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 ITMAN   H 

by Rhuaridh Marr COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Stephanie Pistel

TECH

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EXPENSIVE R EALITY  EALITY 

by Rhuaridh Marr

NIGHTLIFE

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FREDDIE ’S BEACH BAR ’S 16TH ANNIVERSARY  P  PURPLE PARTY 

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© 2016 Jansi LLC.

 photography  photograp hy by Ward Morrison SCENE

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NUMBER  N  NINE

 photography  photograp hy by Ward Morrison

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LAST WORD

News

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Now online at MetroWeekly.com Gay PAC endorses Clinton for president Obama nominates Merrick Garland for Supreme Court

   A    C    A    R    U    M    A    N    I    T    S    I    R    C

Lessons from South Dakota The transgender community’s successful stop of a bill offers lessons for states facing anti-trans initiatives by John Riley

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ERRI BRUCE KNOWS FIRSTHAND HOW ENGAGing in face-to-face conversations can change people’s minds. The fifth-generation resident of Rapid City, S.D., says personal interactions — along with a good deal of patience and restraint — were essential to delivering a victory for the transgender community in the Mount Rushmore State. “What I found is that, to most people, transgender is a concept and not something real,” Bruce says. “So my goal was to put a human face to something maybe they didn’t understand or see as a human issue, something that was abstract to them. I had contact with people who honestly changed their minds once they had a good grasp of some of these things. Just interacting with people, not even talking about the issue at hand, but talking about dogs, or fishing, or the weather, you become a real person and people can understand that you’re just like everybody else.”

The action by Bruce and others led to Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoing an anti-trans “bathroom bill,” which targeted transgender schoolchildren. What made Daugaard’s veto so remarkable was that the odds were stacked so heavily against transgender people. Prior to his decision, Daugaard freely admitted that he had never met a transgender person. The bill was sent to his desk because South Dakota’s legislature is overwhelmingly dominated by Republicans, particularly those of the socially conservative stripe. And the nature of the bill — fear-mongering over “privacy concerns” for cisgender people who might be uncomfortable sharing facilities with transgender peers — had doomed pro-LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances in some other cities in recent years, including Pocatello, Idaho; Chattanooga, Tenn; Springfield, Mo.; and Houston, Texas. South Dakota’s success in stopping the bathroom bill can pro-

LGBTNews LGBT News vide a model for other states to follow when dealing with similar measures. According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 44 anti-transgender bills were filed in 16 different states in 2016, more than twice the number that were introduced the prior year. Twenty-three of the bills specifically target transgender youth in bathrooms, changing facilities and school sports teams. One of those states pushing such legislation is Tennessee, where — among other anti-LGBT bills — lawmakers will debate a bill forcing students to use only those restrooms and locker rooms that match the sex on their birth certificate. That provision is significant, because Tennessee is the only state that prevents people from ever changing the gender listed on their birth certificate. Chris Sanders, director of the Tennessee Equality Project, says his organization has not only been preparing for hearings on the bill, but has been trying to put in place a media strategy to educate people about the importance of defeating it — and combating misinformation about the transgender community. Already, Tennessee Equality Project has been organizing clergy members to oppose the bill and has been placing favorable opeds in papers around the state to try and convince residents that it is unnecessary and harmful to the state. “This is purely driven by organizations like Alliance Defending Freedom, and you’ll recall that the RNC recently urged states to pass these,” Sanders says of the proposed antitrans initiatives. “These are coming from the top. They’re not coming from Tennessee.” There are many other parallels between the situation in Tennessee and the one that LGBT activists faced in South Dakota. Much like his fellow Republican Daugaard, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is reticent to sign such a restrictive law into place. A spokeswoman for the governor told BuzzFeed News that Haslam is particularly worried about potential retaliatory action that could be taken against Tennessee, such as the loss of federal funding under Title IX’s prohibitions on sex discrimination. “Currently in Tennessee, this issue is being handled on a local basis, situation by situation,” Jennifer Donnals, Haslam’s press secretary, said in a statement. “The governor trusts our teachers and local school boards to make necessary accommodations in those situations.” The language mirrors that of Daugaard’s, used in his veto of South Dakota’s anti-trans bill. However, because gubernatorial vetoes in Tennessee can be overrode by a simple majority vote, Tennessee Equality Project is hoping to convince legislators that risking the loss of Title IX money is fiscally imprudent. “If you look at Vanderbilt and Middle Tennessee State University state polls, the governor polls extremely well in Tennessee,” Sanders says, adding that Haslam’s popularity may give Republicans in the legislature pause about overriding the veto of a governor of their own party. Chase Strangio, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT & HIV Project, calls the Tennessee bill the anti-transgender measure that poses the largest threat to the community at present. But he also warns that the ACLU is closely monitoring North Carolina, where Gov. Pat McCrory (R) — in the middle of a re-election campaign — may call a special s ession to propose anti-transgender legislation. It would either directly repeal or ask for voter approval on any local trans-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances, like one that was recently approved by the Charlotte City Council. Continuing with the political Right’s obsession with bathrooms, the conservative Family Policy Institute of Washington

has filed a ballot initiative aimed at overturning a Washington State Human Rights Commission rule allowing transgender people to use restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. The initiative was filed after Democrats and three Republican senators helped defeat a proposed bill that would have done the same thing. “The reality is that the strategy nationally will be, and has been, for the last several months, elevating the voices and experiences of the trans community,” Strangio says of the messaging he expects LGBT organizations and their allies to use in future battles. “The key is highlighting the voices of trans people and explaining how these measures are harmful to the trans community.” On the messaging front, it would behoove other states or national-level LGBT organizations to follow the example of South Dakota, adds Ashley Joubert-Gaddis, director of operations at The Center for Equality, an LGBT community center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Center successfully arranged for Daugaard to meet with a transgender adult, two transgender youth and a parent of a transgender child during the five-day period when he was weighing whether to veto South Dakota’s bathroom bill or sign it into law. “I think it’s a matter of fighting with grace and class,” says Joubert-Gaddis. “At no point did we become derogatory [towards LGBT opponents] or make demands. We made this about a personal issue.... As much as we were angry during this process, we made sure never to come across with the media or press to come off as angry. It was more of, ‘We’re pleading with you. These [anti-trans bills] are about children.’” But Joubert-Gaddis also says that LGBT groups and allies need to push back aggressively and quickly — albeit politely — against misinformation or branding adopted by right-wing special interest groups, such as calling a measure like the bathroom bill a “privacy bill,” instead of an anti-transgender bill. Terri Bruce adds that LGBT organizations can’t be afraid to address the issue of bathroom use themselves, and develop messaging that counteracts unfair assumptions or stereotypes about the transgender community. “The bathroom is the hot-button topic right now. And until people really understand what the issue is, it’s going to continue to be the hot-button issue,” Bruce explains. “The picture that some people get in their minds is a man in a woman’s dress, going inside to use the women’s bathroom. And that’s not what transgender people do. “I go to the bathroom because I have to go to the bathroom,” Bruce says. “All human beings have biological functions that we can’t ignore. And I believe we can really work through this by creating a level of understanding where the lightbulb turns on and people say, ‘Oh, okay, I get it now. It’s not that big of a deal.’ Bathrooms have stalls. They have doors. You go in and you close the door.” While treating people, even the fiercest of LGBT rights opponents, with kindness and respect is important, so is perseverance. Bruce hopes that activists use the momentum from South Dakota to help shine a spotlight on other states pushing similar measures, and won’t be deterred from engaging their lawmakers just because they may face tough odds. “We changed people’s hearts and minds. And we did it by treating people the way we want to be treated,” Bruce says. “I know it can be done elsewhere. Just come together, work as a unit, work towards one goal, not at cross-purposes with each other. If we did it in South Dakota, we can do it anywhere.” l

COMMENTARY

Into the Funhouse Television characters Donald Trump and Frank Underwood are  flip-s  fli p-side idess to to hat hatred  red  by Sean Bugg 

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T JUST SO HAPPENED I FINISHED UP THIS SEASON of House of  House of Cards Cards —  — D.C.’s not-even-guilty binging pleasure of choice — at the same time results came in for the Super Tuesday primaries. Watching two funhouse mirror versions of American democracy unfold simultaneously — television character Frank Underwood and television character Donald Trump — just reinforced my distaste for both. To start with the fictional, I realize I’m supposed to hate the Underwoods, while also thrilling to their villainy. And that was a lot of fun for a while. Then the show rushed Frank Underwood into the Oval Office, leaving behind the batshit byzantine plots of the Washington elite for dealings with a second-rate Putin and something involving China that even the shows writers can’t explain. So when this season kicked off with a fallen reporter providing narration for his cell mate’s jackoff session, I was already halfway to the door. I would have made it out had it not been for friends telling me, Oh, just wait, it gets so much better! No, actually, it doesn’t. Somewhere around the time the show began telegraphing an assassination attempt and minor character death with a lack of subtlety surprising even for  House of Cards Cards,, I moved directly into the hate-watch camp. It’s not the show’s lack of connection to reality that bothers me, although “ludicrous” doesn’t even begin to describe its depiction of the American political system, the writers’ understanding of which seems to have come from skimming a few months worth of Politico articles. It’s not even watching the cringe-inducing cameos by prominent journalists, although it does reinforce why cable news should be about the last place one would go to be a well-informed citizen these days. (Why, Gwen Ifill, why why?? You’re supposed to be the best of us!) What it comes down to is a show that is fundamentally stupid — filled with fabulous actors and wicked one liners, but still stupid — working so hard to appear smart. This pretentious nonsense is why you end up with the two evil geniuses putting together a complicated plot that involves allowing an Iraqi ter-

ror leader to speak with potentially murderous kidnappers yet neglect to have even one Arabic speaker in the room. Or the baldly nihilistic ending that exploits American victims of terror as nakedly as 24 as 24 ever  ever did but with even less nuance. Which brings us to Trump: a campaign that is fundamentally stupid — filled with compelling characters and wicked one liners, but still stupid — working so hard to appear smart. Part of the fascination of watching the Trump roadshow is how closely it tracks with what we would traditionally consider political satire: dismissing the egghead elites and proposing ludicrously simplistic solutions to every problems (building a wall, registering all Muslims, solving every international problem by making deals faster than Monty Hall). Trump gives his audience scapegoats — blacks, Mexicans, Muslims — because Trump is about looking outward for excuses, never inward for understanding. But what Trump and  House of Cards Cards   really have in common is hate and anger about our political system. For Trump voters, that anger is directed toward anyone but themselves: at the politicians who’ve abandoned them, the minorities who’ve taken their jobs, the gays who’ve stripped away their values. It’s a hate directed at others, constantly looking to blame. For  House of Cards Cards   fans, particularly the feverish ones populating Washington, it’s simply self hatred — thrilling to a show that treats its audience as complicit in a failed, corrupt system. It’s why journalists clamor for cameos on a show that presents journalists as corrupt or inept or captives of the system. It’s why politicians and staffers live for a show that claims there are no principles, only power. It’s a collective probing of an open wound. Yes, you can read too much into a simple show about political corruption, but given the self-seriousness of both the narrative and its creators, I’m inclined to take the show at its word. Trump or Underwood, fantasy or fiction, right or left — it’s hard to see how any of this ends other than badly. l

"Trump gives his audience scapegoats —  blac  b lacks, ks, Mexi Mexicans, cans, Muslims

— because Trump is about looking outward for excuses, never inward for understanding."

LGBTCommunityCalendar LGBT CommunityCalendar Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in the D.C.-area LGBT community, from alternative social events to volunteer opportunities. Event information should be sent by email email to [email protected]. Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursday’s publication. Questions about the calendar may be directed to the Metro Weekly office at 202-638-6830 or the calendar email address.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes 10.2 strenuous miles with 2400 feet of elevation gain to Signal Knob on Massanutten Mountain overlooking Strasburg, Va. Bring beverages, lunch, sturdy boots, and about $15 for fees. Carpool at 9 a.m. from East Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ride lot. Jerry, 703-920-6871. adventuring.org adventuring.org..

BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay vol-

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 LGBTQ SOCIAL GROUP meet for St. Patrick’s Dinner at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. 7 p.m. 555 23rd St. South, Arlington. No RSVP necessary.  All welcome. For more information, agla.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confidenRabbi Laurie Green hosts the final class in her weekly spring seminar, “THE BOOK OF ESTHER FOR ADULTS: How to Survive as a Minority in a Topsy-Turvy, Scary, Gentile, Sexist, Homophobic and Sometimes Very Funny Diaspora World.” Classes are free for members of Bet Mishpachah. Suggested donation of $10 per class for non-members. 7-8:45 p.m. DC Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW. For more information, visit betmish.org.

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and les bian square-dancing group features mainstream through advanced square dancing at the National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517, dclambdasquares.org. The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern  Virginia social group meets for happy hour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor  bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestridullestriangles.com.

p.m. 2147 P Street NW, 2nd floor. No cover, 21+ and cash bar. gogaydc.com.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave., and in Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire  Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours, call Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or Takoma Park, 301-422-2398.

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 WEEKLY EVENTS

LGBTQ COMMUNITY SOCIAL GROUP meet at Aura Lounge. 7-10

p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for  youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155 or [email protected] [email protected]. g.

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics  Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group is independent of UHU. 202-446-1100.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women, 13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163, [email protected].

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 GAY DISTRICT, a group for GBTQQI men between the ages of 18-35, meets on the first and third Fridays of each month. 8:30-9:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information,  visit gaydistrict.org. gaydistrict.org.

LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for adults in Montgomery County offers a safe space to explore coming out and issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m. 16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512, Gaithersburg, Md. For more information, visit thedccenter.or thedccenter.org. g.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

unteer organization, volunteers today for Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation at Falls Church PetSmart. PetSmart. To participate, visit burgundycresc burgundycrescent.org. ent.org.

CHRYSALIS arts & culture group holds bi-monthly Social and annual meeting over dinner in restaurant near Dupont Circle. 7 p.m. All welcome. RSVP by Friday evening, Mar. 18. Kevin, 571-338-1433. kgiles27@ gmail.com. Join CENTER BI, The DC Center’s  bisexual support group, for a dinner social and outing. 6-8 p.m. 915 E St. NW. For more information, visit thedccenter.org or call 202-682-2245. The DC Center hosts a meeting of KHUSH DC, a support group for LGBTQ South Asians. 1-3 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org thedccenter.org.. The DC Center hosts a monthly LGBT

ASYLEES SUPPORT MEETING AND DINNER for LGBT refugees and asylum seekers. 5-7 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information,  visit thedccenter.org. thedccenter.org.

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

WEEKLY EVENTS

PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

affirming social group for ages 11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW. Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, laycdc.org.

SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

BET MISHPACHAH, founded by

a social atmosphere for GLBT and questioning youth, featuring dance parties, vogue nights, movies and games. More info, catherine.chu@ smyal.org.

members of the LGBT community, holds Saturday morning Shabbat ser vices, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush luncheon. Services in DCJCC Community Room, 1529 16th St. NW.  betmish.org.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6

BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including

p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for  youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, [email protected].

others interested in Brazilian culture, meets. For location/time, email [email protected].

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/  walking/social club welcomes all levels for exercise in a fun and supportive environment, socializing afterward. Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for a walk; or 10 a.m. for fun run. dcfrontrunners.or dcfrontrunners.org. g.

DC SENTINELS basketball team meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4 p.m. For players of all levels, gay or straight. teamdcbasketb teamdcbasketball.org. all.org.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes all to 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW. firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.

FRIENDS MEETING OF WASHINGTON meets for worship, 10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW, Quaker House Living Room (next to Meeting House on Decatur Place), 2nd floor. Special welcome to lesbians and gays. Handicapped accessible from Phelps Place gate. Hearing assistance. quakersdc.org.

DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for LGBT community, family and friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Churchon-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road,  Alexandria. All welcome. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.

GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses critical languages and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St. NW. RVSP preferred. brendandarcy@ gmail.com.

IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other hours, call 301-422-2398.

HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes GLBT community for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130 Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria. hopeucc.org.

HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT GROUP for gay men living in the DC metro area. This group will be meeting once a month. For information on location and time, visit H2gether.com.

INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT, God-centered new age church & learning center. Sunday Services and Workshops event. 5419 Sherier Place NW. isd-dc.org. Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL

SUNDAY, MARCH 20 Inner Light Ministries hosts a

64TH BIRTHDAY BRUNCH CELEBRATION for Bishop Rainey Cheeks. 1:30-2:30 p.m. following Palm Sunday service. Adrenaline Cafe at the Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. For more information and to RSVP, contact Rev. Darryl LC Moch, [email protected]. Birthday wellwishes or cards may be sent to 1254 Pleasant St. SE.

WEEKLY EVENTS

TEMPLE – UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST for an inclusive, loving and progressive faith community every Sunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW, near R in Shaw/Logan neighborhood. neighborhood. lincolntemple.org.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF REFORMATION invites all to Sunday worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. Childcare is available at both services. Welcoming LGBT people for 25 years. 212 East Capitol St. NE. reformationdc.or reformationdc.org. g.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH

services at 11 a.m., led by Rev. Onetta Brooks. Children’s Sunday School, 11 a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax. 703-691-0930, mccnova.com.

celebrates Low Mass at 8:30 a.m., High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244, allsoulsdc.org allsoulsdc.org..

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS

BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive and radically inclusive church holds services at 11:30 a.m. 2217 Minnesota  Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org. betheldc.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic Mass for the LGBT community. 6 p.m., St. Margaret’s Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome. Sign interpreted. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.

services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpreted) and 11 a.m. Children’s Sunday School at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. 202-6387373, mccdc.com.

NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, inclusive church with GLBT fellowship, offers gospel worship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW. 202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.

RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, a Christ-centered, interracial, welcoming-and-affirming church, offers service at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW. 202554-4330, riversidedc.or riversidedc.org. g.

ST. STEPHEN AND THE INCARNATION, an “interracial, multi-ethnic Christian Community” offers services in English, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and in Spanish at 5:15 p.m. 1525 Newton St. NW. 202-232-0900, saintstephensdc.org.

UNITARIAN CHURCH OF ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcomingand-affirming congregation, offers services at 10 a.m. Virginia Rainbow UU Ministry. 4444 Arlington Blvd. uucava.org.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING invites LGBTQ families and individuals of all creeds and cultures to join the church. Services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. 10309 New Hampshire Ave. uucss.org.

UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL MEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcoming and inclusive church. GLBT Interweave social/service group meets monthly. Services at 11 a.m., Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St. NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org universalist.org..

MONDAY, MARCH 21 CENTER FAITH, a program of The DC Center, hosts a meeting for the LGBT community and their religious allies. 7:30-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.

GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW. [email protected]. HIV Testing at WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH. At the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY (K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St.,  Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIV testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 703-823-4401.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200,  Arlington. Appointments: 703-7894467.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for  youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or [email protected].

THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee DropIn for the Senior LGBT Community. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202682-2245, thedccenter.org thedccenter.org..

US HELPING US hosts a black gay men’s evening affinity group. 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.

WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m. Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at least basic swimming ability always welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, [email protected],, wetskins.org. [email protected]

WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH HIV/AIDS Support Group for newly diagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m. Registration required. 202-939-7671, [email protected].

TUESDAY, MARCH 22 The DC Center and the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs host a

TASK FORCE MEETING ON TRANSGENDER EMPLOYMENT ISSUES to discuss the needs and concerns, as well as job opportunities, for members of the District’s transgender community. 6:30-7:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. RSVP to terrance. [email protected]. For more information,  visit thedccenter.org. thedccenter.org. The DC Center’s GENDERQUEER DC support and discussion group for people who identify outside the gender  binary meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information,  visit thedccenter.org. thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle area, 6:30 p.m. [email protected], afwashington.net.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org swimdcac.org..

Oral Fixation  you can can listen  o any sory a

MetroWeekly.com  jus look look for for he he “speak” buton

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/ 

US HELPING US hosts a support

walking/social club serving greater D.C.’s LGBT community and allies hosts an evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org.

group for black gay men 40 and older. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202446-1100.

THE GAY MEN’S HEALTH COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV

MEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS/ STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701 14th

testing and STI screening and treatment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m. Rainbow Tuesday LGBT Clinic,  Alexandria Health Department, Department, 4480 King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571214-9617. james.leslie@i [email protected]. nova.org.

St. NW. Patients are seen on walk-in  basis. No-cost screening for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis and herpes testing available for fee. whitman-walker. whitman-walker.org. org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

 WEDNESD  WEDN ESDAY AY, MARCH 23

Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.

THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE DC CENTER hosts “Packing Party,” where volunteers assemble safe-sex kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m., Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW. thedccenter.or thedccenter.org. g.

IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave., and in Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire  Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours, call Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978 or Takoma Park at 301-422-2398.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY (K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St.,  Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIV testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 703-823-4401.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS—

Whitman-Walker Health’s GAY

ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes 4 miles around Tidal Basin at twilight to see the cherry blossoms during peak bloom. Bring beverages, beverages, snacks, $2 trip fee. Optional dinner follows. Craig, 202-462-0535. adventuring.org adventuring.org.. The DC Center hosts a monthly meeting of its HIV PREVENTION WORKING GROUP. 6-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org thedccenter.org..

THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets for Duplicate Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center, 721 8th St SE (across from Marine Barracks). No reservations needed. All welcome. 202-841-0279 if  you need a partner.

WEEKLY EVENTS

AD LIB, a group for freestyle con versation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m., Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome. For more information, call Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174. ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

LGBT focused meeting every Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. George’s Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave.,  Arlington, just steps from Virginia Virginia Square Metro. For more info. call Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicapped accessible. Newcomers welcome. [email protected].

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH

p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for  youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, [email protected].

offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N. Washington St., Alexandria. 703-5491450, historicchristc historicchristchurch.org. hurch.org.

SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ  YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL,

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy Chu, 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@ smyal.org.

tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.

Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confiden-

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m. For appointments other hours, call Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978.

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 JOB CLUB, a weekly support program for job entrants and seekers, meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more info, www.center www.centercareers.org. careers.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200, Arlington. Appointments: 703789-4467.

PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social club for mature gay men, hosts weekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m., Windows Bar above Dupont Italian Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl, 703573-8316.

THURSDAY, MARCH 24 WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and les bian square-dancing group features mainstream through advanced square dancing at the National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517, dclambdasquares.org. The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern  Virginia social group meets for happy hour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor  bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestridullestriangles.com.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave., and in Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire  Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours, call Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or

p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for  youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155 or [email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics  Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group is independent of UHU. 202-446-1100. WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women, 13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163, [email protected].

FRIDAY, MARCH 25 WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit swimdcac.or swimdcac.org. g.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. For an a ppointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker whitman-walker.. org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBTaffirming social group for ages 11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW. Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, laycdc.org.

SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides a social atmosphere for GLBT and questioning youth, featuring dance parties,  vogue nights, movies and games. More More info, catherine.chu@sm [email protected]. yal.org.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6 p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for  youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@ smyal.org. l

Top of t  Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon and Bon and Nick Rhodes reflect on 40 years of making music, pioneering videos, and staying one step ahead of the game while remaining true to their roots.

 A

T METRO WEEKLY, WE’VE BEEN LIVING with Duran Duran for most of our 22 years. I’ll explain. Anyone who knows Todd Franson — and so many of you know this artist, who has been an integral part of  Metro Weekly Weekly   for 21 years, first as photographer, then as art director — is well-aware of his (wild, not mild) obsession with these legends of pop. It’s a good obsession, the kind that comes with an extreme love of a band, an artist, a filmmaker, one that allows their works to enter your life on a deeper, more significant plane. It’s the kind of obsession that bores deeply into one’s soul, into one’s heart, into the fabric of one’s life. It becomes part of your being, inseparable from who you are. Sure, it’s fun to watch to Todd connect virtually anything you mention — Mick Jagger, the kitchen sink, a puppy — to Duran Duran, usually in 6 steps or less. And sure, it’s a little jaw-dropping to see Todd’s vast, impressive collection of the band’s vinyl and various accoutrements. (There’s likely a Duran Duran lunchbox lurking in there somewhere.) But it’s impossible not to admire — and be a bit envious, actually — of the deep connection he has forged with this band. And it’s not just Todd Franson. As the band’s 57-year-old singer, Simon Le Bon, told Todd during their interview, “We’ve been the kind of band who has always divided opinion, and it’s always been an extreme kind of reaction. We’re not a band that people say, ‘Oh, I like them.’ They say, ‘I love them’ or ‘I hate hate them.’”  them.’” We all know where Todd falls. For years, I would joke to Todd that “One day you’ll get to interview Simon Le Bon,” to which he would merely roll his eyes and lob back a snarky remark. And yet, when we heard the band was coming to Washington in April, a window opened — not only to Le Bon, whose soaring, electrifying vocals on their new album,  Paper Gods Gods,, proves that there are some elder statesmen of pop who never lose what’s magical about their pipes (yes, we’re looking at you, Elton), but to keyboardist Nick Rhodes as well. Taken together, we offer two distinct conversations with two of the greatest figures in modern pop music, discussing everything from the state of modern music to what has kept the band together — and relevant — for nearly four decades. We start with Le Bon, who, Rhodes calls “an amazing human being.” “I think he’s entirely different than a lot of the public perceive him to be,” says the handsome 53-year-old, who still has a flair for eyeliner. “There’s something about working with Simon that I’ve always loved. I know what chords and musical movements will excite him, and he knows that I won’t be happy until we find

e Pops Interviews by Todd Franson and Randy Shulman Photography by Stephanie Pistel  (L-R) Roger Taylor, John Taylor, Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes

something very special to go with. We just push each other until we get there. The same thing with lyrics. We have the most diabolical arguments over lyrics. But even when we fight, we have enough respect for each other about our opinions and musical views. We trust each other’s taste. “It’s hard for people to understand our characters when all they see is us playing in videos and in a live show,” he continues. “Working together, we’ve laughed a lot, we’ve learned a lot from each other, we respect each other, which is I think one of the important things if you are gonna stick together. We actually inspire each other.” These interviews aren’t just for Todd, they’re also for all of you Duran Duran fans out there. Even the passing fans. Because, let’s be honest, what’s not to love about Duran Duran? From “Girls On Film” to “Ordinary World” to “Pressure Off” to what is quite possibly the greatest Bond theme song ever — “A View to a Kill” — Duran Duran, named for a character in the trippy 1967 Jane Fonda sci-fi film  Barbarella  Barbarella,, remains one of those fundamental groups whose greatness, whose innovation, whose defiance of convention yet keen understanding of what makes a song a hit, puts them smack at the top of the pops. —  Randy Shulman

Simon Le Bon Interview by Todd Franson METRO WEEKLY: How’s the the break been since the first leg of the tour? tour? SIMON LE BON: It’s been a lot of fun. I got pretty sick with a nasty

head cold, though. I’ve been eating lots of pickled onions. It’s very good for the voice. Pickled onions and Tabasco. MW: You’re about to embark on the second leg of the tour. Are you excited for it? LE BON: We’ve actually got a third leg, and I believe a fourth leg. Well, I don’t know about a fourth leg — definitely got a third leg coming up. This is a really exciting bit now, because we’ve developed the show significantly. We’ve got a much more comprehensive production. More songs, longer show. MW: Your new album, Paper album, Paper Gods, has a lot of guest vocalists on it.  How do you handle handle that when you’re you’re playing it live? Do you choose songs that don’t have the additional vocals? LE BON: You can’t replace Janelle Monáe or Kiesza. You’ve just got to do your best, so the girls that sing those parts do them in their own way. On occasion we have thought about filming people, but it makes it less live, of course. I’d love to get the Lindsey Lohan bit. That would be quite cool if that was coming over in a film. MW: If you projected that in the background... LE BON: Maybe we will. Maybe we’ll do that when we get to New  York. The thing thing about shows shows is that you’re always always updating updating and developing them. They never stop. When they stop developing, you look at the tour and think to yourself, “Do I really want to carry on doing this?” MW: Can we expect a different set list from the last leg? LE BON: We were building the skeleton of it when we came out the last time. So we’ll be putting some new songs in, some different ones, obviously. People are more used to the new album, so we’re able to put more material from the new album into the show. We’ve got this kind of electro-ending now, which is quite tasty. MW:  From the pictures I’ve seen of the production, it looks pretty intense with the video screen backdrops. LE BON: Yes, the videos are not just behind us — they kind of wrap around us as well. So it’s almost like at times we’re in the video.

MW: Speaking of videos, you made one for “Pressure Off.” Are you

making ones for other songs? Are there going to be more singles  from the album coming this this year? LE BON: That is the plan. MW: Any remixes? LE BON: Definitely. MW: Everybody would would love a Nile Nile Rodgers remix remix of “Pressure “Pressure Off,”  you know. LE BON: Oh, is that that what  what they’d like? Oh, really really?? [  Laughs. ]  ] MW: What would you you like?  like? LE BON: Me? I’d really like to get “Light Night in the City” away as a single. I think that’s a really good one. And possibly “Paper Gods.” There’s a lot of feeling in that song. But, obviously, in its current state it’s not particularly radio friendly, just in terms of its length. And although I’d love to hear it on the radio, and would love to hear as a single, I’m loathe — we all are a bit loathe — to cut it up and mutilate it. We’re trying to figure out another way of doing it. MW: Are you guys doing extra rehearsals? rehearsals? LE BON: There comes a point where you’ve got to expect yourself to be able to do it, to remember your parts and everything. If the show hasn’t changed significantly in terms of material, you don’t want to have to spend a couple of months rehearsing it.  You want to be able to just kind of do three or four days warming up, get your energy levels back up and get it out there. It’s a repertoire kind of thing. MW: You had a tremendous response from the first leg of the tour and got some of the best reviews you guys have ever had as far as concerts. Is it nice to get those kinds of accolades? LE BON:  We’ve been the kind of band who has always divided opinion, and it’s always been an extreme kind of reaction. We’re not a band that people say, “Oh, I like them.” They say, “I love them” or “I hate hate them.”  them.” And so we’ve grown up with quite a lot of criticism, some of it constructive, some of it not. And one of the things you do is you start to not take any notice of it. So I would say “Yes, it’s nice that we got nice reviews,” but I don’t really read reviews. It’s no huge deal to me because what I feel when I walk out on stage, what we feel from the audience, means so much more than what people write about us. We can tell whether we’re playing a good show or not because the crowd tells us right there and then. Sometimes you just have to not give a fuck about what people think about you. You just get on with it. MW: One thing I’ve always loved about Duran Duran is that every album is like a new art project, a new adventure for you guys. You  go in with nothing and just bang out out something amazing. amazing. LE BON:  That’s what makes it fun for us. That’s the best way to do it. We don’t have a template. We don’t have any formula to adhere to. We want to make music that’s exciting. MW:  I’ve noticed with Paper Gods  Gods  that there are a lot of songs on that album that reference previous albums. “Butterfly Girl” sounded like it could be on Notorious Notorious.. “Only in Dreams” could be on Liberty Liberty.. LE BON: Oh, really really.. Now that surprises me, that does. MW: “What Are the Chances” and “You Kill Me With Silence” could have been on Medazzaland , with those those guitar parts parts and that that mood. This album seems like you are subconsciously paying homage to all the previous albums you’ve done and making them new. LE BON: There are two ways of looking at that. One is that we look back and do that. The other way of looking at it is that that stuff is  just insi inside de us and tha thatt is is the the kin kind d of of musi musicc that that we lik like e and and wil willl con con-tinue to reference. Go back to things that inspired those songs, the songs that were on Libe on  Liberty rty,, the songs that were on Meda on  Medazza zzaland  land . Those inspire us to do the things the way we do them.

MW: The Duran Duran DNA coming out. LE BON: Yes, I think so. I think much more so than particular ref-

erences. We know there are in-jokes and things, none of which I can remember right now. You know, in “You Kill Me With Silence, there’s the line “drive another lad insane.” MW: That was reference to David Bowie, right? LE BON:  What do  you  you   think, come on. Oh, no, never thought of that.. [  Laughs that  Laughs.] .] MW: The music industry has changed over the years, what with new ways of listening to music, like streaming. There’s no physical  product anymore. anymore. How do you feel about that? that? LE BON:  I’m not a nostalgist, but I like physical product. I like going to a record shop and to be out in public and rub shoulders with people who are perhaps interested in the same music as you are, because you’re on the same kind of rack looking at the albums and things. It’s a great place to spot girls who you can follow home. [  Laughs  Laughs.] .] And that’s all gone. The whole process of listening to music has become so much more internalized and personalized. I think it started with the Sony Walkman. That was the real watershed. I grew up listening to music — I put The Rolling Stones  Let  It Bleed  on   on the hi-fi — on the “steeereo,” as my mother used to call it — and open the windows so that the whole fucking street could hear what I was playing. And then it suddenly became only you. Like a lot of things, people are becoming compartmental-

“The whole process of listening to music has become so much more internalized and personalized. I think it started with the Sony Walkman. That was the real watershed.” ized. People are becoming slightly alienated from each other. So I spend as much time as I can walking around and actually living a real life in a real world, not in a digital world. There are great things about the Internet. You can access anything you want like that. You don’t have to jump through the hoops that you used to have to do to find the thing that you heard on the radio. It’s much easier. You’ve got bloody Shazam, for God’s sake. It’s made it easier — and the music is still good. I  just know people people don’t don’t appreciate appreciate music music in the same way if they didn’t have to walk three miles to get it. MW: True. Everything’s at your fingertips. LE BON: And if you don’t have to pay to  pay for  for it — if you don’t have to  pay for recordings — it’s devalued. It’s extraordinary that people won’t spend the price of a packet of cigarettes on an album. They do anything they can to get it for nothing. Then they’ll spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on tickets for a live show because they value the event — the ephemeral moment, that thing that cannot be recorded — so much more. MW: Final question. question. After nearly 40 years, years, what is it that keeps you and Duran Duran going? LE BON: Oh, there’s been all sorts of things. Music is the first. We make great music together. Friendship. We love to go around with each other. Ego. We’re proud of the band. We want it to continue. We like earning money as well. It’s good fun. And I like the fact that we contribute something. You know, you go around the world, but you’re not going as a tourist. You’re going and you’re working and I’m proud of that. When people ask me “What are you dong here? Are you on vacation?” I go, “No, I’m working.” I’m proud of that.” It’s a nice thing to be able to say, “I’m contributing.” l

Nick Rhodes Interview by Randy Shulman METRO WEEKLY:  Let’s talk a little bit about the tour. It’s resuming

in America at the end of March. NICK RHODES: We’d done a few dates previously in America, but they’d been a slightly smaller production. We actually did an arena tour in the U.K. in December last year, which we used our full production on. So we thought, “We really ought to come back to America with this.” We’re coming at the end of March to play shows through April and then we come back to Europe again for May-June and return to America in July to play even more shows. MW: The constant travelling must be a grind. RHODES: Well, I have to confess: I love being in the studio. And I’ve always enjoyed the shows themselves. I don’t think any musician particularly enjoys all of the travel and the tiredness, but when you’re over that bit and you’re just playing the shows, it’s very uplifting. And, since we’ve been playing now for more than three decades, you learn what works and how to put together a real experience for people, because what we do is try to create a show that we’d like to see from somebody else.  You’ve got got to take people people on a journey, and we’ve we’ve got a lot of music now to choose from, so balancing the set between things we wouldn’t get out of the building if we didn’t play to interesting new songs and a few surprises, that in itself is quite an art. MW: What songs can you not get out of the building if you didn’t  play? RHODES: Things like “Rio” or “Hungry Like the Wolf” or “Girls on Film.” “Wild Boys.” We can sort of miss a few out at this point because there are quite a lot of singles. MW:  As long as you play play The  The Reflex. Reflex . That was always one of my  favorites. RHODES: Ah, you see? There you go. That one sometimes is in and sometimes is out. Which show are we talking about? The DC show. I’ll try and make a mental note about that. MW:  I bring up “Th “Thee Reflex” because because my first exposure exposure to the song was through MTV, back in the days it was a music channel. I’ve never  forgott  forg otten en the the image image of of the wave wash washing ing over over the the audie audience. nce. It It makes makes me wonder: how did video change the way we perceive music? RHODES:  It obviously brought another dimension to music, and there were artists of our generation who embraced it because it was exciting and new. It was state-of-the art at that time. There were older artists who were a little more hesitant, really, to get involved. I think they felt it had perhaps turned the seriousness of some of their songwriting and musicianship into showbiz, which wasn’t as appealing to them. But eventually you’ve got a lot of those artists making videos — and some of them made some really good videos, too. We were part of that wave with a lot of other British artists, particularly, who made interesting videos at that time, like The Cure and Billy Idol. And obviously in America, you had megaartists like Michael Jackson and Madonna and Prince, who also moved into that medium. I’m not sure how much it really changed things. But it was exciting for a time. When somebody told me the first the  first time  time about MTV and said, “It’s a 24-hour music channel, and they just play music non-stop,” that was unbelievable. Wow! How has this not happened before and how  great that we’ve got a channel that we can turn on any time to see music. It was a revelation. Then, as MTV turned into more of a game show channel many years later, you started to realize that that was a short moment. It burned bright and fast and then it disappeared. Now we all watch videos on YouTube or Vevo. It’s on demand.

 You just type it in and there it is. If you have a great video, it’s it’ s We’ve enabled ourselves to stretch wherever we liked and fun to watch, but how many times do you want to watch it? people would accept it as Duran Duran. I think if we hadn’t done Whereas with a song, you can still listen for many, many, many that early on, it would be much harder to move with the times. MW: How important years later, if it’s a great song. important is it for a band to to have its own unique, unique, specific MW: Duran Duran’s videos are so visually striking, however. They sound? RHODES: Personally, I think it’s critical. One of the most imporare the kind of videos you want to watch repeatedly. RHODES:  There are plenty of videos — those amazing Peter Gabriel “We relate to all people, whatever preferences they have, but I feel videos always stuck with me. When we have connected quite well with the gay audience because people create that kind of visual language and marry it with a great we’re so open to things.” song, then you do have something special. Don’t get me wrong — I’m not suggesting that video didn’t matter that much, not at all. tant things about being a band is that you’ve got your own What I’m saying is that I think video was the enhancer. If you identify, that you know who you are and that you’ve got a voice had a great song, it really helped it. — a unique voice. Because if you can’t carve out that space for MW:  For a period of time, I felt music videos damaged cinema, yourself, then you’re in this vast ocean with all the other people almost irreparably, but we seem to have recovered from it. There swimming for survival and trying to get their head above water was a period of time when the fast, incoherent editing of music and get noticed. A lot of it gets drowned. MW: Has your vision for the video bled over into cinema and actually the movies of that time the band itself changed over over time? were very, very... RHODES: I don’t think it has changed fundamentally. The vision RHODES: Bad. [   Laughs.]  Laughs .] But again, it depends. There’s some s ome amaz- for the band was always to be something that went against the ing movies around that time, too. If you look up  Bladerunner  Bladerunner or  or grain of what was going on but always kept our sound, indiTerry Gilliam’s Brazil Gilliam’s Brazil,, who used elements of modern techniques vidually, meaning that certain things that each of us like. Strong for editing and stuff. I think what you got was a lot of that melody has always been incredibly important, and Simon’s voice Hollywood junk that was churned out in the style of music vidis naturally very melodic. He’s got a big range, so we have that eos, which was just being sort of stamped out weekly. So yeah, flexibility. I like electronic pulses and synthesizers, I like soundI agree with you entirely. It was just pointless junk — but I still scapes, so that was a big part of what I bring to it. And John and think that Hollywood pumps out a lot of pointless junk. Roger are able to play many different styles — funk, disco, rock, MW: You’re an artist, you’re a visualist, you’re a photographer — punk — whatever it is we require, but they’re a very, very tight  you were friends with Andy Warhol and Keith Haring — so video polished rhythm section. And rock guitar and funk guitar gave seems seems to suit your personality. us so many colors in the palate. We can paint a different picture RHODES: Yeah. When we were first told, “Hey, we’re gonna make every time with them. a film clip that goes with your song,” we couldn’t believe our MW: There’s a keyboard part on “Change the Skyline” that’s very luck. We thought immediately, “Great. So what can we do with unusual. Where do you get inspiration for things like that? RHODES:  We listen to a lot of modern music. There are certain it? Let’s do something really special. Let’s not just stand there performing.” things that sink in and you add them to your lexicon of sound And that led to the “Girls on Film” video, it led to all the and melodic ideas. We listen to a lot of electronic dance music. videos on locations — Sri Lanka, Antigua — because it was an Some hip hop, some indie music, any new bands that sound open book then. Nobody had done anything and you really just interesting. And we listen to a vast catalogue of the old music. needed a good idea. There were, as I said, lots of other people out Between the four of us, we’ve got pretty enormous musical there that had amazing ideas, too. I think the videos that worked knowledge at this point, because we’re all big fans. A day doesn’t best were those that didn’t translate the songs’ lyrics literally. go by when we don’t play music. So I suppose with the sounds There was a lot of that in the ’80s, and some of them were pretty on “Change the Skyline,” they’re not typical. Some of them are disastrous. But with ours, we looked at them individually, as the kind of thing we would always do, but that piece of music in, “What can we do with this?” in the same way that when we and the way that it worked needed a sharpness and a mood that wrote a song we’d say, “Where are we going to take it?” We’d somehow took you into this cityscape, and that’s what those apply those rules to video. sounds really represented to me. MW: Duran Duran is nearly four decades old, which is remarkable MW: Sometimes I’ll listen to a song and think “It could have gone in  for any band. What’s the secret secret to your longevity? longevity? so many other directions.” Arriving at the arrangement, arriving RHODES:  I think songwriting is the simple answer. Because if at the particular moment of “It’s finished, this is what we’re going you have a chemistry together that works well for songwriting, to release,” it must be both gratifying and frustrating, I suspect. then you always get something very different as a band than RHODES:  There’s one song in the album called “Danceophobia” you would get writing as a solo artist. There’s a different kind of which had more iterations than any other song we’ve done as a tension in music that’s pulling in different directions written by band in our career. Literally, there must be 6 or 7 different verseveral people. And so we did realize quite early on that we had sions and then, there’s loads and loads and loads of variations this unique combination of energy, and what each person brings with every one of those. There’s tempo changes, there’s about to the sound. There isn’t somebody else where that I think “Oh, ten different verses, there’s all these things. The only reason it I wish that was our drummer” or “I wish that was our singer.” survived — because normally things, after about half a dozen to We’re very, very flexible and we set our boundaries incredibly a dozen changes, are left in a pile on the floor in a scrap heap — is wide early, early on. that we felt the chorus was so strong for what it was, and nobody  You look at an R&B band who just writes in that style, and was prepared to let go of it. And we worked and worked and there’s a lot of limitations. For us, we’ve looked at everything. worked. One day, John and I cracked it. We completely changed

the verse again, pulled apart the rhythm, we did some of the guitars that were on there and it just fell into place. Now, it’s not necessarily my favorite track on the album, but it was such a challenge to actually get it right. And sometimes that happens. With other songs, they’re written and recorded pretty much in a day and probably another day or two just changing some melodies or some sounds. You just never know where it’s gonna go, where it’s gonna take you, especially when there’s a group of you and someone will really love it and then someone won’t like it. So then it gets pulled into a different shape. MW: Where do you fall on the topic of streaming? RHODES:  Well, I actually pushed the button [to upload] on the world’s first song that was sold over the Internet. It was a for “Electric Barbarella,” in 1997. When I did this, the record label didn’t want to do it. I had to fight to have the opportunity, but I was so convinced that this was the future of music, that people would consume things online. This is about six years before iTunes launched. I’d sensed that Napster was such an amazing technology and what they discovered was really the beginning of the future. That’s why I was keen to use that technology to sell music, so that all musicians could at least get paid for what they do. I think that’s particularly important for younger artists — otherwise they don’t get to keep making music. After that, the record labels, instead of doing what I’d personally hoped would happen and actually befriending Napster and figuring how they get their own systems up and running to sell music, tried to smash the machine and stop progress.

some kind of fair payment system for that. So from that point of view, it needs a lot of fixing. From the point of view of the availability and the convenience for every consumer worldwide, I couldn’t possibly be more pro. I think it’s amazing that we’ve all got music at our fingertips 24 hours a day worldwide and we can find almost anything we want. MW: Do you miss the tangibility tangibility of albums? RHODES:  When we get the vinyl copy printed and I can look at the album cover and can take the vinyl out and drop the needle onto it and play it — it’s still my favorite thing. There’s a fetish about it that is so great, and that is never going to go away from me. I love the convenience, like we all do, of just pressing a button and there it is on my computer. But vinyl still sounds better than anything else. It still looks better than anything else. And there is a resurgence because there’s people out there who have realized that “Wow! This is a different world,” particularly with young kids who have never experienced it at the time. So yeah, I do miss it, but I’m always happy to go with progress. As long as those who want to can get back into that other world. MW:  As you know, we’re an LGBT magazine. Can you talk a bit about your gay fans and what they’ve meant to you? RHODES:  We’ve always had a pretty substantial gay and lesbian following. We played a lot of gay clubs early on. I remember one in San Francisco particularly on our very first U.S. tour called the I-Beam. I’ve never ever been in a room that was so hot in my life. It was absolutely jammed with mostly guys, and we had the best show. They were just so energetic, the audience, really just wanting to have the best time. But we relate to all people, what“MTV was a revelation. Then, as it turned into more of a game ever preferences they have, but I show channel, you started to realize that that was a short feel we have connected quite well with the gay audience because moment. It burned bright and fast and then it disappeared.” we’re so open to things. We had gay designers working with us right They wasted about eight to ten years and all of the major labels, at the very beginning when we were teenagers, so a lot of the some of them lost their companies. And the ones that survived people we’ve employed over the years have been gay or lesbian. lost their opportunity to be a part of the modern music world, It’s very sort of normal for us. MW: Thirty years, the world was not as open-minded towards gay because Apple stole all the thunder. We’re down to, what, three real major record labels at this point? There were hundreds of and lesbians. RHODES:  I agree with you, and I’m as thrilled as anyone to see them when we started out. In that way I’m a bit saddened because I think there should we’ve certainly made some very, very big steps in the right be more choice for artists to go to labels. We’ve lost a lot of artist direction on that. There are still places where there’s prejudice, development and that’s a very crucial part for younger artists. but it is funny how the world’s changed generally. I used to get Now labels throw their money at something and if it’s not a hit, on a night bus with John Taylor and we’d be dressed in New they trash it and move on to the next one — it’s all over. Think Romantic clothes, which were pretty colorful and quite unusual. if people hadn’t spent money on development of artists like Pink I had a shock of dyed blond hair and I wore a lot more makeup Floyd, for example, who really didn’t have any big hit and then then than I do now. And it was always a tricky experience getwrote “Dark Side of the Moon.” You’ve got to stick with artists ting on the night bus to come home because inevitably someone sometimes and you’ve got to see that talent and nurture it. And would be aggressive to us. And we weren’t fighters — we were that’s what worries me — everything’s like fast food. peaceful people. And so it always alarmed us from that point that The other thing is that the economic model is broken and  just because because you you looked looked a bit bit different different and thought thought a little differwhilst none of us like to think about music just as a business ent from someone else that somebody thought it was okay to be and we all like to think of it as an art form, you’ve still got to be mean and aggressive. I still to this day don’t really understand able to sell something to make the piece of art in the first place. why that awful trait exists in human nature, but I think we’ve all And I think it’s very, very hard for young artists to get past that experienced enough to know how real it is. first album and keep going to make things when they’re just not at that point yet where they get enough royalties from iTunes “Duran Duran: The Paper Gods Tour with Chic featuring Nile or whether they’re getting enough streams on Spotify, because  Rodgers” will hit Washington, D.C.’s Verizon Center on Friday, actually the payment is pretty miserable for artists. I think it  April 8. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster Ticketmaster.com. .com. For full tour will eventually get fixed. The YouTube issue needs to be fixed. information, visit duranduranmusic.com duranduranmusic.com.. If someone in the Midwest has made their own video to go with your song, I don’t mind that at all. But if that song is being broadPaper Gods is Gods is available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon.com cast and people are going there to listen to it, there needs to be as well as most streaming music services. l

Compiled by Doug Rule

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MARCH 17 - 24, 2016

Alexandria Harmonizers perform Thriller  in  in 2015

Instrument Free Aca-Challenge offers a rare, prominent showcase for a cappella groups

I

T’S A FOOLISH ALL-MEN’S CHORUS THAT DOESN’T THINK IT HAS AT LEAST some appeal to the gay audience,” Scipio Garling says. Garling’s group the Alexandria Harmonizers may have more gay appeal than most — beyond simply having its fair share of gay or bisexual members, including Garling, among a 100-plus roster. Founded in 1948 as a traditional, four-part a cappella chorus, the Harmonizers have led the barbershop harmony movement in outreach on gay issues, according to Garling. The group has also performed at gay and gay-themed events, including last year’s wedding ceremony presented by Marriott International during the Capital Pride Parade. In April, it will perform as part of Strathmore’s production of  I Am Harvey  Milk,, a new oratorio by Andrew Lippa about the gay rights pioneer also featuring Kristin  Milk Chenoweth and the National Philharmonic. Next week, the Harmonizers will perform at another event with inherent, if not

explicit, gay appeal — the third annual Aca-Challenge at the Lincoln Theatre. The Harmonizers and TBD, its 14-member contemporary a cappella group, started this event as a way to support the a cappella community and provide a rare showcase at a large, prestigious venue for a cappella groups more accustomed to coffeehouses and private events. “No one will be lowering Fat Amy from the ceiling,” laughs Garling, who serves as the event’s talent scout. Nonetheless, fans of Fat Amy from the  Pitch Perfect movie franchise — as well as NBC’s The Sing-Off , even Fox’s Glee — are sure to be entertained. Aca-Challenge stands out from other similar national competitions due to its mix of both collegiate and adult professional groups competing for a $1,000 grand prize, with second place garnering $500 and third, $250. (All groups walk away with at least $100 and a professional photo shoot just for participati participating.) ng.) A panel of judges helps select the top three “most entertaining” acts along with the audience, which will vote via text. Along with The Harmonizers and TBD, this year’s contestants include D.C.’s all-female adult vocal band The District, All Natural, composed of male and female alumni of the University of Maryland, and the all-female Sharp Attitude from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. While light staging and choreography is not required, Aca-Challenge does encourage contestants to go beyond stellar singing and vocal stunts. “It is not a pure singing contest,” Garling says. “Entertaining people is what these groups do. They are not stand-and-sing choral groups with their folders open.” —Doug Rule

The 2016 Aca-Challenge is Saturday, March 26, at 8 p.m., at the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Tickets are $25 to $50. Call 202-328-6000 or visit thelincolndc.com.

SPOTLIGHT AN EVENING OF HUMOROUS READINGS Brian Agler of McSweeney of McSweeney’s ’s and Funny and Funny or Die hosts an event at DC9 that offers some of D.C.’s funniest literary humorists reading from their work. Participants include: Megan Downey Post, Graham Starr of the Washington Post, Atlantic, Audrey Mattaino of of The Atlantic, Dojo Comedy and Jon Wolper of  McSweeney’s and GQ GQ.. Friday, March 18, at 7 p.m. DC9, 1940 9th St. NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-483-5000 or dcnine.com.

AMERICAN IDIOT Keegan Theatre has reunited the creative team behind its 2014 production  Hair for of Hair of  for a more contemporary rock musical.   American Idiot focuses on musical. three lifelong friends on a quest for true meaning in a post-9/11 world, as told through the sharp-edged and exhilarating songs of Green Day. Now to April 9. Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call 703-892-0202 or visit keegantheatre.com.

ian and first learned to dance the hula,  but was born and raised in California, where as a teenager he first tried ballet and modern dance. “It uses traditional hula and chanting, some storytelling and modern dance to reflect on my mixed identity and also tell a little  bit about the history of the Hawaiian people.” Saturday, March 19, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 20, at 7 p.m. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 at the door. Call 202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.

JUKEBOX THE GHOST Ben Thornewill, Tommy Siegel and Jesse Kristin met while attending George Washington University and quickly started making music together. A decade later, the clever, pure-pop trio returns to the region for a show in support of its charming, just-released Sessions, featuring acoustic EP Thump Sessions, songs drawn from last year’s catchy, uplifting self-titled full-length. Friday, March 25, at 8 p.m. Ram’s Head Live, 20 Market Place, Baltimore. Tickets are $19 in advance, or $21 at the door. Call 410-244-1131 or visit ramsheadlive.com.

MISS PIXIE’S 12X12 ART SHOW CHRISTOPHER K. MORGAN & ARTISTS  Pohaku,, the The company presents  Pohaku Hawaiian word for stone. “ Pohaku “ Pohaku is the first work that I’ve made that’s really kind of integrating those different sides of my identity,” Morgan tells  Metro Weekly. Weekly . Morgan is half-Hawai-

Pixie Windsor has curated a show in the Capital Fringe building featuring local artists who created mixedmedia, music-inspired works on can vases the size of a record album. Glynn Romero, Lisa Marie Thalhammer, Ellagwynn Niles, David Amoroso, Maryanne Pollock, Willie Doyle and

Matt Herring are among the 17 artists represented. Capital Fringe will get 20 percent of all art sales. Through  April 10. Logan Fringe Arts Space, 1358 Florida Ave. NE. Call 202-733-6321 or  visit capitalfringe.org. capitalfringe.org.

NO SHARPS, NO FLATS  Alex Braden curated this group sound art show at the Transformer Gallery in Logan Circle, featuring over 30 original compositions by D.C.-based musicians. It’s housed within a sculptural installation, constructed from the fragments of cassette-player boom boxes, created by Braden, Emily Francisco and Adam Richard Nelson Hughes. Opening reception is Thursday, March 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On exhibit through April 30. Transformer, 1404 P St. NW. Call 202-483-1102 or visit transformerdc.org.

FILM

THE DIVERGENT SERIES:  ALLEGIANT Third film in a moderately successful but critically panned series about  young adults doing things they shouldn’t have to in order to overcome oppression. Opens Friday, March 18.  Area theaters. Visit fandango.co m. (RM)

THE LITTLE PRINCE The world’s fourth most translated book once again receives a film treatment, this time combining stopmotion and computer animation. In the original tale, a pilot stranded in the desert meets a young prince who fell to Earth on an asteroid. Mark Osborne’s film adapts that tale into an original narrative, with the now elderly pilot befriending a young girl who is struggling with an overbearing mother. Rachel McAdams, Jeff Bridges and Paul Rudd lead an all-star cast. Opens Friday, March 18. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (RM)

THE BRONZE Critically panned after its debut at Sundance, Bryan Buckley’s film was apparently retooled for its theatrical release. Melissa Rauch stars as gymnastics bronze medalist Hope Ann Greggory, who loses her local celebrity status to a rising star in her town. Medals can be polished, but what about turds? Opens Friday, March 18.  Area theaters. Visit fandango.co m. (Rhuaridh Marr)

STAGE CONSTELLATIONS David Muse directs a distinctly intimate staging of Nick Payne’s play that charts the infinite possibilities of one relationship. Written by one of Britain’s most innovative playwrights, Constellations plays with choice and chance, and charts the limitless possibilities of one relationship. Tom

Patterson and Lily Balatincz star. Extended to March 27. Stage 4 at Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.

FALLING OUT OF TIME Theater J presents an adaptation of acclaimed Israeli author David Grossman’s 10-year-old novel about enduring loss and accepting death. Derek Goldman adapted and directs the work, featuring Nora Achrati, Edward Christian, Leo Erickson, Nanna Ingvarsson, John Lescault, Erika Rose, Michael Russotto, Rafael Untalan and Joseph Wycoff. Opens in a pay-what-you-can preview Thursday, March 17. Runs to April 17. The Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater, Washington, D.C.’s Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW. Call 202-777-3210 or visit theaterj.org.

FOR COLORED GIRLS… Deidra Starnes, who starred in the original Off Broadway production, directs colored Ntozake Shange’s landmark for landmark for colored  girls who have considered considered suicide/when suicide/when the rainbow is enuf  at   at Theater Alliance. Sharisse Taylor, Christa Bennett, Lolita Clayton, Kashayna Johnson, Naomi LaVette, Alina Collins Maldonado and Natalie Graves Tucker star. To March 26. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Place SE. Tickets are $35 to $50. Call 202-241-2539 or visit theateralliance.com.

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH  Another musical by Benj Pasek and Hansen,, Justin Paul (  Dear Evan Hansen  Dogfight ),  Dogfight  ), based on Roald Dahl’s disproportionately peachy tale and featuring a book by Timothy Allen McDonald, gets the theater for young audiences treatment at Adventure Theatre MTC. Michael Baron directs the show, a co-production with Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. To April 4. Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Tickets are $19.50. Call 301-634-2270 or visit adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

MARJORIE PRIME Jason Loewith directs the regional premiere of this Pulitzer Prizenominated play, a tender and pro vocative story of an elderly woman who’s using technology to reinvent her memories. Written by Jordan Harrison, the sci-fi-lite tale stars Kathleen Butler, Michael Glenn, Michael WIllis and Julie-Ann Elliott. To April 10. The Theatre Lab at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Call 301-9243400 or visit olneytheatre.org olneytheatre.org..

ROMEO AND JULIET One of its earliest attempts at “wordless Shakespeare,” Synetic Theater revives the 2008 production, which snagged six Helen Hayes Award nominations and two wins, for direction and ensemble. Synetic’s founding artistic director Paata Tsikurishvili returns to

direct the show, set among the gears of a giant clock, such that the greatest of Shakespearean lovers — here portrayed by Synetic veterans Zana Gankhuyag and Irina Kavsadze — race against time itself to try to outrun their fate. To March 27. Theater at Crystal City, 1800 South Bell St., Arlington. Tickets are $15 to $60. Call 800-4948497 or visit synetictheater.org.

THE FLICK  Annie Baker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy focuses on employees at an increasingly out-of-date movie theater struggling to find their place in the world. Starring Evan Casey, Lara C. Harris, Thaddeus McCants and William Vaughan. Directed by Joe Calarco. Now to April 17, with Pride Night set for Friday, April 8. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell  Ave., Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or  visit signature-theatre.org. signature-theatre.org.

THE LION  As a stop on a multi-city tour, Arena Stage welcomes rock musician Benjamin Scheuer, who will sing and play guitar as he performs his solo musical, relating his journey from boyhood to manhood that garnered him a Drama Desk Award. Sean Daniels directs. To April 10. Kogod Cradle in the Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Tickets are $40 to $70. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

THE WORLD IS A HANDKERCHIEF Hugo Medrano directs GALA’s  bilingual production of Jorge Diaz’s play with catchy music by VIttorio Cintolesi and perfect for children of all ages. The World Is A Handkerchief  focuses on a bored clown, Titiloco, who takes a magic handkerchief ride and learns that the world would be a  better place if only people cared more for the environment, diversity, even life itself. Closes this Saturday, March 19. GALA Theatre at Tivoli Square, 3333 14th St. NW. Tickets are $12. Call 202-234-7174 or visit galatheatre.org galatheatre.org..

WORD BECOMES FLESH Two pioneers of what has been called hiphop theater are behind Word Becomes  Flesh:: playwright Marc Bamuthi Joseph  Flesh and director Psalmayene 24. Louis E. Davis, Justin Weaks, Chris Lane, Clayton Pelham Jr., and Gary L. Perkins III star in a show featuring choreography by Tony Thomas and original music  by Nick the the 1da. At Theate Theaterr Alliance. Alliance. To March 26. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Place SE. Tickets are $35 to $50. Call 202-241-2539 or visit theateralliance.com.

COMMUNITY STAGE THE NORMAL HEART Baltimore’s Vagabond Theatre, which  bills itself “America’s oldest continuously operating little theatre,” reprises its 25-year-old production of Larry

Kramer’s explosive Tony Award winner about the early years of the AIDS crisis, an electrifying indictment of the government, media and the public for silence and refusal to deal with the epidemic. Howard Berkowitz directs. Closes Sunday, March 20. Vagabond Theatre, 806 S. Broadway, Baltimore. Tickets are $17 to $20. Call 410-5639135 or visit vagabondplayers.org vagabondplayers.org..

MUSIC CARLY RAE JEPSEN The Gimme Love Tour features a return to the area by last year’s Capital Pride headliner, touring in support of  E-mo-tion.. Cardiknox and Fairground  E-mo-tion Saints are support acts. Sunday, March 20, at 7:40 p.m. Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Place. Tickets are $25 in advance or $28 day-of show. Call 410244-0057 or visit baltimoresoundstage.com.

EMILY WEST Thanks to exposure on  America’s Got Talent in 2014, when she snagged the competition’s runner-up berth, Iowanative Emily West has managed to find an audience for her showy, belting variant of country-pop. Last summer she released the album  All For You   — which  Rolling Stone summed You up in a review, “heartbreak has never sounded quite this uplifting” — featuring original tunes plus versions of some of the well-known tunes she

covered on TV. The latter includes a duet on “True Colors” with the song’s originator, Cyndi Lauper, whom West calls “her fairy godmother.” Saturday, March. 24, at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave.,  Alexandria. Tickets are $25. Call 703549-7500 or visit birchmere.com birchmere.com..

FOLGER CONSORT To commemorate the 400th year since Shakespeare’s death, the Consort offers a concert featuring instrumental improvisations of songs from, and inspired by, his era. “Playing with Fire: Virtuoso Instrumental Music of the Renaissance” includes lively “groundling” music, or country dances and tunes mentioned in the Bard’s plays and featuring viola, violin, wind instruments, lute and percussion. Friday, March 18, at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 19, at 5 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 20, at 2 p.m. Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $25 to $40. Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu.

 veteran lesbian folk act, Toshi Reagon, Reagon, opens. Friday, March 18, at 8 p.m. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Tickets are $55. Call 202-328-6000 or  visit thelincolndc.com.

FRANCES RUFFELLE The original, Tony- and Helen Hayeswinning Eponine in  Les Miserables returns to the Kennedy Center, this time for a performance of her retrospective cabaret “I Say Yeh Yeh,” part of Barbara Cook’s Spotlight series. Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $50. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

GALACTIC The New Orleans-based jazz and funk  jam band tours tours in support support of last year’s year’s  Into The Deep Deep,, which includes instrumental tracks plus songs featuring Macy Gray and Mavis Staples, among others. Friday, March 18, and Saturday, March 19. Doors at 8 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $30. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

INDIGO GIRLS, TOSHI REAGON  A return area engagement with everyevery body’s favorite lesbian folk-rock duo, rescheduled after snowzilla forced the cancellation of its January date.  Amy Ray and Emily Saliers will sing through hits from its nearly 30-year repertoire with a special focus on Amy and Emily’s latest set together, One  Lost Day Day,, a return to form released last year built on personal themes of loss, change and parenthood. Another

JOSE GONZALEZ WITH YMUSIC The charismatic classical-informed rock songwriter and guitarist teams up with an ensemble redefining contemporary classical music to perform new arrangements of Gonzalez’s Claws, with music from Vestiges & Claws, the promise of other surprises for this special show. Saturday, March 26, at 8 p.m. GW Lisner, The George

Washington University, 730 21st St. NW. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call 202994-6851 or visit lisner.org.

KEVIN EUBANKS  A longtime leader of the band on NBC’s Leno, former Tonight Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the American jazz guitarist and composer returns for an annual weekend run of shows at Blues Alley. Thursday, March 24, through Sunday, March 27, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Tickets are $30 to $35, plus $10 minimum purchase. Call 202-337-4141 or visit bluesalley.com.

MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND Shara Worden leads a multifaceted career in the performing arts, including dabbling as a classical and opera singer. And that experience informs the music she makes for and performs in her dramatic indie-pop act My Brightest Diamond. She tours in support of last year’s eccentric and captivating EP  I Had Grown Wild . Saturday, March 19, at 8 p.m. Amp  by Strathmore, 11810 Grand Park Ave. North Bethesda. Tickets are $25 to $35. Call 301-581-5100 or visit ampbystrathmore.com.

NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Osmo Vanska will work to whip the orchestra into states of exuberance in Brahms’ mighty  Piano Concerto  No. 1, featuring Nikolai Lugansky. The program also includes the storm

of Beethoven’s  Symphony No. 6. Thursday, March 17, at 7 p.m., Friday, March 18, and Saturday, March 19, at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $15 to $89. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org kennedy-center.org..

RIHANNA  A world tour in support of new album  Anti-,, different than anything else the  Antipop princess has ever done, and one that definitely grows on you with each listen. Travis Scott opens. Tuesday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. Call 202-628-3200 or  visit verizoncenter.com. verizoncenter.com.

WASHINGTON WOMEN IN JAZZ FESTIVAL Local jazz pianist Amy K. Bomet put together this annual festival in 2011 as a way to help foster more collaboration, performance and support among the many female professionals in D.C.’s male-dominated jazz scene. Two shows remain of this year’s festival: the all-female big band Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes on Friday, March 18, at 6 p.m., at Westminster Church, 400 I St. NW; and a free festival finale concert featuring Jessica Boykin-Settles, with a tribute to Sarah Vaughan, plus the Washington Women in Jazz Trio, on Saturday, March 19, at 2 p.m., at Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place SE. Visit washingtonwomeninjazz. com for full details.

WICKED JEZABEL Pauline Anson-Dross’ popular lesbian all-covers party-rock band Wicked Jezabel has been rocking — as well as raising money for various good causes — all over the region for a decade now, originally under the name The Outskirts of Town. This weekend the This weekend the women return to perform at the weekly “Ladies Night in the Loft” event at Baltimore’s gay club Grand Central. Saturday, March 19, at 9 p.m. The Loft at Grand Central, 1001 N. Charles St. Baltimore. Cover is $10. Call 410-7527133 or visit wickedjezabel.com. wickedjezabel.com.

DANCE

Center at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Tickets are $25 to $45. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.

file pictures on dating sites. Through March 19. Flashpoint Gallery, 916 G St. NW. Call 202-315-1310 or visit flashpointdc.org.

THE WASHINGTON BALLET

EYE POP: THE CELEBRITY GAZE

Set to Philip Glass, Stephen Mills’ landmark dance reinvention of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy  Hamlet offers a contemporary staging that redefines the limits of dance. Opens in a preview performance on Wednesday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. Runs to April 3. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets are $32.25 to $130. Call 202467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org kennedy-center.org..

Many never publicly displayed portraits of 53 luminaries at the top in their fields is the focus of this exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, Katy Perry, Sonia Sotomayor, Michelle Obama, Serena Williams and Kobe Bryant are among the works, ranging from drawings to sculpture, paintings to video portraits, and all recent additions to the museum’s collection. Through July 10. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300 or visit npg.si.edu.

GALLERIES

BOWEN MCCAULEY DANCE Lucy Bowen McCauley’s celebrated local contemporary dance company celebrates its 20th anniversary with a mixed-repertoire program that includes the world premiere of  Ars  Amatoria,, a playful interpretation of  Amatoria ancient Roman poet Ovid’s writings about the arts of seduction and love. Friday, March 18, and Saturday, March 19, Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $40 to $45. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

THE PEKING ACROBATS  A 30th Anniversary North American Tour of gravity-defying artists from China and performing to ancient Chinese music, enhanced by stateof-the-art special effects. Thursday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. The Music

#THISISWHYIMSINGLE Flashpoint Gallery presents a post Valentine’s Day-themed show featuring artists using as source material their own experiences with social media, dating apps and the quest for an emotional connection in the digital age. The show features Dafna Steinberg’s  I’m Willing to Lie about  How We Met Met,, exploring idealized desires of romance versus the reality of personal communications on social media; Jennifer Towner’s  Failed T-Shirt Designs for Today’s Modern Woman,, playing with the idea of fitWoman ting in with the standards of socially accepted femininity; and Jenny Walton’s  Match/Enemy , examining presentations of male persona in pro-

FEATHERED  A showcase of three 20th century print artists — Frank W. Benson, H. Emerson Tuttle and Stow Wengenroth — inspired by the beauty, power and reverence of winged animals. Through  April 9. The Old Print Gallery, 1220 31st St. NW. Call 202-965-1818 or oldprintgallery.com.

OUT OF THE ASHES Subtitled  New Library for Congress and the Nation, Nation, this exhibition marks the 200th anniversary of the acquisition of Jefferson’s library of books, the foundation of the modern Library of Congress. The Jeffersonian concept of a universal library covering all subjects is the basis of the library’s compre-

hensive collecting policies. Through May. Second Floor of the Library of Congress’s Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Call 202-7078000 or visit loc.gov.

THE GREAT INKA ROAD: ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE One of the monumental engineering achievements in history, the Great Inka Road is a network of more than 20,000 miles, crossing mountains and tropical lowlands, rivers and deserts, linking the Inca capital Cusco with the farthest reaches of its empire — and it still serves Andean communities today in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia,  Argentina and Chile. This exhibition explores the legacy of the Inka Empire and technological feat of the road, recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage site in 2014. Through  April 2018. National Museum of the  Americ an India n, Indepen dence  Avenue at 4th Street SW. Call 202633-1000 or visit nmai.si.edu.

TIMELESS TRANSFORMATION: KIMONOS, PRINTS AND TEXTILES Kimonos and the artwork they inspire is the focus of Strathmore’s spring exhibition, part of the 2016 National Cherry Blossom Festival. Traditional garments and modern interpretations will be on display along with details about how artists adapt and assemble familiar motifs. Through April 17. The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org strathmore.org..

ABOVE AND BEYOND A PEOPLE’S CHOIR DC Started in D.C. two years ago, this free monthly event at DC9 is all about communal singing — but it’s more than simply group karaoke. Here, a (hopefully) enthusiastic crowd sings along to the actual recordings of popular songs, with song lyrics pro vided in paper and electronic form. This month’s theme is “Dangerous Situations,” featuring pop songs with titles that evoke danger, threats, risks and trouble. Tuesday, March 22, at 8 p.m. DC9, 1940 9th St. NW. Free. Call 202-483-5000 or dcnine.com.

LA-TI-DO Regie Cabico and Don Mike Mendoza’s La-Ti-Do variety show is neither karaoke nor cabaret. The show features higher-quality singing than most karaoke, often from local musical theater actors performing on their night off. Cabico and co-host Mendoza also select storytellers who offer spoken-word poetry and comedy. Held at Bistro Bistro in Dupont Circle, La-Ti-Do welcomes Mackenzie Newbury and Marni Whelan as performers on Monday, March 21, at 8 p.m. Bistro Bistro, 1727 Connecticut Ave. NW. Tickets are $15, or $10 if you eat dinner at the restaurant beforehand. Call 202-328-1640 or  visit latidodc.wix.com. latidodc.wix.com. l

games

Cry Foul Far Cry Primal  can’t   can’t shake the feeling that we’ve seen it all before — with guns  by RHUARIDH

MARR

 INT. UBISOFT MONTREAL MONTREAL OFFICES PRODUCER: We have a problem. We need something to keep players interested in the  Far Cry series. Cry  series. Something bold, something different. Something we can easily add on to  Far Cry 4 and 4 and that won’t require much work. DEVELOPER: Like Blood Like Blood Dragon for Dragon for Far  Far Cry 3? 3? PRODUCER: Precisely. What have you got? DEVELOPER: Ummm... PRODUCER: Literally anything. The bosses need some good publicity after the mess of Assassin’s of  Assassin’s Creed Unity Unity. DEVELOPER: Well, people really liked that bit in 4 where they entered Shangri-La and got to battle alongside a tiger. What if we made downloadable content that let them play more of that? PRODUCER: Not bad. But it needs something extra. DEVELOPER: Uhhh... Well, they also liked the hunting and crafting, so what if we let them use the tiger for that, and make it an essential part of the gameplay, getting food and stuff? PRODUCER: Do you mean like a survival game? Those are hot right now. DEVELOPER: Yeah! And what if there were no guns? They had to rely on basic tools. Just bows, arrows, spears, clubs? We could

set it in prehistoric times, thousands of years before the main story! PRODUCER: Oh, I like that. But it sounds like a lot of work. DEVELOPER: No, it’s pretty simple, we just re-skin the  Far Cry 4 map, removing any modern buildings and roads, and add some new people and textures and a bunch of animals. PRODUCER: What about dialogue and characters? We’d still have to script all that out. DEVELOPER: We could create our own language and then just tell the story through subtitles? PRODUCER: Oh, okay, I love it! This is great. We can announce it at — Wait! DEVELOPER: What? PRODUCER: I’m thinking.... What if, instead of making it DLC, we just turn it into the next game in the franchise?  Far Cry  Prehistoricc. No.  Far Cry Hunter  Prehistori Hunter.. No, that’s not it. But you get where I’m going with this. DEVELOPER: Far DEVELOPER:  Far Cry Primal? Primal? PRODUCER: Yes! And we can charge full price for it! We’ll rake in millions more than we would as DLC. How long would you need to make it a full release? DEVELOPER: Uhhh… I guess maybe a year or so? We’d need to concept it out andPRODUCER: Perfect! I’ll tell the bosses what we’ve come up with. DEVELOPER: But wait, won’t people be pissed that we’ve made such a dramatic change? PRODUCER: What do you mean? DEVELOPER: Well, I mean, is it even Far even  Far Cry if Cry if there’s no guns?

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Or strong characters? Or modern infrastructure? PRODUCER: Who cares? Gamers are idiots. They’ll buy it for the title alone.  END SCENE It’s a little reductive to brush  Far Cry Primal Primal   off as merely DLC expanded into a full game, or a reskinned version of  Far Cry 4, 4, but unfortunately that’s exactly what you’ll be thinking while playing it. Coming just over a year after that fourth game,  Primal drops  Primal  drops players into 10,000 B.C., and in doing so diverges drastically from the previous two games’ tested formula. But the problem is that it’s also restrained by being a part of that same franchise: The Far Cry hallmarks of a strong antagonist, compelling narrative and bombastic gameplay are gone. In their place is a game that focuses on a more intimate, quieter, atmospheric HHHHH ) is undoubte experience.  Far Cry Primal ( HHHHH undoubtedly dly a good game — it’s just a pity that it’s a terrible Far terrible  Far Cry game. Cry game. Let’s start with its setting: the land of Oros, a, beautiful, fertile, mountainous region in Northern Europe. It’s undoubtedly Primal edly  Primal’s ’s greatest strength. If it is indeed just a reskinning of Kyrat from Far from  Far Cry 4  (and similar waterways and roads would suggest that it is), it’s one hell of a redesign. Untouched by centuries — millennia, even — of human progress, Oros is raw, savage, unforgiving, but also gorgeous, bountiful and bursting with every facet of nature’s beauty. Giant trees, plant-rich grasslands, coursing rivers, giant mountains, rolling hills, natural bridges and snow-capped peaks dot its landscape. It’s teeming with wildlife, from deer to goats to wolves to saber-toothed tigers, this is a land where animals are king. Here, man is still stuck firmly in the Stone Age, making tools, establishing villages and mastering fire, but always at the mercy of whatever nature has to throw at him. As Takkar, a hunter from the Wenja tribe, the player will navigate this world in a near-constant state of apprehension. What could be hiding behind that tall grass? What’s waiting for me in that tree? What was that sound? Where did those wolves run off to? Oros is a place just waiting to kill you, whether at the tooth or claw of an animal, the steep drop of a cliff, the icy water of a lake, or the spear of a member of an opposing tribe. The texture work, lighting and sound design combine to make  Far Cry  Primal a  Primal  a game where your heart rate rarely has time to sink to more placid levels — especially when night falls, and everything becomes ever more dangerous in the moonlight. Gameplay, too, has its strengths. While it can be jarring at first going from assault rifles and grenades to a bow and arrow or stone club, the adjustment is relatively painless. If you’re willing to roleplay and accept that killing something was a lot harder in 10,000 B.C. than it is today, it’s much easier to make the transition. If you’ve only recently finished playing  Far Cry 4, 4 , well, it’s going to be a bitch for the first couple of hours. Both helping and hindering here is the level of similarity between the games. Hunting and crafting is more essential here than ever, with wood, rock, dust, plants, animal fats and skins and other collectibles being used to craft tools, weapons, ammo, heal your character and upgrade your tribe’s village. The crafting system is dragged straight over from past games, as is tool selection, but it brings some annoying quirks — you don’t craft arrows for your bow in the crafting menu, for instance, instead you make them in the weapon selection screen. This is a UI designed for guns and ammunition that’s been forced back into this setting — and it shows. And that carries over to too many aspects of  Primal  Primal.. Instead

of radio towers, which will unlock parts of the map, you’ll be taking over bonfires. Instead of going on drug-fuelled rampages, you’ll go on annoyingly long vision quests. Instead of a cleaner aesthetic to suit the simpler times, you’ll be constantly inundated with UI elements as you navigate through the world — something essential in a more modern setting, but completely out of place in Primal in Primal.. Perhaps most egregious is Hunter Vision, which lets Takkar see enemies, animals and collectibles in the environment. It feels so out of place here that it’s almost laughable upon first use (in Far (in  Far Cry 4, it’s a smart pair of binoculars that picks out targets). It makes much more sense once Takkar gains control of an owl, which can scout ahead for him and identify potential threats — an owl has heightened senses, a human does not. Here, however,  Primal  Primal   claws back some points. Mastering the world’s various beasts is a delight. Players will be given an owl and a white wolf to start with, but they can add bears, lions, tigers, and even honey badgers to their repertoire. In battle — or while hunting — these animals can be called upon to attack and take down targets, a handy way of surprising a group of enemies. Sit back and snipe with the bow and arrow while a bear rampages in to tear them to shreds. It’s one of  Primal  Primal’s ’s highlights. What definitely isn’t is the thin, uninteresting story. Whereas prior games could hardly be passed off as Pulitzer-worthy dramas, 3 mas,  3 and  and 4 both contained enigmatic, enigmatic, engrossing antagonists, who chided and goaded the player into caring about their quest to take them down. Pagan Min, for example, with his constant chattering over the radio as players progressed through the story, was invaluable in making  Far Cry 4  such a fun game to play. Here, there isn’t that same sense of attachment. Sure, there’s a dedication to setting that’s impressive — Ubisoft drafted in linguists to create three distinct languages for the three tribes that would have been appropriate for the time — but  Primal  Primal’s ’s story is pretty boring. Takkar must take down the tribes that have been murdering the Wenja, in an effort to ensure his tribe is the dominant one in the region. Sure, there’s some morality at play here — if everyone is fighting to survive, who’s good and who’s evil? — but I cared little for the events I was playing through. It also doesn’t help that content outside of the main story is paper thin. You’ll recognize a lot of the side quests from  Far Cry 4, just reskinned for this ancient world. You’ll rescue kidnapped Wenja, interrupt supply routes for other tribes, take over areas and claim outposts. Hunting and crafting occupy significantly more time in this game, but outside of that it’s business as usual for the series. And that’s really the core of  Primal  Primal’s ’s problem. It’s a Far a  Far Cry game, so it has to adhere to the precedent established by the successful third and fourth entries. The issue here is that, in this Stone Age land, those same gameplay archetypes just don’t work. What Ubisoft should have done is release  Primal  Primal   as just that:  Primal.. No Far  Primal No  Far Cry prefix. Cry  prefix. Without the heavy UI elements and me-too mission structures, Primal structures, Primal could  could have focused on its core strengths: hunting, gathering, surviving in the land of Oros. It’s there that players will find the most enjoyment in  Primal  Primal,, while quietly stalking their prey, or attempting to tame a beast, or planning an attack on a group of rival tribesmen. Whatever Ubisoft’s motives with  Far Cry Primal Primal,, it just doesn’t work. It’s far from a bad game — indeed, it has moments that approach sublime — but by burdening it with the expectations of the  Far Cry Cry   franchise, it’s destroyed what could have been a fun experience. l Far Cry Primal is Primal is available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One

games

Big Hit Hitman  brings   brings the deadly franchise back to relevance by breaking it up  into bite-size chunks  by RHUARIDH

R

MARR

EJOICE, STEALTH FANS, AS EVERYONE’S favorite follicly-challenged, contract killer is back!  Yes, Agent 47 has dusted off his bald head and returned once more in this latest outing of the popular murder-em-up. For anyone turned off by 2012’s  Hitman Absolution Absolution,, which sought to make the franchise more accessible for new players, fret not. Gone is that entry’s linear, simplified gameplay and in its place is the grand, freeform, sandbox gameplay of old.  Yes, Hitman  Yes,  Hitman ( HHHHH HHHHH ) takes the franchise back to big, dense

worlds, letting players find their own ways of killing the various targets they’re given. Some things have changed this time around, however. For the first time,  Hitman  Hitman   won’t have all of its content available from the outset. Instead, it will be released episodically over the course of 2016, with new cities, contracts and targets being added with each update (these will be free if you shell out for  Hitman’s  Hitman ’s equivalent of a season pass). That’s a bold move from Square Enix and developer IO Interactive — and one I’m not sure entirely pays off. That said, what’s here so far is more than enough to engage both seasoned killers and newbies to the art of contract killing. Players will have access to two training levels, plus the Paris location. If the first two are impressive, it’s the Parisian fashion show that truly stuns with its scale. A huge, sprawling building, on my first few passthroughs I found myself easily getting lost in its maze of doorways and corridors and cordoned off sections. And that’s the beauty of the  Hitman  Hitman   series, it compels you to return, over and over, learning its maps and trying new ways to take out your target.

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It’s entirely possible to move through a location at your own pace, sneaking past security guards, blending in with smaller crowds, subduing a waiter and stealing their uniform, until you take out the predetermined target (or targets). But there are dozens of ways to accomplish your task: Do you drop a chandelier as they stand on the runway? Perhaps poison a glass of champagne and pose as a bartender? Maybe eavesdrop on a conversation, learn that you look like a famous model, subdue said model and then pose as them to access the target?  Hitman   revels in offering players every possible route to success, then stepping back and allowing them to make their own way. It helps that, at least technically, this new  Hitman   is an impressive beast. As well as the locations being much larger — they’re around 6 or 7 times bigger than  Absol  Absolution ution ’s — they’re also dense with bodies. Levels apparently accommodate around 300 characters, but as you move through them it’ll feel like a lot more. The danger of being spotted at any moment is heightened when there’s crowds round every corner, adding a delicious twist to the game, a greater focus on remaining hidden in plain sight than ever before. The crowds will also chatter incessantly. Partygoers will speculate on your target’s whereabouts, security guards will absentmindedly discuss important security details, the target t hemselves will often move through rooms, offering further information on ways to end their life. Oh, you like to drink? Let me slip some rat poison in your wine glass, if you don’t mind. To boost replayability — this is, after all, only three levels —  Hitma  Hitman n   support Contracts, player-created missions that can be shared online for others to try. Choose a target (any of the 300 characters), set the parameters (perhaps players can

only take out the target with a specific weapon, or wearing a specific disguise) and then let the community have at it. In addition,  Hitman   will be updated with developer-added contracts: Escalation Contracts increase in difficulty each time you play them, and Elusive Targets appear in-game for  just 48 hours ho urs — wit h only onl y one chance to take ta ke them th em out . They Th ey add even greater challenge and variety to the gameplay, but only to a point. Once you’ve learned every passageway and method of attacking the yacht, air force base and Parisian fashion show, and murdered your targets in as many ways as possible, it’s going to become pretty apparent that episodic maybe wasn’t the right way to go. One big irk, though, is that all this extra, internet-dependant content demands a rather annoying caveat: you must have an internet connection to play  Hitman . Not to access the contracts, but to play it at all. Your achievements, your unlocked items, even your saves, all demand an internet connection. For some, that could be reason enough to walk away. However, niggles aside,  Hitman  is a game I can easily see myself dropping into every month or so when new content is added. There’ll be a new location, new targets, more snippets of the game’s throwaway story (honestly, don’t even bother), and another week or so of enjoyment. Maybe spreading out my planning, my executions, my pathfinding and chandelierdropping over an entire year is better than condensing it into a few short weeks and moving onto the next game. Maybe  Hitman   is just the right amount of game, at just the right time. Whatever it is, though, it’s a thoroughly polished, thoroughly enjoyable return for Agent 47. l Hitman is Hitman  is available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. One .

tech

Expensive Reality PlayStation VR is an impressive — albeit pricey — way to bring virtual reality gaming to the masses  by RHUARIDH

I

MARR

F 2016 TELLS US ANYTHING, IT’S THAT VIRTUAL reality is gaming’s next big craze. But, while Oculus and HTC are battling for the high end of the market, Samsung is tackling the smartphone crowd, and Google is gunning for bargain consumers, the industry has patiently waited for one big player to make its move: Sony. First teased as Project Morpheus a few years ago, Sony has been quietly working on its virtual reality project, with only occasional demonstrations of its potential. Intended to give PlayStation owners a compelling reason to dive into VR gaming — something reserved for PC gamers until now — Sony’s entry

to the market is big for several reasons, and not just because they have a potential consumer base of 36 million console owners. The PlayStation VR, as Sony’s headset will be known, is exclusive to PlayStation 4, whose owners will finally get their hands on it this fall. Courtesy of a reveal at San Francisco’s Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, we know that PlayStation VR will launch in October for the not insignificant sum of $400.  Yes, that’s more more than the PS4 currently currently retails retails for.  Virtuall real  Virtua reality ity was neve neverr going to be chea cheap p — the heads headset et must be comfortable for a wide range of ages and head shapes, as well as contain a variety of sensors, plus screens and connection options — but $400 is a lot of money. And that’s not even taking into account what the PlayStation VR requires in order to work. Your $400 investment will buy you a cool, hip headset, but if you actually want to use it with your PS4, you’ll need to spend even more. The headset requires the PlayStation Camera (RRP $60, currently on Amazon for $44) and works best with the PlayStation Move controllers — the failed peripherals from the PS3 era (RRP $50 each each,, but available on Amazon for $29 apiece)

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— which will make gaming more immersive. So, a headset, a camera and two controllers will set you back at least $520. A Sony rep told Tech Insider that there will be a bundle with a camera and a move controller, but how much it will retail for remains to be seen, just don’t expect it to be close to $400. Oh, and if you don’t already have a PS4 console, add another $349 to that total. All of a sudden, virtual reality isn’t looking quite so attractive. Still, if you’re happy to spend the money, there’s a lot to like about PS VR. The final version will feature a 5.7-inch OLED display (the same technology used by LG for their flagship TVs), with Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080), as well as 360-degree tracking and a low latency of under 18ms. Oh, and for audio buffs, it supports 3D audio. On the gaming side, there’s also a sign that PS VR won’t be another flash in the pan like other peripherals (Kinect, PlayStation Camera, PlayStation Move, PlayStation Eye, EyeToy). Sony has managed to get over 230 developers on board with creating content for the device, with 50 games that support the system launching between October and December. The Playroom VR is Sony’s showcase app, offering six games for players to show off their headset to friends and family (who will all look suitably shocked when you tell them how much you spent on it). Of bigger interest to gamers, among other releases for the system, should be Star Wars: Battlefront VR. VR . Little is known about the project, but it’s being spearheaded by the original game’s developer DICE. Anyone else hoping for an in-depth, first-person X-Wing section? Sony is betting heavily on virtual reality as the future of gaming — or, at least, a substantial part of the PS4’s appeal going forward. (Microsoft is focusing on its HoloLens mixed reality headset, with gaming only one of many applications.) With that

in mind, they should be commended for committing so heavily to PlayStation VR, even if precedent would suggest that, should it fail to ignite voter interest, it will be quietly dropped within a couple of years. That said, even at $400 the headset is something of a bargain. Oculus, the current torchbearer for the medium, retails its Rift headset for $600. HTC’s Vive headset is even more, costing $800. Sure, it’s more expensive than the console it attaches to, but Sony is cramming a lot into its headset and undercutting its major gaming competition in the process. That’s an impressive feat whichever way you look at it — even if consumers will be hard pressed to stump up the cash unless Sony can prove virtual reality is both worth it and definitively here to stay. l  PlayStation VR will be available available for preorder soon. soon.

NIGHT

LIFE LISTINGS THURS., 03.17.16

9 1/2

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • Multiple TVs showing movies, shows, sports • Expanded craft beer selection • Music videos featuring DJ Wess COBALT/30 DEGREES

Happy Hour: $6 Call Martini, $3 Miller Lite, $4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm • $3 Rail Drinks, 10pmmidnight, $5 Red Bull, Gatorade and Frozen Virgin Drinks • Locker Room Thursday Nights • DJs Sean Morris and MadScience • Best Package Contest at midnight, hosted by Ba’Naka • $200 Cash Prize • Doors open 10pm, 18+ • $5 Cover under 21 and free with college ID DC9

1940 9th St. NW Happy Hour, 5-8pm • dcnine.com DC EAGLE

Doors open at 5pm • Happy Hour, 5-8pm • $2 Bud and Bud Light Draughts, $3 Domestic Bottles, $4 Rail and Import Bottle Beer, $6 Call • Men in jocks and underwear drink free, 8-10pm • Halfprice Jameson all night — Erin Go Bragh!• No Cover • 21+ FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm • St. Patrick’s Day Celebration • Food and Drink specials all night GREEN LANTERN

Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Ladies Drink Free Power Hour, 4-5pm • Shirtless

     �

scene Freddie’s Beach Bar’s 16th Anniversary Purple Party Saturday, March 12 scan this tag with your smartphone for bonus scene pics online!

PHOTOGRAPHY  BY  WARD MORRISON

     � Thursday, 10-11pm • DJs BacK2bACk

FRI., 03.18.16

9 1/2 JR.’S

All You Can Drink for $15, 5-8pm • $3 Rail Vodka Highballs, $2 JR.’s drafts, 8pm-close • Throwback Thursday featuring rock/ pop retro hits

Open at 5pm • Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • Friday Night Videos with resident DJ Shea Van Horn • VJ • Expanded craft beer selection • No Cover

NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR

COBALT/30 DEGREES

Beat the Clock Happy Hour — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Beer $15 • Drag Bingo

All You Can Drink Happy Hour • $15 Rail and Domestic, $21 Call & Imports, 6-9pm • Guys Night Out • Free Rail Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6 Belvedere Vodka Drinks all night • DJ MadScience upstairs • DJ Keenan Orr downstairs • $10 cover 10pm-1am, $5 after 1am • 21+

NUMBER NINE

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • No Cover TRADE

1410 14th St. NW Doors open 5pm • Huge Happy Hour: Any drink normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge glass for the same price, 5-10pm • Beer and wine only $4

1940 9th St. NW Happy Hour, 5-8pm • dcnine.com

All male, nude dancers • Shirtless Thursday • DJ • 9pm • Cover 21+

Doors open at 5pm • Happy Hour, 5-8pm • $2 Bud and Bud Light Draughts, $3 Domestic

NUMBER NINE

ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS

Open 5pm • Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • No Cover

All male, nude dancers, hosted by LaTroya Nicole • Ladies of Ziegfeld’s, 9pm • Rotating Hosts • DJ in Secrets • VJ Tre in Ziegfeld’s • Cover 21+

TOWN FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm GREEN LANTERN

Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5 Smirnoff, all flavors, all night long • Friday Night Videos and the Go-go Boys of HUMP • Featuring VJ Tre • $5 Cover • 21+ JR.’S

Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm • $2 Skyy Highballs and $2 Drafts, 10pmmidnight • Retro Friday • $5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red Bulls, 9pm-close

DC9

DC EAGLE ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS

Bottles, $4 Rail and Import Bottle Beer, $6 Call • Fetish Friday — men in chest harnesses drink free, 8-10pm • No Cover • 21+

NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR

DJ Matt Bailer • Videos, Dancing • Beat the Clock Happy Hour — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Beer $15

DC Bear Crue Happy Hour, 6-11pm • $3 Rail, $3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles • Free Pizza, 7pm • No cover before 9:30pm • 21+ • Drag Show starts at 10:30pm • Hosted by Lena Lett and featuring Miss Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee, Riley Knoxx and Ba’Naka • DJ Wess upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk downstairs • GoGo Boys after 11pm • Doors open at 10pm • For those 21 and over, $10 • For those 18-20, $15 • 18+ TRADE

1410 14th St. NW Doors open 5pm • Huge Happy Hour: Any drink normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge glass for the same price, 5-10pm • Beer and wine only $4

SAT., 03.19.16

9 1/2

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 3-9pm • $5 Absolut & Tito’s, $3 Miller Lite after 9pm • Expanded craft beer selection • No Cover • Music videos featuring various DJs COBALT/30 DEGREES

Drag Yourself to Brunch at Level One, 11am-2pm and 2-4pm • Featuring Kristina Kelly and the Ladies of Illusion • Bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys • Happy Hour: $3 Miller Lite, $4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm • Ladies of LURe DC present BARE: A Military Style Dance Party, 10pm-close • Featuring DJs Rosie and Jacq Jill and the lovely

DystRucXion Dancers • Doors open 10pm • $7 cover before midnight, $10 cover after • 21+ DC9

1940 9th St. NW Happy Hour, 4-6pm • dcnine.com DC EAGLE

Doors open at 8pm • Happy Hour, 8-10pm • $2 Bud and Bud Light Draughts, $3 Domestic Bottles, $4 Rail and Import Bottle Beer, $6 Call • Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association on Club Bar — $2 Draughts and Jello Shots — come out and support the cowboys • No Cover • 21+ FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR

Drag Queen Broadway Brunch, 10am-3pm • Starring Freddie’s Broadway Babes • Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Freddie’s Follies Drag Show, 8-10pm, hosted by Miss Destiny B. Childs • No Cover

GREEN LANTERN

Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5 Bacardi, all flavors, all night long • 495 Bears presents Bears Can Dance, 9pm-close • No Cover JR.’S

$4 Coors, $5 Vodka Highballs, $7 Vodka Red Bulls NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR

Guest DJs • Zing Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer, House Rail Drinks and Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm • Buckets of Beer, $15 NUMBER NINE

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 3-9pm • No Cover

$20 Cover for Meet and Greet • Tickets available online at Flavorus.com • Music and video downstairs by DJ Wess • Drag Show starts at 10:30pm • Hosted by Lena Lett and featuring Miss Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee, Riley Knoxx and Ba’Naka • For general admission, doors open 10pm • $12 Cover • 21+ TRADE

1410 14th St. NW Doors open 2pm • Huge Happy Hour: Any drink normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge glass for the same price, 2-10pm • Beer and wine only $4

TOWN

DC Rawhides host Town & Country: Two-Step, Line Dancing, Waltz and West Coast Swing, $5 Cover to stay all night • Doors open 6:45pm, Lessons 7-8pm, Open dance 8-10:30pm • Laila McQueen from RuPaul’s Drag Race visits Town • Meet and Greet, 9pm •

ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS

Men of Secrets, 9pm • Guest dancers • Ladies of Illusion with host Ella Fitzgerald • Doors at 9 p.m., first show at 11:30 p.m. % DJs • Doors open 8pm • Cover 21+

SUN., 03.20.16

9 1/2

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 3-9pm • Multiple TVs showing movies, shows, sports • Expanded craft beer selection • No Cover COBALT/30 DEGREES

$4 Stoli, Stoli flavors and Miller Lite all day • Homowood Karaoke, hosted by Robert Bise, 10pm-close • 21+ DC9

1940 9th St. NW Happy Hour, 2-6pm • dcnine.com DC EAGLE

Doors open at 12pm • $2 Bud and Bud Light Draughts, $3 Domestic Bottles, $4 Rail and Import Bottle Beer, $6 Call • Buffet, 2-7pm — “Like” on Facebook for menu options • $2 Bud and Bud Light Draughts all day and night • Onyx Cigar Social, 4-8pm with a Whiskey and

Bourbon Tasting — $2 a Quarter Shot for tasting • No Cover • 21+

Wes Della Volla at 9:30pm • Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 3-9pm • No Cover

FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR

Champagne Brunch Buffet, 10am-3pm • Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm1am GREEN LANTERN

Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Mama’s Trailer Park Karaoke downstairs, 9:30pm-close JR.’S

Sunday Funday • Liquid Brunch • Doors open at 1pm • $2 Coors Lights and $3 Skyy (all flavors), all day and night NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR

Drag Brunch, hosted by Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am3pm • $20 Brunch Buffet • House Rail Drinks, Zing Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer and Mimosas, $4, 11am-close • Buckets of Beer, $15 NUMBER NINE

Pop Goes the World with

ROCK HARD SUNDAYS @THE HOUSE NIGHTCLUB

3530 Georgia Ave. NW Diverse group of all male, all nude dancers • Doors open 8pm • Shows all night until close, starting at 8:30pm • $5 Domestic Beer, $6 Imports • $10 cover • For Table Reservations, 202-4876646 • 6646  • rockharddc.com TRADE

1410 14th St. NW Doors open 2pm • Huge Happy Hour: Any drink normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge glass for the same price, 2-10pm • Beer and wine only $4 ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS

All male, nude dancers • Decades of Dance • DJ Tim-e in Secrets • Doors 9pm • Cover 21+

MON., 03.21.16

9 1/2

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • Multiple TVs showing movies, shows, sports • Expanded craft beer selection • No Cover ANNIE’S

4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella Artois, $4 House Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, $4 Manhattans and Vodka Martinis COBALT/30 DEGREES

Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm • Monday Night’s A Drag, hosted by Kristina Kelly • Doors open at 10pm • $3 Skyy Cocktails, $8 Skyy and Red Bull • $8 Long Islands • No Cover, 18+ DC9

1940 9th St. NW Happy Hour, 5-8pm • dcnine.com DC EAGLE

Doors open at 5pm •

Happy Hour, 5-8pm • $1 Bud and Bud Light Draughts • Free Pool all day and night • Men in DC Eagle T-Shirts get Happy Hour, 8pm-close • $2 Bud and Bud Light Draughts, $3 Domestic Bottles, $4 Rail and Import Bottle Beer, $6 Call • Vernal Equinox — show us your full moon for a free shot of Schnapps • No Cover • 21+ FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm GREEN LANTERN

Happy Hour all night long • Michael’s Open Mic Night Karaoke, 9:30pmclose JR.’S

Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm • Showtunes Songs & Singalongs, 9pm-close • DJ James • $3 Draft Pints, 8pm-midnight NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR

Beat the Clock Happy Hour — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of

Beer $15 • Texas Hold’em Poker, 8pm • Dart Boards

COBALT/30 DEGREES

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • No Cover

DJ Honey Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm • SIN Service Industry Night, 10pm-close • $1 Rail Drinks all night

TRADE

DC9

1410 14th St. NW Doors open 5pm • Huge Happy Hour: Any drink normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge glass for the same price, 5-10pm • Beer and wine only $4

1940 9th St. NW Happy Hour, 5-8pm • dcnine.com

NUMBER NINE

FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm GREEN LANTERN

TUES., 03.22.16

9 1/2

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • Multiple TVs showing movies, shows, sports • Expanded craft beer selection • No Cover ANNIE’S

4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $4 Stella Artois, $4 House Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, $4 Manhattans and Vodka Martinis

Happy Hour all night long, 4pm-close JR.’S

Birdie La Cage Show, 10:30pm • Underground (Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock), 9pm-close • DJ Wes Della Volla • 2-for-1, 5pmmidnight NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR

Beat the Clock Happy Hour — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Beer $15 • Karaoke and Drag Bingo

NUMBER NINE

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • No Cover • Safe Word: A Gay Spelling Bee, 8-11pm • Prizes to the top three spellers • After 9pm, $3 Absolut, Bulleit & Stella TRADE

1410 14th St. NW Doors open 5pm • Huge Happy Hour: Any drink normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge glass for the same price, 5-10pm • Beer and wine only $4 WED., 03.23.16

9 1/2

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • Multiple TVs showing movies, shows, sports • Expanded craft beer selection • No Cover COBALT/30 DEGREES

Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm • Wednesday Night Karaoke, hosted by Miss

India Larelle Houston, 10pm-2am • $4 Stoli and Stoli Flavors and Miller Lite all night • No Cover • 21+

NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR

1940 9th St. NW Happy Hour, 5-8pm • dcnine.com

SmartAss Trivia Night, 8pm and 9pm • Prizes include bar tabs and tickets to shows at the 9:30 Club • $15 Buckets of Beer for SmartAss Teams only • Bring a new team members and each get a free $10 Dinner

FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR

NUMBER NINE

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • $6 Burgers • Drag Bingo Night, hosted by Ms. Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm • Bingo prizes • Karaoke, 10pm-1am

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • No Cover

DC9

GREEN LANTERN

Happy Hour all night long, 4pm-close JR.’S

Buy 1, Get 1 Free, 4-9pm • Trivia with MC Jay Ray, 8pm • The Feud: Drag Trivia, hosted by Ba’Naka, 10-11pm, with a $200 prize • $2 JR.’s Drafts and $4 Vodka ($2 with College ID or JR.’s Team Shirt)

TRADE

1410 14th St. NW Doors open 5pm • Huge Happy Hour: Any drink normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge glass for the same price, 5-10pm • Beer and wine only $4 ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS

All male, nude dancers • Shirtless Night, 10-11pm, 12-12:30am • Military Night, no cover with military ID • DJ Don T. in Secrets • 9pm • Cover 21+ l

scene Number Nine Saturday, March 12 scan this tag with your smartphone for bonus scene pics online!

PHOTOGRAPHY  BY  WARD MORRISON

prejudicess or fears about sexuality — “Don’t put your own prejudice your own fears about sexuality — on your children. ” —SALLY FIELD , speaking on SiriusXM, appealing to parents to support and accept their LGBT children. “What horrifies me is that there are parents who so disapprove, who are so brainwashed to think that this is something out of the Bible or ungodly or against nature,” she added.

“ I also don’t think I’m particularly brave to be the way I am. Because I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me and paved this way. ” —JIM PARSONS , speaking with Migros Magazin. Magazin. Parsons said that being open about his sexuality was the “only logical” option, and said that growing up in Houston he “never had the feeling not to have the right to my life.” 

“Today if you go to any gay bar or club, you’ll see many people are using Grindr.” —JOEL SIMKHAI , , speaking to Time Out Hong Kong  about  about the impact the hook-up app has had on the gay club scene.

“ You want a person that’s going to lielie to you?… She’s a political hack. That’s all she is. She’s done nothing! ” —CAITLYN JENNER , during a segment on her reality show, I Am Cait , berating Hillary Clinton after Candis Cayne described the former Secretary of State as “an amazing woman.” Jenner previously told The Advocate that Advocate that she wants to be a “trans ambassador” for Ted Cruz if he is president.

“Transgenders for Cruz is like Jews for Hitler.” —JOY BEHAR , speaking on The View , during a segment on Caitlyn Jenner’s c omments about Hillary Clinton.