Rock Star Guide to the Galaxy: The Gossip

by Lauren Tabak

Arkansas Heat saved my life. My most miserable summer ever happened back in 2002 in a place called Tempe, Arizona. It was hot. We were bored and isolated. Dancing in our underwear in the un-airconditioned apartment we called “it” and “there” but never “home,” screaming along with Beth Ditto belting, “Gotta get yourself out of this hell,” was our only reprieve.

I never imagined that some six years later I’d be talking to guitarist Nathan Howdeshell, aka Brace Paine, about the Gossip’s Searcy, Arkansas, upbringing and the urgency with which he and Beth felt they had to leave that place. “Searcy was a nightmare,” he says. It’s a common sentiment among small-town disaffected youth I suppose, but fuel for the fire no less. Even after the band relocated to the greener pastures of Portland, Oregon, their music continues to speak for a generation of alienated people. "Yr Mangled Heart," on the recently released live album, starts with a dedication, “This is for the faggots,” Beth screams,”the G.A.Y.!” It sounds like thousands of people who join in on the chorus of what has become a same-sex marriage anthem: “I only want what I deserve!”

The last time I saw Gossip perform live was many years ago in a tiny club in San Francisco. After tearing through a few songs Beth was soaking wet and had stripped down to nothing but her underwear. From what I can tell, not too much has changed. Gone are the days of sweaty basement shows, but as any of the millions of fans who've given the Gossip a Top 20 U.K. hit will attest, this band is on fire.

It seems fitting then that we met up with Nathan Howdeshell, aka Brace Pain, during an unusual heat wave, the entire West Coast was in the mid-90s. The thing about Portland though is that it’s so green and there’s so much water that even walking across the Burnside Bridge (recently featured in Gus Van Sant’s Paranoid Park) is pleasant in the late-afternoon sun.

Portland is peaceful, for sure, but it’s also quirky and has a personality all its own. I don’t think there are too many places you can munch a peanut-butter-bacon donut while watching Janet Weiss  bang out a drum solo. The 24-hour Voodoo Donuts was at the top of Nathan’s list of Portland’s must see spots.

Nathan is one of those well-read but not overly intellectual types who can talk about Alexander McQueen, psychoanalytic theory and Lil’ Kim all in the same breath. So it’s not surprising that he would take us to the vastly comprehensive Powell’s books. It really is massive – we lost each other a few times during the shoot. You should really allow yourself the time to wander.

Local 35 is really cool, too. It’s the kind of store you really wouldn’t expect to find in a small sleepy town: limited-edition WESC headphones, exclusive lines from international clothing designers and DJ'ed artist receptions. During our visit, Nathan found himself the perfect accessory for some British awards show he had to attend soon – although he couldn’t remember what exactly.

House of Vintage was pretty much as amazing as it looks in the video. As a matter of fact, I’ve been getting angry emails from friends asking why I didn’t bring them back some of the stuff Nathan points out. Like, if I had bought the N.K.O.T.B sweater, I totally would have kept it for myself, okay?

And OMG -- the Ringside Steakhouse. I’m afraid we didn’t have enough lights to do the food justice. Kobe beef filet, oysters, Asian-style crab cakes, onion rings, two bottles of wine. We just kept going and going … and as Nathan points out, they have some serious early-bird and late-night deals.

One last place you really should check out is the party called Situations at Dunes. It’s kind of out in what feels like the middle of nowhere, and there are no signs on the exterior, so make sure you get good directions or go with a local. But seriously, this is THE afterparty spot. About 1 a.m. is when a hot band rolls in for their guest DJ set, so drink your Red Bull and watch ‘em kill it till the wee hours. And hey, if you party too hard, there’s always a Pepto-Bismol donut waiting for you at Voodoo.

Further Viewing:
'Everyone Is in a Band': Portland's Organic Music Scene (MTV News)
Previous Installments of Rock Star Guide to the Galaxy [PLAY]

Comments

[saulj]

Powell's is one of my favorite places. I may have to go back now that i know about all these cool new places. The Gossip are fun, I am always looking for new music to play during workouts at my gym.

[Jessica]

In the past couple of years I've probably been to Portland more times than I've visited my mom--but given the vibrancy of the PDX scene and the wealth of unusual stuff to see and do there (Velveteria, anyone?), I'm sure she'd understand. This video is truly right-on. Way to go.