Brandon Shire's Blog, page 30

LGBT Music Monday – Elliott Alexzander

A vibrant young artist, Elliott Alexzander will be someone to watch. Please note that he will not be captured within the confines of your gender stereotypes and uses multiple outlets for his personal expression. He says that when he performs he wants you to walk away feeling happy, sad, confused, and maybe even a little ambitious, and you can feel that with the massive amounts of energy he throws off.

In his own words: “I believe creativity should have no limits. One thing I would love to brin...

Interview with LGBT Author Gregory G. Allen

Some of you may recognize Mr. Allen from a previous post. He’s anoutstandingauthor, a good friend, and he has a new bestselling book out about fatherhood which we’re talking about here today.

B: Welcome, Greg. It’s a pleasure to have you back on the blog.

Greg:Thanks, I’m really excited to be talking to you about my latest book COOL SIDE OF THE PILLOW. You’ve always been so supportive of my work and I really appreciate that.

B: Cool Side appears to signal a change for you. Can you tell me about...

Special Guest Post from Author Charlie Cochran

I’vealways had a soft spot for the Albert Kennedy Trust, although my association with them started off for the daftest of reasons. I mean, as a huge fan of Archie Kennedy (from the Hornblower TV series) that name was always going to catch my eye. When I read about Albert, a runaway from a children’s home who fell to his death from the top of a car park in Manchester, having suffered rejection and abuse from society, I decided I had to support the cause of getting GLBT youngsters off the stree...

LGBT Music Monday – Matty Barbato

He’s baaaack!

You might remember Matty Barbato from his days on stage when he did an eight month national tour of the gay musical BATHHOUSE. Originally from Rochester, NY, Matt moved to Atlanta when he was a child, and with a few brief stints in some other metropolitan areas, he has now settled in midtown.

He has just come back to the stage and is now performing at the Sing for Your Life competition in Atlanta and is in the top eight as of this writing. He says in his future, no matter the outc...

My Favorite Book – LGBT Author Anne Barwell

Every author has one book of their own work which is their favorite. This weekI’veoffered the blog to Anne Barwell to talk a little about her favorite book. ~B

Berlin, 1943. An encounter with an old friend leaves German physicist Dr. Kristopher Lehrer with doubts about his work. But when he confronts his superior, everything goes horribly wrong. Suddenly Kristopher and Michel, a member of the Resistance, are on the run, hunted for treason and a murder they did not commit. If they’re caught, Kr...

LGBT Music Monday – Barry Brandon

If you haven’t heard of Barry Brandon yet, don’t worry, you will. Not only did he just release his new CD, Etcetera, on iTunes, but he is also one of theSing for Your Life mentors & creators. And if you haven’t heard of that yet… Well, from my perspective, I think this is going to easily become one of the regional attractions for the huge music scene in Atlanta, with (hopefully) a particularemphasison upcoming LGBT musicians.

Just as Raven’s Music blog stated, Etcetera definitely has an altern...

Dare Not – Special Guest Post by Author Joseph Dispenza

When I read recently aboutJamie Kuntz, the 18-year old who was kicked off his football team for being in relationship with a 65-year old man, I thought of a phrase that was first used more than a hundred years ago: “The love that dare not speak its name.”

What is the love that dare not speak its name?Most of us, on hearing the phrase, would reply quickly, “Homosexuality, of course…gay love.”

That would be right—up to a point. The “love” in question actually has a specific meaning, born of an in...

LGBT Music Monday – Dylan Michael

Today I’m talking with 24 year-old, openly gay, pop singer/songwriter Dylan Michaelwhocurrently lives in Atlanta, GA. He’s originally from Manchester, GA. which I’ve actually passed through a few times.

B:Tell me your musical past.

Dylan: I’ve always been drawn to music and performing, even as a child. A few years ago, I remember putting on all black clothing, pinning a tail to my ass, drawing whiskers on my face and making my entire family watch me as I performed a number from the musical Cats...

My Favorite Book – LGBT Author Kaje Harper

Every author has one book of their own work which is their favorite. This week I’m talking with Kaje Harper about her favorite books and her fundraising efforts for LGBT youth.

B: First, tell me about your books. What’s your favorite and why?

K:My two favorites are my freebies for the Goodreads M/M Romance group – Like the Taste of Summerand Into Deep Waters. Of those two, IDW is really my baby.

The story was inspired by a black-and-white photo of two young WWII sailors against the steel-riveted...

LGBT Music Monday – Adam Horne

Today I have the pleasure to introduce you to Adam Horne, a twenty-three-year-old singer/songwriter from Atlanta, GA by way of South Carolina. He has a deeply impassioned sound and a sophistication to his voice which you don’t find too often in someone so young to the music biz.

B: Adam, welcome to the blog. Love your voice. Tell me a little about how music influences you.

Adam: Music has always been a huge part of my life; ever since I was a kid my family always had the jukebox turned up as lo...