Jan 21, 2020
| Volume XIX Issue 9 September 2009 |
President's message Positions available IGRA Convention representatives needed ASGRA Membership Drive renew your membership Vagabond Chuckwagon This month's dinner location Windy City Rodeo Chicago report Pro Rodeo another ASGRA outing Meet Me at the Fair report Theater Discount for ASGRA members A Cowboy's Got To Ride a travelouge overview Music Review our man about town Coosie's Corner Recipe of the month Cowboy Music Mountain Winds Monthly Calendar What's happening |
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WANTEDASGRA has the following positions available:
Help your organization survive Contact Mike at [an error occurred while processing this directive] if you are interested in serving in any of these positions. Mike S. 
Calling all membersThe IGRA Convention is only 2 months away and we are looking for Delegates and Alternate Delegates to represent ASGRA. The convention this year is in Toronto, Canada. From what we have heard so far it is going to be a great time of work and partying. Remember that if you want to be a delegate you do have to have a passport to get into and out of Canada. Don't miss out on a great time. If you are interested please contact Matthew Komornik, ASGRA Trustee at . Thank you all and hope to be hearing from you all. Matt Komornik 
Membership DriveIn case you haven't heard, ASGRA is in the middle of its annual membership drive. Many of your fellow members have already renewed their membership. Have you? You can renew your membership in one of two ways. The easiest is online using PayPal Online Membership Renewal. You can also renew by printing out the form and mailing your check to the ASGRA address listed on the form. Regardless of which method you use, please renew your membership this year- and get your friends to join too! For more information, please check out the membership page. One item not listed - if you sign up for a premium membership, your name (as your list your preference on the application) will appear in the newsletter instead of a the rodeo program (since we won't be having a rodeo this year.) Please consider a premium membership if you can. Please get all your friends to join too!! Mike Benner 
Vagabond Chuckwagon - 'Back to School' Brunching!!Apparently August was just too busy for most of us to get together so let's see if September is a better month for everyone! Since we had our largest group for the brunch at Freddie's in July, we're going to try it again! Last time, we enjoyed a delicious brunch, unending mimosas and the warm and breezy outside patio seating. It was a beautiful morning and we had a terrific time. Freddie's was also very accommodating and made sure that we had anything we needed and were enjoying our brunch experience. So back we go to Freddie's Beach Bar and Restaurant in Crystal City/Arlington, VA. We'll meet there at 11am on Sunday September 20 for brunch. Freddie's fills up pretty quickly and space is limited, so I want to get a reservation in early for a table. I'd like your RSVPs by noon on Monday September 14, please!! I will call and reserve a table that afternoon. You can contact me via email at or on my cell at 703-371-7865. Come on out for another fun event with your ASGRA friends and family! Freddie's offers a 10% discount on all food orders to ASGRA members, so bring your membership cards! Sunday September 20, 2009 Lonni La Bel Pro RodeoJoin the cowboys and cowgirls of Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Assocation (ASGRA) to watch the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). Watch the PBR's cowboys try and beat the clock as they try and stay atop biggest and baddest bulls on the circut for 8 seconds as you enjoy Nellie's Beat the Clock Happy Hour: all bottles of Miller Light or House Vodka Drinks $2 from 6:00-7:00 and $3 from 7:00-8:00. 
Windy City Rodeo  Partly sunny days, comfortable temps embraced another fun filled, enjoyably successful rodeo organized by the ILGRA chapter! A welcoming party at Club Krave, Blue Island, IL., kicked-off HomoRodeo's first "Meet-n-Greet" party for the ILGRA members, contestants and visitors. Huggable hunk WholeLottaWoof presented HomoRodeo members with a hearty welcome, nametag and a bear-crushing hug. Special drinks and free food included campy numbers from a wildly popular drag show featuring country songs and other saddle-bag favorites.   The rodeo itself kicked-off with a Saturday Noon Grand Entry at the Six Guns Ranch in Crete, IL., The rodeo arena featured numerous events to wow the crowds and plenty of amenities behind the bleachers with refreshments, food, western couture vendors and a busy dance floor! Four-charter busload of fans arrived from Chicago for the Saturday Rodeo. The fun continued with a "Party in the City" fully-loaded charter bus run from the Host Hotel that evening. It was clear fans came from everywhere yet less than 20% onboard were members of any IGRA association, including myself, which recently expired! It's clear work is needed here. Overall, I enjoyed the great fun ILGRA can throw with an awesome Rodeo and another example of their organizational skills. Everything went off without a hitch. Congratulations ILGRA and IGRA! From ASGRA Member Phil Harley 
Meet Me At The Fair
Patrick Hunter It was the three Muskateers who met up for Meet Me at the Fair 2 at the Prince William County Fair in Manassas, Virginia August 16. Patrick, Phill and Seth enjoyed excellent weather this year, though it was a little muggy. The three boys met up at 4pm and hit the 4-H barns first, where they saw live goat milking. Patrick and Phill even treated themselves to some soap that was made from the goat's milk (helps to keep 'em looking so young). Other entertainment for the day included not one, but two magic shows. The second was put on by a fine looking cowboy who was good at magic and humor; illiciting laughs from the young and old crowd a-like with energy that few others could potentailly muster up in the muggy summer afternoon. At night, the boys took in the calf roping, bullriding and barrel racing at the rodeo in addition to providing some education about the events for a lady and her daughter who had seen rodeo on TV, but never really understood the rules and scoring. All in all a great day spent in good company. |
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Theater DiscountThe Arena State in Crystal City Virginia has offered a discount to ASGRA members first show of the season, Emmy award-winning playwright Jane Anderson's The Quality of Life. The Quality of Life is a "magnetic work of theater" (San Francisco Chronicle) filled with compassion, hope and humor. Two wildly different cousins and their husbands (one family "Left Coast" Liberal and the other Midwestern Conservative) meet one weekend only to discover that life has thrown them both the greatest challenges a husband and wife could ever be asked to face. While one couple is fighting to hold on to each other after the loss of their only daughter, the other is facing the final days of a battle with cancer while dealing with the recent loss of their home in a wildfire. In the midst of staggering challenges these distant souls come together to rediscover the passions, history, humor, and love that bind them together as a family. The production will feature towering performances from Annette O'Toole (Smallville), Helen Hayes Award-winner Johanna Day (Broadway's Proof and Arena's The Rainmaker), Kevin O'Rourke (Broadway's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) and Stephen Schnetzer (Broadway's The Goat: Or Who is Sylvia and Arena's Legacy of Light). Arena Stage is offerning a special 30% discount to ASGRA members, families, and friends for the following peformances: Wednesday, September 16 at 7:30 pm Ticket prices range from $25 - $45.75 with the discount depending on seating and date of performance. If you are interested, contact the Groups Sales Office at 202-488-4380 or groups@arenastage.org and mention Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association to recieve the discount. |
 A Cowboy's Got To RideBy ASGRA member, Howdy folks. It has been suggested to me that I write up an article on the travels my partner and I have been having over the last year. We own a 34 foot 5th wheel travel trailer and have been spending our time touring the US. In these articles I will just cover some of the highlights of our travels, but if you are interested you can check out our daily log on our website CowboyFrank.net which contain photos of many of the places we visit, as well as links to historical websites and Google Earth placemarks showing where we traveled, stayed and where many of our photos were shot. 
We began traveling in June of 2008 when we were on the road for about 3 months. We tried another trip in October of 2008, but 3 days out I had a heart attack and that put an end to that trip. We headed out again in January 2009 and for another 4 months, we took in sights all around the south west. We have now started again and are currently in our 3rd week of this tour, but the only thing we have really seen so far was Chicago's Windy City Rodeo. We are planning what we hope will be some interesting things in the next few days but the timing for this newsletter is too close, so I am including some stuff from last spring's travels. 
We began our 2009 travels in late January when we left Northern Virginia just after a snow and ice storm. Tom (my partner of 26 years) was rushing to get packed and slipped on the ice. We found out about a week later he had cracked several ribs. He was very sore so Frank had to do most of the driving for the first month. We were headed for IGRA University in Las Vegas so Frank could teach website design classes in late February. After University was completed we headed up to and stayed in Death Valley for 5 nights. February is the right time to visit Death Valley when the daytime temperatures are only in the 70's and 80's. In the summer it is frequently 110 or higher. Each day we went along on ranger guided talks and visited some of the historic and natural wonders of the valley. 
In April we found ourselves in the Big Bend area of Texas (south) where Frank went on a horse ride through some of the desert where he experienced some light rain. Figures. The evening of April 14 we stayed at a campground in central New Mexico which was the site of an old Cowboy Gathering which had been turned into a modern campground with full hookups. This camp is located along the route of the "Magdalena Livestock Driveway" which was the last of the cattle trails and only closed in 1971. In mid May we found ourselves in the panhandle of Texas where we visited a small museum dedicated to the XIT ranch. The XIT was the largest fenced cattle ranch that ever existed with 3,000,000 acres under wire. We had thought we had never heard of the XIT. As we traveled further and revisited some of the locations and museums we had seen before, we began to notice references to the XIT in just about every place we saw that was about cowboys and cattle. We even saw a number of displays in the great Cowboy and Western Heritage museum in Oklahoma City. Our website has some further detail on the XIT and links to websites and articles about the XIT along with many other interesting sights and locations. 
In Amarillo we visited the American Quarter Horse Museum and Hall of Fame, then we drove south to the town of Canyon, Texas and spent a day in the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum where we learned a lot about the history of the plains. Frank also got to try out a side saddle, which was pretty easy to get into, but I can see why it took a very experienced rider to stay in one while on the back of a horse. We began to bring our spring outing to a close by going to the Oklahoma City Rodeo before heading home to Northern Virginia. Next month I should have more on our current trip, but you can follow along our daily travelogue on our website. Until next time,
Music ReviewsPatrick Hunter 1 star - Sucks, save your money and buy a beer 
Tennessee Country Crooner For those of you who were not at the Liberty Gay Rodeo Association's Liberty Stampede at the start of August, you missed a treat. James Allen Clark, a gay country western singer from Nashville (yep, you read that right; gay country western singer), performed at the event. James performed songs from his CD First Attempt and boy does he have a good voice - and the body ain't too bad either. James's has got a voice that is just past the shallow end of the pool deep and has a twang to it that is soft as a down pillow. It's the kind of voice that just makes folks melt as could his looks as well. He should be called James Allen Cutie! He's got a very handsome face and a great smile. If you are looking for an artist who you can support and who supports the gay community and is actually one of us, Clark is worth a listen - and a look, too! Check him out at www.jamesallenclark.com 
Gloriana After hearing their "Wild at Heart" tune on the radio time and again the past few weeks, I was real curious about who this countrified Partridge Family-sounding group was. While it may sound like I am knocking them down, their music really is infectious. At a first listen I thought that the sound of band was a little too slick for my taste. The tunes of "If You're Leaving" with its Foreigner inspired beginning and the over-the-top-melodrama of "Cry on Command" left me second guessing why this band was put into country at all. But after hearing the album through time and again, I settled on some songs that grew on me and after seeing the Wild at Heart video, I found myself bouncing along in my car to it, too. The real standout of the album is "Come and Save Me". It's a really soft melody with Rachel Reinert taking the lead on the vocals. It's the kind of song that is soft and dreamy as a purple summer twilight. "Change Your Mind" is a close second with Tom Gossin taking the lead on vocals. Though it doesn't have as much flow as "Save Me", it still retains some of the gentle softness of that song to carry it on. Picking up the pace a little is "The Way it Goes" which retains the softness of the two previous songs and gives the band's voices the focus while the strings help move the melody along like a swift running stream. All three of the above songs are prefect examples of what makes the Gloriana music good and helps it to grow on you. The band has some really good voice talents which are given the ability to shine on numerous songs. Even when the pace and the background music is picked up and brought more to the forefront on such songs as "How Far Do You Want to Go?", the melody never eclipses the talents of this quartet. More so than the lyrics is it the music and voice themselves that make these tunes stick with ya. Regardless of that, the music is definitely more on the country-pop side. Any of you who waver in your taste of or are turned off by some of the more non-traditional country music that is interspersed on radio today, you'd definitely want to test sample the music before deciding to buy. In addition to the music, the band is full of lookers. It's another eye candy for everyone group. Tom Gossin has got that rugged-but-clean country-boy look to him. For those of you who remember the original Melrose Place, think Grant Show, but a slight bit rougher and scruffier! Rachel and Cheyenne are both beautiful in their own right. Rachel being the brunette and Cheyenne being the blonde. No need to pick a preference; they are both knockouts. And for those of you who like the softer side of a guy, Tom's brother, Mike Gossin, may be the boy for you. With his spiked up blond hair and Nivea-like smooth face he's an 'I like my men bois' types dream. It doesn't hurt at all that he has blue(?) eyes and really knows how to use them when he looks at the camera. So, even if you decide that their music isn't for you, you can still look at their pictures and derive some pleasure out of this band. |
Justin Moore I happen to personally know that Justin Moore's favorite song on his debut album is "Grandpa." I know this because I asked him myself. Moore was at the WalMart in Manassas, VA a few weeks back autographing his CD and I was one of 300 plus folks who showed up to meet him. Moore stated that "Grandpa" was his favorite when I asked him because it is a song about his grandpa to whom he was really close. So what about my favorite? Well, Moore turned that question around on me and, as so often happens when you are in the excitement of meeting someone of some celebrity status, I wound up tongue tied. I was so thrilled to be beside him; asking him an interview-like question that I could use for our newsletter, that I blanked. I knew full well which song was my favorite; "Back That Thing Up," but gone from my head were the words of the title. My mind jumped quickly to the video of Moore and the model/farm-girl hotties while at the same time I was reciting a verse in my head in the hope that my memory would be triggered. "Have you listened to it?" Moore asked as I stood there silent and bit wide eyed in my panic. "Oh Yeah." I replied realizing time was ticking by, so, I just blurted out "I Could Kick Your Ass"; a favorite, but not exactly my favorite. "Cool" he added. A look at my camera and the WMZQ camera for some photos and I was done; shaking my head to myself at not being more cool and collect. Oh well, I guess Nancy O'Dell had to start somewhere, too. 
I can also tell you personally, that Justin Moore looks just as good in person as he does in his pictures. Earlier in the day, I visiting WMZQ's website because I knew that they were posting photos from their morning interview with Moore to their website. I knew from previous pictures I'd seen on his website that he was someone I definitely wanted to see more photos of. When I did, my thought was 'boy, he's looking rough.' His hair was a bit longer and the beard he sported was looking a little scraggly. He definitely had that rolled-outta-bed look, but I thought maybe that is how he really looks sans the photo lighting and grooming artists. I went to the signing expecting one of those disappointments that sometimes comes when you see someone in real life vs. by photo (y'all who've done some chat and IM meet-ups know this experience). I was pleased when I saw him in person. He must have hit the shower sometime between the 'MZQ interview and this and it done him good. He was the country cutie I recalled from the videos and web photos that I had seen; dazzling blue eyes that popped out at ya due to the shirt he was wearing and a nice, friendly smile in that strong country jaw of his, and he was just as nice as he could be to each and every one that came up. He even offered to have his photo retaken when a gal came up because her iPhone had done blurry shots on her first go round. I can also tell ya, having actually listened to the album as I said I did, that Justin Moore makes some fine music out of the gate with this debut album. For those of you who are country hicks and like your music with a modern twang, Moore's album will be sure to please ya. Moore's album is loaded up with songs about the things that those who are country, love country or yearn country love to hear about, and Moore's southern twang helps to drive the message home. Moore's current single "Small Town USA" is an example of this: Everybody knows me and I know them... Give me a Saturday night/ "Backwoods" is another example: …Red clay, country mud, sippin' on a cold Bud... Out in the Backwoods/ While you may not be able to identify with a "lift kit", the general message of a simpler life and simpler pleasures hit ya home; especially in a place as hectic as we are in DC. "The Only Place I Call Home" is still another: …And my old man taught me about a hard days work... What makes these songs unique is not only the twang with which Moore really brings the images to life in both his voice and melody but also some of the more politically incorrect items that are mentioned in some of them: gun racks, .44s to help hid your money, hitting a bully in nose when he goes too far. While some people might find this kinda backwards and the example of what Obama said as clinging to "religion and their guns", I actually like that Moore isn't afraid to shy away from stuff like this. It's stating your pride in things that make you country and your pride in defending what yourself and what you love; something that no matter how we do it, we can get behind. However, as much as I admire Moore for this, there is a place where it make even me go hmmm. It's in the song "Good Old American Way." In "Way" there is a verse that says: Hell, we tolerate everything and just call it love Is this a veiled slam to GLBT equality or a broader statement? A review of the song and a read over of the lyrics provided no additional information one way or another. In order not to be similar to those who take a single Bible verse and use it to make a statement, I give you the lines that come before and after: ...Oh, we worked so hard to get this far/ While this may provide what you think may be conclusive evidence that it is a slam to GLBT folks, I prefer not to jumps to a conclusions or a judgment myself. I reserve making any kind of stand or statement about Moore, his music or possible views on our community, until I hear something less vague and more conclusive come out of his mouth. I only bring it up to make others in our community aware of it, so that you can make your own judgment about whether or not to buy his music. If you do buy it get the CD vs the download. It comes with video of "Back that Thing Up" and "Small Town USA." For those wanting to get a real good look at Moore, "Small Town" is your best bet. There are some nice close ups of Moore and his cock-eyed grin and sky-blue eyes. Additionally, you also get some nice photos in the booklet that comes with the CD as well. In addition to these photos, the booklet does a good job of creating something beyond just press shots of the artist interspersed with lyrics. Someone actually made an attempt at creating something interesting and unique and a little bit artistic with this CD book. The photos and backgrounds blend into each other well and the titles of the songs are varied enough to make them interesting and, yet, consistent, helping to add a complete package to a very good CD. 
Cowboy Crush What struck me most about the music of Cowboy Crush are the empowered women songs. Unlike most other empowered women songs that you would hear in country radio: the gal who is abused or addicted and finally learns to be strong in the final verse or bridge, these songs are tunes about women who have already made those decisions and have started to move on with their lives. I found myself thinking 'these songs sing about what happens to those downtrodden women when Martina McBride is done singing about them.' There's "Tougher Than A Man" which sings about the single mom who's struggling at 23. She gets the kids off to school/ She'd never thought she'd be/ What I really liked about this song was its last verse. The dad, who is supposed to come for his weekend with his son, calls to say he ain't coming. The son is waiting glove in hand out on the steps for the dad to come. She walks outside/ I liked the idea of the mom steppin' into the dad role to help cheer her son up. It helped to really drive home the "Tougher Than a Man" message and was a different take on these kind of songs. Lord knows that there are tons of moms out there who fill this same role time and again as much as they can. "Some Men Don't Cheat" sings about the gal who's packed up her things and is on her way out the door after being cheated on by her man. Rather than focus on the hurt and pain, etc. that we would normally find in this song, this gal already knows that it's time to roll on. As she states in the chorus she knows that she deserves better: I still believe/ Then, there is "I Am Pretty", which is about the gal who decides that her self-esteem isn't tied to her whiskey-drunk husband. While this song does get a little cheesy in the verse where her husband mocks her about potentially finding her dreams, like "Cheat", the chorus is the strong point of this found-your-strength song. …Been broken down and kicked around one too many times/ While the last line may seem like a superficial line use for someone leaving an abusive situation, I think simplicity actually packs a big wallop. It's the simple and superficial cuts that make up the foundation of abuse. Statements like "you're useless (ugly, dumb, clumsy, etc.)" are used to chip away in a water torture way at a person's self esteem. So, it makes sense that when you find your strength you would say the opposite and positive aspect to yourself. It's your way of saying that the abuser doesn't know jack. All that stuff, down to the simplest things, just ain't true. I am pretty becomes that larger statement. While to a lesser extent the songs "Nobody Ever Died of a Broken Heart" which sings about getting over your heartache with funny lines like "drag a brush through that hair"; "What's the Worst that Could Happen" which encourages taking a chance big or small every day without fear; and "Wanted Women" a song about having a loving, yet equal relationship do have empowerment elements to them, they aren't as heavy hitters as the three other songs detailed above. "Heart", "Worst" and "Wanted" also have a lighter more danceable melody to them; especially "Wanted" which would make for a good swing. Aside from the stronger women songs, the other standouts in my mind are "Cowboy Crush", "He's Coming Home" and "Hillbilly Nation." "Crush", the title track of the album I like because it puts into words the mystic hold that cowboys can have over folks: Is he riding in or riding out/ Whether you've been under the hat or just an admirer of it, you can sure appreciate the emotions about the effect a cowboy--or cowgirl for that matter--can have when they walk into a place; especially if it is one that doesn't normally see too many hats coming through the door. The one thing that confused me about this song was the second verse: Wouldn't this small town be surprised/ I couldn't tell if the song was from the point of view of one singer or if it was from the point of view of multiple gals who see this cowboy and the verses were their thoughts; each lyric being a different woman in the crowd. If it is the later, I think that it works a bitter better. If it is the former, there's still some intrigue to the song. Is the cowboy oblivious to the fact that he has a son? Does he know, and just doesn't care? Does he realize his own power and just toy with this lady's affection (as some cowboys are prone to do)? The unknown of it and the possibilities give it a bit of a romantic tension. Give a listen and see what you think. "He's Coming Home" is a military song that follows the surprise, worry and joy of a family whose son signs up for the Army. I like that it is a song that has a complete circle to it and that pays tribute to the overwhelming emotions that families feel when an armed serves member comes home. This song could be a counter to Carrie Underwood's "Just a Dream." I also like that it is from the family point of view vs. a husband or wife. Going back to the lighter side of things is "Hilbilly Nation." It's another "anthem" song; speaking of the pride of being a hillbilly. What I like about it is the upbeat melody (could make a good line dance), and the line in the chorus "Ball cap, cowboy hat, baby give me some of that." It just calls to mind the "rough around the edges" kind of guy who is "just [my] style." Additionally, I love that it is sung by women. Let's face it; there aren't really enough country-proud songs to go around for the gals. I'm glad that the girls in the Crush band fiddled one up. Since Cowboy Crush was only available by digital download, I did not get a booklet for it. Curious about the women behind the songs, I went to their website. Like any country singer, these gals are lookers. Renae is my favorite. She's got short, spiky blond hair similar to that really bad hairdo that Faith Hill sported a few summers back, but Renae makes it work. Plus, she looks like she might be a little more mature than the other two girls, Trenna and Debbie, though I could find no birthdates for any of them. I think that you gals out there will really like the looks of her. And Trenna and Debbie aren't exactly the ugly step-singers in this group either - far from it. On their website the group is described as being up-tempo and putting on quite a show which I believe from what I've heard in their music. For those of you who like SheDaisy, but would like your harmony a little more countrified, Crush is the group for you. The music is both soothing and raucous at points and does that balance well. Crush has got themselves a good debut CD and I'll be looking forward to hearing and, potentially, seeing more of these ladies. Patrick Hunter |
Coosie's Corner
Cowboy GravyIngredients
Brown beef and onions; drain off excess fat. Add flour; brown slightly. Add milk and simmer 10 minutes. Good over steamed rice, biscuits or toast. Mountain WindsBy Dave Stamey
Album: Buckaroo Man 
For a limited time, Cowboy Frank is providing a stream to listen to this great song. Listen while you read. (should play on any player)
"I strike a long trot" refers to a fast trot of his horse
Well cold high mountain wind Just like some worried friend Tellin' me I better git a movin' Clouds are rollin' way up high Through the trees come a lonesome sigh Of the mountain wind Cold high mountain wind
Aspens are turnin', I think I'd better Yodelae hoo hoo hoo
Well I packed these hills the summer through
Well ice along the creek bank gives a warning Yodelae hoo hoo hoo Yodelae hoo hoo hoo
With cold high mountain wind
Well aspens are turnin', I think I'd better Yodelae hoo hoo hoo The next newsletter deadline is September 25. Send your articles to [an error occurred while processing this directive] |
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