Three Questions with
CHAMBLEE TUCKER

Chamblee (Chambles to her friends) Tucker is Denver's drag queen extraordinaire, the self-proclaimed Cow Diva, and official Miss Gay Colorado Excellence (at least until the next Miss Gay is crowned October 14). Born in Tennessee, but raised in Lakewood, Miss Tucker is the proprietor of Our Lady of the Tortured Corsette Bingo Hall, sometimes known as Club Wave. Every Thursday night, Tucker and Alexandra Winters put on a show of laughter, liquor, and legs when Drag Queen Bingo rocks your world. Here's Chambles on life:

How does Denver's drag community compare to other cities?

I have seen quite a few drag queens from other cities and I must say that Denver and Texas have the prettiest drag queens, in my opinion. I believe that most other large cities are like us in that our Drag Queens raise a hell of a lot of money for charity by putting on a ton of shows every week. Sometimes it seems as if it will never end. But as long as there is a cause that needs money, Drag Queens will do a show to raise money. Just look at the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire. They raised over $80,000 last year for charity. They work hard.

How do you know when to single out someone to pick on, and when to leave them alone?

People can be very hard to read, but when they are responding well, I can continue to give them a hard time. When they start fidgeting and then getting up to get a drink or go to the bathroom to get out of the line of fire, you know it is time to stop. You can also tell by body language. If they come in with that scared, timid, 'I am a straight man and you are a drag queen' attitude, you know, just get one jab in-- to show them who really does wear the pants-- and then leave them alone.

Is there such a thing as gay-oriented entertainment? And if so, what makes it different from 'straight entertainment'?

I believe entertainment is entertainment. Having a sub-set called "gay entertainment" is no different than having sub-sets of drama, comedy, sci-fi and so on. It is just what it is. Do I think it necessarily should be singled out? No. We don't say, this is black entertainment (like when watching a Spike Lee movie); it is simply entertainment. I do believe there is a difference in entertainment that is geared towards the gay community. Look at "Queer as Folk." It has become a Sunday night ritual. It really plays to the gay community by showing what happens in our bars and our homes and our lives. It is us watching straight people and trying to figure out how it would look with two men. I must say though, there is entertainment that is geared toward the straight community that has been wrapped up by the gay community ("Sex in the City"). Love it. Gotta have more.

--Chris J. Magyar

Local Media

Don't bleep with me: If Liz Pipes finds herself listening to Denver radio, the FCC might receive more complaints. Pipes is the Colorado Springs mom who figured out bleeped words in Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady" on KKMG, Magic FM. Her complaint resulted in a $7,000 fine that the station is appealing based on its use of common censorship practices.

Stations up north may need a different defense. On August 10, Boulder's KBCO (97.3 FM) broadcast the uncensored version of REM's, "What's the Frequency Kenneth," a 1995 song that closes with Michael Stipe mumbling, "I never understood, don't fuck with me." And in the middle of a recent weeknight, KTCL (93.3 FM) broadcast bleepless versions of several Beastie Boys songs, including "3-Minute Rule," full of spicy lines like "try to talk shit."

The FCC claims "an average person, applying contemporary community standards" judges what's obscene. Read more at www.fcc.gov-- or wait to see what Liz Pipes thinks. . . . Sandwiched between Trai n's "Drops of Jupiter" and Lifehouse's "Hanging by a Moment" (both released six months ago) was nary a new song on Denver's pop stations this summer, except maybe that Mitsubishi ad song that first hit TV in April.

Are the people behind Denver's playlists on vacation-- or just indifferent to new music? Two programmers at Denver's The Mix 100.3 FM revealed clues in a Gavinfeature on favorite summer songs. Michael Gifford is the afternoon DJ and music director at The Mix, charged with choosing songs from the "'80s, '90s and today," but his summer selections come straight from the '70s: Boston's "Longtime" and The Doobie Brothers' "China Grove." Program director Ron Harrell preferred Al Green's "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)" and Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." Do summer songs from "today" even have a chance? . . . "The selective application of principles by the Denver Post obscures the basic fact that all newspaper and broadcast coverage of professional sports amounts to free advertising for the teams and their leagues," explains John Byczkowski, a Cincinnati Enquirer reporter, quoted on Poynter. org. "If the Denver Post really wanted to stand on principle, they wouldn't cover the Broncos at all. Since that's not going to happen, shut up and call it Invesco Field." --Eric Beteille

Local Music

A multi-media event featuring the local art community rounds out the summer festival circuit. On August 31 at the Boulder Theater, film, music, food and fashion will "Salute This!" a gathering to honor creativity and the "American Dream." On the music bill are electronic music mainstays DJs Beekay and Jeremy interspersed around a full set from County Road X. Performing in a chamber ensemble setting, County Road X has developed original material dubbed "trailer-park jazz" featuring a smorgasbord of heavy-hitters including pianist Erik Deutsch (Fat Mama fame), Glenn Taylor (Slim Cessna), Doug Anderson (Room 40) and drummer Tadd Vancil. Tickets on sale now. . . . Just as the music industry turns more attention to the rising jam band scene as an alternative outpost for overproduced commercial products, Boulder-based Lauan Records announces some big plans for this fall. Lauan is quickly building a solid reputation as the "jam band label," and will release four new CDs in the next few months. Bands from all over the country are signed to the Boulder label helping to increase exposure to this region's growing momentum for original music. Included in Lauan's fall catalog will be Porterhouse Quintet, Wise Monkey Orchestra, the third volume of a compilation CD (all October 30 releases), and the highly anticipated Larry, a tremendous band from Austin, hitting stores November 30. Find out more at www.lauan.com. . . . Love .45 entered the American Music Awards contest and made it into the Top 50 bands selected for evaluation and possible pots of gold. Ageless rock icon Dick

Clark will be one of many celebrity judges listening to tunes and propelling bands toward the winning slot. Keep tabs on the band's progress online at www.newmusicaward.com . . . In other news ... Denver-based modern art rock band Breathing Eve has signed to Hapi Skratch Records in Fort Collins, bringing its self-titled debut record to masses ... SuperBees has released its new CD 181 Comeback. Look for more SuperBees info in an upcoming Go-Go music section ... Katoorah Jane hosted a successful CD release party recently at The Soiled Dove. Her new self-titled enhanced CD comes complete with a music video for the rollicking "Daddy, Daddy," which may also air on MTV. More at www.katoorah.com

--Judy B.