Floridian five-piece band Hundred Waters kicked off the Full Flex Express tour today at Ottawa Bluesfest with a whisper. 

That's not to say their atmospheric, electronic-tinged sound doesn't rock; Hundred Waters' music is simply very different from the other largely hard beat-based electronic artists playing the main stage today.

The Gainesville natives frequently utilize vocal harmonies overlapped with electrofied, at times haunting, instrumentation, which makes for a wholly original sound.

Although most of the masses may have been waiting for Tokimonsta or Skrillex, you could sense that Hundred Waters managed to convert some of the crowd, baptizing them in their progressive musical ocean. 

For more on Hundred Waters, visit their official site, Facebook page or catch them when the Full Flex Express tour makes its way across Canada. 

"Caverns"

Looking for an apt night out in Ottawa to celebrate Friday the 13th? Then look no further than La Danse Macabre, a brand-new event hosted by Ottawa Goth.

La Danse Macabre darkens up the city Fridays at The Daily Grind Art Café, and DJ Alis Keller says revellers "can expect a night filled with all genres and sub-genres of dark music. From stompy industrial to metal to '80s post-punk to haunting ethereal. The night is going to be kept pretty open . . . and spooky!"

If you're apprehensive about dancing alongside darklings, Keller assures Ottawa goths are welcoming and inclusive. 

"I have always found the goth community to be one of the most accepting out there," Keller says.

"Over and over I see new people coming out to events and shows for the first time and being pleasantly surprised with how friendly everyone is, even if they lack the typical black garb. La Danse Macabre is a no-dress-code, no-cover night. While we always encourage people to dress to the nines, it's cool if you show up in jeans and a white T-shirt."

As for the state of goth culture in our capital city, Keller thinks it is currently as vibrant as darkest shade of black can be.

"Death Disco [Saturdays at Swizzles] is doing very well, and Industrial Strength Tuesdays [Zaphod's] has been going strong for almost 20 years. Ottawa Goth organizes many all-ages get-togethers, like outings to museums, films, and they're even planning a goth beach party."

Keller reminds socially conscious black-clad queers that The Daily Grind offers a menu filled with organic, locally grown items to munch on while you mosh.

La Danse Macabre

Hosted by Ottawa Goth

Friday nights at The Daily Grind Art Café

601 Somerset St 

Front 242, Headhunter 

As Xtra reported earlier this month, Ottawa's pioneering queer bookstore After Stonewall is up for sale. 

The industrious staff at PTS have organized a cash mob for tomorrow, Thursday, July 12, to assist the ailing After Stonewall and also benefit PTS's Dr Kelly McGinnis Library. 

The PTS library is specifically seeking newer titles (2002-2012) to add to their stockpile on the topics of queer families/parenting, queer children's books, transgender literature, polyamory or non-monogamy, kink, queer partner violence and anti-racism or oppression.

If you're seeking something for yourself or a donation for the Dr Kelly McGinnis Library, bank your bookworm bucks at After Stonewall tomorrow at 2pm.

After Stonewall cash mob

Thurs, July 12, 2pm 

370 Bank St 

I should start off by making it clear that there is nothing queer about hip-hop artist Chali 2na.

However, if you are a marijuana advocate who digs rap, Chali 2na is an act you must catch next time he's in town. If not for his smooth, electronic-infused rhymes, then for the secondhand weed fumes.

After a bouncy opener, Chali 2na asked the Bluesfest crowd, "Do you want to get high?" As any bystander could smell, the crowd already was.

Chali 2na was a founding member of legendary hip-hop outfit Jurassic 5. I recall blasting "What's Golden" from my mother's Honda Civic while driving around Kanata during my high school years. After Jurassic 5 disbanded in 2007, Chali 2na hit it out alone, releasing Fish Outta Water in 2009. 

So if you are the kind of queer who shrugs off stereotypes by disliking Gaga and listening to white rappers after Labour Day, check out this Chicago-born Islamic blazer. 

Lock Shit Down

Sexual assault is something no one deserves to experience.

The Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre strives to help women who have been victims of sexual assault reclaim their lives through a variety of services. 

Each Thursday this month, women are invited to take part in free yoga classes hosted by the ORCC.

Maggie Hou, fundraising and public communication coordinator for the centre, says women who suffer through sexual assault may take years to recover, and yoga is an activity that can help women heal both physically and mentally.

"Yoga is one way to help women who are survivors of sexual assault to establish physical, mental and spiritual integrity," Hou says. "We want to reach out to the Ottawa community so that more women are aware of our services."

The sessions are open to all female survivors, and women of all abilities are welcome. Space is limited, so those interested in participating should contact Meghan Simmons at 613-562-2334 x30.

ORCC Yoga

Thursdays in July

1:30pm-3pm

Contact for details  

While I was waiting for Sleigh Bells to take to the River Stage at Bluesfest, I ventured over to the seemingly quarantined Electro stage and was pleasantly surprised.

Daring California dance punkers !!! (if you must verbalize or search them on Google "chk chk chk") were playing to a small yet dedicated Ottawa crowd. 

!!! formed in 1996 when members of Sacramento bands Black Liquorice, Popesmashers and the Yah Mos joined together in a new venture. Their self-titled debut dropped in 2000, and their latest, and fourth full-length, Strange Weather, Isn't It?, was released in 2010.

I had heard a few of !!!'s songs on an indie compilation a few years back and enjoyed their upbeat sound. However, as I exited the cool comfort of the Canadian War Museum I was hit by the band's surprisingly dynamic onstage presence, which is impossible to convey through the medium of headphones.

Lead singer Nic Offer isn't gay, but his dancing is reminiscent of Mick Jagger with its flamboyance and femininity. After simulating fellatio on the microphone, Offer got up close and personal with the crowd, first from the photo pit, then venturing right into the centre of the masses twice.

Like the band's aggro-animated sound, this showmanship by Offer is a !!! staple. As their sprightly set went on, the tiny troupe of onlookers grew larger. Head nods and tapping feet seemed to be contagious. 

In an interview with the Vital Voice, Offer spoke of how he loves that his band's disco-tinged music appeals to gay audiences. 

"What was exciting is when we got into disco was how powerful it had been in the '70s to the gay community and how people found themselves when they went to those clubs in New York. They discovered they weren't weird, so this music always had this moment of revelation and freedom that felt inspiring. We recognize that the music we play is related to gay culture and we love it." 

For more on !!!, including additional tour dates, check out their official site.

Jaime, My Intentions Are Bass  

AM/FM 

The hottest season is usually when television fizzles.

Summer's frequently a dumping ground for the big four networks, although some of the greatest series of all time had a summertime debut. For every Sex and the City (debuted June 6, 1998) or Survivor (debuted May 31, 2000) there's terrible tv like currently-airing mindless messes Love in the Wild or The Glass House. 

So if you're finding solace from summer by staying inside this year, here are three great TV shows that come from cable networks to keep you company. 

WEEDS

Sadly the current eighth season of Weeds will be its last. Over the last eight years, we've seen Nancy and her Botwin brood burn down the suburbs, sling bud on the beach and battle with Mexican kingpins. It's true that the constant scenery changes turned some fans off as hilarious characters were dropped along the way. I'm hoping Elzabeth Perkins' bitchy Celia and her queer daughter Isobel (Allie Grant) will resurface over the swansong season.

As Nancy, Mary-Louise Parker has been nominated for the Best Comedy Actress Emmy three times and has yet to win. The series itself was nominated only once so perhaps Emmy voters will shower Weeds with some love now that it's coming to an end.

When season seven ended, viewers were left with a cliff hanger where an unidentifed assailant shot Nancy as she toasted the family's new life in Old Sandwhich, Conetticut. The shooter ended up being exactly who some very dedicated bloggers said it would be, after they compared the blurred screen grab of the shooter to IMDb actor photos.

So will this trigger happy terror now be welcomed into the Botwin clan seeing as Nancy played a part in his father's demise? Or will psychotic Shane finish him off? There are 12 more episodes of Weeds left for us to find out.  

Weeds airs Sundays at 10 pm on Showtime.

FUTURAMA

I can see why Futurama was cancelled after its fourth (by the original production's plan) season. By 2003 the quality of comedy had become increasingly subpar. However, now with the return of Mission Hill creators Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein the show's future on Comedy Central looks bright.

Highlights from last season include the genderbending "Neutopia" and "Proposition Infinity" where Amy and Bender are persecuted for engaing in a robosexual relationship. The current season has gotten off to a hilarious start with Bender having a baby with a vending machine voiced by lovable lesbian Wanda Sykes ("The Bots and The Bees.")

Here's hoping the remainder of season seven will be as magnetic as the gaze of hypnotoad.

Futrurama airs Wednesdays at 10 pm on Comedy Central. 

TRUE BLOOD

Is it an over statement to say that True Blood is the best soap opera ever to be aired? Now in its fifth season, True Blood continues to be engaging and erotic.

Series creator Allan Ball has frequently stated that the persecution of vampires in True Blood is a not-so subtle metaphor for the struggles gay and lesbians have faced. 

This season's arc appears to be regarding the return of uber-baddie Russell Edgington who will most likely rain havoc upon Bon Temps.

With Tara now turned vamp (and bisexual, as we learned last season,) queer cook Lafayette struggling with his magic curse and Sookie becoming a murderer, it looks like True Blood won't be drained of fresh ideas any time soon.

True Blood airs Sundays at 9 pm on HBO.

Silver fox and noble newser Anderson Cooper has revealed to his friend Andrew Sullivan at The Daily Beast what the world already knew: he's gay.

In a heartfelt and honest email, Cooper wrote about how he has always tried to maintain some level of privacy surrounding his personal life and, as the competent journalist he is, would rather focus on telling other people's stories. 

"I've always believed that who a reporter votes for, what religion they are, who they love, should not be something they have to discuss publicly," Cooper wrote in the email he allowed Sullivan to share publicly.

"The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be and I couldn't be more happy, comfortable with myself and proud." 

Read Cooper's full email and watch him giggle on Episode 10 of his friend Kathy Griffin's talk show below. 

Perhaps my gaydar is defective, but when I saw Imperial Teen open for The Breeders in 2002, I didn't realize lead singer Roddy Bottum was gay. The name alone should have been a hint. 

It wasn't until I listened to Imperial Teen's new album, Feel the Sound, that the thought entered my mind. I should have been tipped off years ago by "Lipstick" and "You're One," which clearly have gay overtones. 

While a member of Faith No More, Bottum penned the song "Be Aggressive," which is about oral sex, essentially forcing straight lead singer Chuck Mosley to sing "I swallow" repeatedly.

Feel the Sound is a solid album with the band's usual sugary vocals. Listen to their first single, "Runaway," below.