Interview

Eleanor Friedberger. – Photo: Courtesy

Fiery Furnaces fans can breathe a sigh of relief. "Last Summer," the solo debut by Eleanor Friedberger, does not mark the end of the duo, which includes Friedberger's brother Matthew. Instead, "Last Summer" is a chance for her to flex other musical muscles and venture out momentarily on her own, she says.

Scott Pasfield appears at OutWords Books in Milwaukee at 2 p.m. on Oct. 15.

“Gay In America” (Welcome Books, 2011, $45) by Scott Pasfield takes its rightful place beside such coffee-table classics as Tom Atwood’s “Kings In Their Castles” and Michael Goff and Out Magazine’s “Out In America.”

Admit it, you were rooting for the gay people during the 2011 season of “Design Star.” After all, you had four (three gay men and one lesbian) from which to choose. Although Meg Caswell, from the Chicago area, ultimately won, Karl Sponholtz, a gay man who is also from the Chicago area, made it to the final round. I spoke with Karl in September 2011 about his “Design Star” experience.

Andy Bell performs with Erasure at Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater on Sept. 18. – Photo: Courtesy

Andy Bell of the duo Erasure was one of the first pop stars to come out – first as gay and later as HIV-positive. I spoke with Bell in late August, shortly after the release of “Tomorrow’s World,” Erasure’s latest disc.

Amy Ray. – Photo: Daemon Records

Almost 25 years after Amy Ray and Emily Saliers released their first album under the Indigo Girls banner, they continue getting better. The out duo's new album "Beauty Queen Sister" ranks among their best work. Their trademark folk rock style is augmented by bluegrass and Irish music influences, making for a varied and gripping listening experience.

The Milwaukee LGBT Film and Video Festival screens “Weekend” at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 at the Oriental Theater.

The quality gay-themed film of autumn 2011 is “Weekend,” written and directed by out British filmmaker Andrew Haigh. In the movie Tom Cullen plays Russell, a gay lifeguard whose social circle revolves around his group of straight buddies and their wives. One evening as he heads home after an evening with his friends, Russell stops in at a gay bar where he meets Glen, played by Chris New. The next morning, they wake up in Russell’s bed together and begin the process of getting to know each other. What looks promising as a potential relationship for the men is dampened by the fact that Glen is leaving shortly for a two-year stint in the United States.

Joan Osborne performs on Sept. 27 in Milwaukee’s Turner Hall. – Photo: Courtesy

After years of struggling to find an audience, singer Joan Osborne finally became an overnight sensation 15 years ago with her hit song “One of Us.” Since then, she’s been recording and performing steadily. Osborne is on a multi-city concert tour with singer/songwriter Dar Williams. She also has a pair of recordings forthcoming in the new year.

Paula Poundstone – Photo: Courtesy

Known for her deadpan delivery and distinctive style of dress – men’s suits and neckties – out comedian Paula Poundstone has been a continual presence on the stand-up circuit for nearly 30 years. She’s best-known today as one of the panelists on the popular NPR radio show “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me.” A loving mother of three children and a devoted human to a menagerie of pets, Poundstone spoke with WiG late last year.

Ben Folds. – Photo: Courtesy

As the lead singer of the trio Ben Folds Five in the 1990s and later as a solo artist, singer/songwriter and premier piano player, Ben Folds has developed a devoted legion of followers. But when he settled in at the judge’s table on the TV show "The Sing-Off," he raised his profile considerably.

“And Everything Is Going Fine” screens at 4:00 p.m. on Oct. 29 at Kenilworth Studio 508, 1925 E. Kenilworth Place.

“And Everything Is Going Fine,” Steven Soderbergh’s documentary tribute to the late, beloved monologist Spalding Gray, is a non-traditional approach to documentary storytelling if ever there was one. Soderbergh and Gray’s widow Kathleen Russo worked together, assembling film footage of Gray, both personal and performance-oriented. This allowed the late writer/performer to virtually tell his own story.

Tig Notaro has a series of upcoming performances at colleges and universities in Wisconsin. Visit tignation.com for the complete schedule. – Photo: Courtesy

Out comedian Tig Notaro is wickedly funny. She has a sense of humor so dry you want to offer her a glass of water. On her aptly named debut comedy disc “Good One,” Notaro touches on a variety of topics, ranging from Chaz Bono and Taylor Dayne to artificial insemination and babies taking showers.