THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

with Tony Peregrin

Pride Month means parties, parades and performances galore. GLBT artists are still struggling to get signed with major labels, thus painting the independent music scene with their rainbow-colored palette.

It's definitely not hearsay, but The Gossip's third album, Standing in the Way of Control, truly stands on its own. Looking and sounding like Ann Wilson from Heart, lead singer Beth Ditto wails and delivers a message for a generation on 'Fire with Fire.' The mostly gay trio drew acclaim from its previous efforts and toured with the likes of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, LeTigre and the Kills. In an interview with Logo's New Now Next, guitarist Brace Paine joked about how he had to come out to his parents to tell them that he is in fact straight. The video for the title cut is a small-town pride parade in itself, with diesel drummer Hannah Blilie keeping the beat over Ditto's cry of her lessons learned while rainbows pop up everywhere. But the Gossip is able to slow it down with the soulful 'Holy Water' and the blues-tinged closer 'Black Lines,' leaving it on everybody's lips that The Gossip can do more than just talk about just tackling garage rock.

Jill Sobule did more than kiss and tell with her breakout hit 'I Kissed a Girl.' Her 2004 album, Underdog Victorious, waves a triumphant flag high and mighty. Having seen her live at the Queer is Folk Festival, Sobule rewards her audience with stories accompanied by laughter in between songs. Layered with wit, Underdog refreshes listeners with Sobule's clever songwriting. She pokes fun at herself and life's reality checks on 'Freshman' before turning 'Cinnamon Park' into a modern version of 'Itchycoo Park.' 'Tel Aviv' has Sobule singing the refrain 'somebody's missing me,' about her character longing for a better life. On the title cut, Sobule tells the familiar tale of the awkward kid who suffers during dodge ball, then dreams of the glam-rock band the New York Dolls and solace at Max's Kansas City.

Electro music is known mostly as a New York or British trend, but L.A.'s Dirty Sanchez has smeared a name for itself on the West Coast with its wild live shows and twisted sense of humor. After two EPs, the raunchy trio finally released its eponymous debut on Hypnotic Records earlier this year. Fronted by club promoter Mario Diaz and Jackie Beat, who livened up the Wigstock documentary and Philip Seymour Hoffman's drag movie Flawless, Dirty Sanchez comes across as a less-refined version of Scissor Sisters. Sure, both queer groups sing of the oldest industry ( 'Tranny Sex' and 'Filthy / Gorgeous' ) , but Dirty Sanchez just seems less calculated and ends up being that much more fun. Simply check out the remake of Prince and Sheena Easton's '80s classic 'U Got the Look' or 'Fucking on the Dancefloor,' which even refers to Berlin singer Terri Nunn's bangs. The opening track 'Get it Wet' could use remixes from the likes of Fischerspooner or Mylo for peak hours at a packed nightclub and the delightfully neurotic 'Dinner Party!' easily could be sung in part by Bree Van De Kamp from Desperate Housewives.

San Francisco's Pussy Tourette plugs listeners in on her full-length debut, In Hi-Fi!. Released 12 years ago on Feather Boa Records, In Hi-Fi! shows Tourette's rich voice and funny bone ( 'If I Can't Sell It' ) , leanings toward cabaret ( '$70' and 'After You' ) , pop sensibilities ( 'French Bitch' ) and a guest opera singer ( on the camp classic 'I Think He's Gay' ) . The standout track is 'Bridgette,' an ode to Tourette's star working girl who will 'treat you good like nobody would.' The video for this number has Tourette shining as the brothel's madam, who gives a tour. Tourette followed up with remix singles for '...kiss' and 'Outta My House,' as well as a second full-length album, Who Does She Think She Is, making us think she preferred the dance clubs to the cabaret bars. Tourette returned last year after an overdue hiatus for those who can't catch her shows with the single 'Brand New Day.'

On the EP Svefn-g-Englar, the Icelandic quartet Sigur Ros proves that its sold-out concerts are no fluke. While sung in the band's mother tongue, understanding the lyrics are not necessary, as the orchestration and vocal delivery set the isolated, melancholy mood. Like Led Zeppelin, openly gay lead singer Jonsi Birgisson takes a bow to his electric guitar, creating haunting effects. Basic and profound, Sigur Ros' live instrumentation comes across as flawless and natural. The independent favorites also employ the power of repetition, an art form that is more frowned upon than used. 'Svefn-g-Englar' has been heard in the Tom Cruise film Vanilla Sky and the video for 'Vidrar-vel til Loftarasa' follows a young gay romance that comes to a head during a heated soccer match. 2005's album Takk … is more upbeat, but the videos still depict the Scandinavian's accounts of outcast kids and even adults reliving their younger years.